Belter Skelper! Spartans progress in Perth with a piece of Makovora magic

Posted on Sunday, September 15th, 2019

Spartans progressed into Round 3 of the South Challenge Cup after a comfortable 0-3 win at the expense of East of Scotland Conference outfit Kinnoull FC.

Goals from Aaron Murrell, Leeroy Makovora and Cameron Dawson ensured the proverbial banana skin was avoided at a blustery Tulloch Park.

It was a relatively makeshift Spartans side available at Manager Dougie Samuel’s disposal and new recruit Jake Davidson, signed from Dundee United, slotted in at the back.

Cameron Dawson was in the starting XI and he was almost on the scoresheet in the opening moments of the game but he just could extend those long, telescopic legs any further to connect when played into the box.

That wait for the opening goal didn’t take much longer after Michael Bolochoweckyj sent a long ball down the middle for Aaron Murrell to spring the offside trap and slide home.

The visitors looked lively and pressed for a quickfire second however a mixture of frustrating with the finishing and a busy defensive set-up saw the score pegged at the narrow lead at the interval.

Alan Brown had an opportunity but blasted wide, Jake Davidson almost made it a dream debut only to find the outside of the goalframe with a ferocious effort whilst Murray Hand – who came on to replace Murrell earlier in the hand, drilled a shot through two defenders but it went narrowly wide.

Spartans did have the ball in the net moments before the half time whistle however Alan Brown’s rebound conversion following Cameron Dawson’s saved attempt, was ruled offside.

Half Time: Kinnoull FC 0-1 The Spartans

After the half time oranges – yes, actually oranges (brilliant!) the sides came back out into the windy Kinnoull arena and it offered a bit of a challenge for Captain Corbett who got his head onto a long ball and knocked it behind for a corner. Could the hosts utilise the advantage of the weather? From the resultant set-piece, thankfully not and the danger was cleared.

At one stage, a game of long bangers between the keepers threatened to break out at the Kinnoull stopper kicked from hand and into his opposite number’s bread basket.

A free header from a troublesome inswinging corner from Kinnoull saw their man offered an unrivalled opportunity to equalise midway through the half however he’ll be wondering about the one that got away as the Spartans bench let out a collective sigh of relief.

With ten minutes left on the clock and the score finally balanced with a single strike separating the sides, a strike with a stroke of genius carved Spartans’ passageway into the next Round.

“It all started with a piece of play that broke down on the wing”, recalled goalscorer Leeroy Makovora, “Big Deano tried to put in a cross, it ricocheted and made him have to go in to challenge for the ball.

“It broke into my path and as soon as I touched it, I thought “I’m going to go for this” and I just hit it as good as I could. The rest is history as they say and it flew into the top corner. I’m delighted to get my first goal for the club and hopefully it’s the first of many.”

It was certainly an early contender for goal of the season and prompted joyous scenes as teammates mobbed the striker, on loan from Hearts, to celebrate a wonder strike.

Five minutes later, the match was put to bed and it was a combination between the two Tranent teamies. Makovora beating his man to the byeline before sending in a low cross for the incoming Cameron Dawson to scoop his foot round the ball and into the net.

Full Time: Kinnoull FC 0-3 The Spartans

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Leeroy Makovora