Lowland League | Joy of six for Spartans as they reign in the rain at Peffermill

Posted on Wednesday, November 25th, 2020

Doubles from Scott McCrory-Irving, Aaron Murrell plus strikes from Archie Meekison and Blair Atkinson saw Spartans sweep aside Edinburgh University in foul conditions at Peffermill in Tuesday night’s Lowland League clash.

After the dramatic events at Falkirk Stadium last Friday, it was back to domestic duty and it was lucky thirteen for Dougie Samuel as he continued his unbeaten run against the Students in emphatic fashion.

Whilst the rain threatened to dampen the nose tingling aroma from the nearby Nairn’s Oatcake factory, the taste of success was on the palate of former Uni man Scott McCrory-Irving after only five minutes when he collected the ball out wide midway inside the host’s half before racing to the edge of the box and sending an unstoppable drive home.

It certainly whetted his appetite and in the 18th minute, a Cameron Dawson flick on in the middle of the park then made it’s way to Scott McCrory-Irving who still had some work to do before cutting back inside to slam home from the edge of the penalty area.

A hat-trick was almost on the cards but for a mixture of desperate defending and the trickery of a slippery sodden surface denied McCrory-Irving for further extending the lead as the visitors took control.

As the half headed towards conclusion, there was the strongest of shouts for a Spartans spot-kick as the pace of Archie Meekison saw him just about evade a desperate last-gasp challenge as he entered the area. A mark of youthful honesty saw him stay on his feet and alas the opportunity came to nothing, well, save for a talking from the Ref to Michael Bolochoweckyj for remonstrating too much with the decision.

HT: Edinburgh University 0-2 The Spartans

Five minutes after the break, further light was put between the sides when Archie Meekison delivered followed great build-up play by Scott McCrory-Irving.

The pair almost linked moments later in reverse roles to make it four, only for Meekison to see his effort well blocked as he pulled the trigger.

Spartans made a pair of replacements just before the hour, with Aaron Murrell and Joe Tait coming on for Meekison and Dawson. Probably not what the Uni defenders wanted at that juncture in the game.

He’d largely been a spectator for the opening hour however Harry Stone was called upon to make a save as the Students looked to salvage something out of the game. After all, three goal leads aren’t always a certainty these days…

Gregor Woods was close to breaking his duck on a night where frankly it was the weather for them, with the keeper doing enough to stop his effort.

A trio of substitutions midway through the half saw John Grant, Blair Atkinson and Keir Russell enter the fray at the expense of McCrory-Irving, Brown and Jones.

With the game entering the final twenty minutes, Aaron Murrell made it four. Gregor Woods made a telling sliding tackle intervention on a loose ball inside his own half before making the dash into the opponents box to recollect but whilst he was drowned out by green jerseys, he tapped the ball into the path of Aaron Murrell who drove home.

It got worse for the home side when Michael Bolochoweckyj’s unceremonious hoof up the field (sorry, intended assist – ed) was collected by Blair Atkinson who turned on the gas before drilling the ball low under the keeper.

There was a crumb of consolation for the hosts when they netted a well worked out goal of their own to deny Stone a clean sheet.

A whiff of the bulge of the onion bag saw the Students attempt another venture into the Spartans danger area however a loose pass saw the ball played back to where it came from and intelligent thinking from Aaron Murrell saw him lob the advancing keeper into the empty net to round off a good night at the office and a welcome three points.

FT: Edinburgh University 1-6 The Spartans

Photos from the game can be found on our Facebook page