Lowland League | Spartans sparkle as Max factor puts gloss on win

Posted on Wednesday, September 1st, 2021

Scott Maxwell’s second half strike was enough to separate the sides as the Spartans got back to winning ways with a hard fought victory against Cumbernauld Colts.

With injuries, player unavailability and returns to the squad, it was another starting XI that Dougie Samuel would have pondered over greatly ahead of selection with a vital midweek encounter on the cards.

As the nights start to fair draw in, the floodlights were on long ahead of kick-off as the hosts looked to end August with a win.

They were lively from the outset with some fine early play and a pop at goal from Scott Maxwell within the opening five minutes stated their intent to park the recent reversals and drive forward to keep in the pack of early top of the table hunters.

An excellent turn and shot from Aaron Murrell together with a fine low diving save from Reece Murdoch drew warm applause from the crowd.  The resultant corner fell to Mikey Allan however his attempt went wide.

Despite the dominance across the bulk of the first half, save for a free-kick on the edge of the box from the visitors that was blocked by the Spartans white wall, it was to be a goal-free opening forty five minutes with the boys from Broadwood undoubtedly the happier of the sides as the headed for the sheds at the break.

HT: The Spartans 0-0 Cumbernauld Colts

That pressure however finally paid off just seven minutes after the interval.

A delivery deep into the box found Jamie Dishington who tapped to Aaron Murrell and he selflessly passed back into the path of Scott Maxwell who despatched into the top corner.

Spartans then made a double replacement with Murrell and Maxwell withdrawn and they swapped spots with Blair Atkinson and Lennon Walker.

The first involvement for teenager Walker saw his unceremoniously scythed down in the middle of the park as he attempted to bring his youthful exuberance to the game.

It started to get a bit silly for a while with a couple of unhealthy late challenges going in and the Referee dipping into his top pocket with some regularity to brandish his yellow ticket.

The visitors made one final push.  Up the paddock they went and there was a top save by the stand-in Spartans stopper, replacing the injured Blair Carswell, to keep out the Colts and earn a clean sheet in the process.

FT: The Spartans 1-0 Cumbernauld Colts


Next Fixture

                     
Date: 16/11/24
Opponent: Stirling Albion
Venue:Ainslie Park
Competition: SPFL 2
Kick off: 3.00pm

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