Lowland League | Spartans 1-2 BSC Glasgow

Posted on Wednesday, July 31st, 2019

Despite a Dean Hoskins late penalty setting up a potential grandstand finale, visitors BSC Glasgow held off the late Spartans onslaught to leave Ainslie Park with three points in a controversial season opener.

A muggy evening welcomed the teams onto the field, with Adam Corbett leading his side out onto the field which included a starting debut for 16 year old Nicky Reid and new signing Max Ashmore on the bench.

An early cross by Dale Baxter flew into the box and following a bit of a flap by the BSC keeper, he had one of his alert defenders to thank in ensuring the ball landed back in his hands with men in white shirts circling to pounce.

At the other end, the talismanic and telescopic legged Blair Tolmie came to the rescue when he stretched out to deny a break from the tourists as both sides looked to stamp their authority on the match.

Tenacious play in the BSC half by youngster Nicky Reid saw the Under 20s starlet win possession which he squared to Dale Baxter before it was threaded into the path of Arron Murrell who saw his shot well saved.

HT: The Spartans 0-0 BSC Glasgow

Just three minutes after the break, controversy clouded the opener for BSC Glasgow. An aerial challenge deep inside the Spartans half saw Michael Bolochoweckyj take the full brunt of a forearm to the face. Despite the defender lying prostrate on the ground with a clear head knock, insult was added to injury when a decent 25 yard finish by Jamie Hamilton that evaded Blair Carswell and flew into the net.

‘Bolo’ couldn’t shake off the blow and he was shortly replaced by Dale Baxter as Spartans set out to level proceedings.

Cries for a spot-kick from the home players, dug out and supporters rung out when Arron Murrell was clattered from behind whilst edging his way across the whitewash on the 18 yard box. The offence looked to have occurred inside however the Referee and his stand side assistance were unfazed and a free-kick was Spartans reward. The subsequent dead-ball effort was cannoned off the wall by Hoskins.

With five minutes left on the clock, BSC grabbed a second, somewhat against the run of play to put light between the sides. Tom Orr capitalising as the long ball wasn’t effectively dealt with and he nipped in before chipping the over the advancing Carswell into the net, despite the desperate last gasp efforts by Corbett to clear.

Spartans finally got their chance from the penalty spot with time racing away. Jack Smith was upended by his namesake Ross and up stepped Dean Hoskins to unceremoniously leather the ball down the middle to score.

A second shout for a free shot from 12 yards in as many minutes – and a third on the night – was waved away moments later when Blair Tolmie appeared to have his ankle hoofed by a defender as they went for a challenge. The ball was unceremoniously booted up the paddock by the BSC man to safety and Tolmie was ticketed for his remonstrations.

Then, at the death, another launch into the BSC box saw Stephen Barr pull off a fine saw before Dale Baxter could only look on in sheer frustration when his header from the rebound landed on the roof of the net.

FT: The Spartans 1-2 BSC Glasgow