Lowland League | Russell at the double as Spartans see off Students

Posted on Tuesday, February 14th, 2023

A Sean Brown opener and a Cammy Russell double saw the Spartans extend their unbeaten run in the Lowland League to eleven games with a 3-0 victory over Edinburgh University at Ainslie Park.

Leading out the Spartans side were children from Granton Primary School – a first time for the local schoolchildren who also enjoyed a half-time kick-about too.

The hosts took the game to the Students from the off and they offered an early test for the visiting defence and keeper as they looked to build on their midweek win at Bo’ness.

That pressure paid off in the 13^th minute.  A long throw-in was headed on by Blair Henderson and after Rhys Armstrong had his shot saved, Sean Brown was on hand to slide the ball home to open the scoring.

Brown almost doubled his and his side’s tally when a pass from Sam Jones was headed into the striker’s path by Blair Henderson however his stinging shot was tipped onto the bar by Quate in the University goal.  Great football all round that drew warm applause on a cold winter’s afternoon in North Edinburgh.

Cammy Russell then came close before Blair Henderson nodded narrowly wide as Spartans laid siege on the Students penalty area.

HT: Spartans 1-0 Edinburgh University

The home fans almost choked on their half time Bain’s pies as they made their way back to the stand when from an attacking platform, the ball was lost and it took a fine stop from Blair Carswell to prevent an unlikely equaliser for the Peffermill men.

The second half was just six minutes old however when that second Spartans goal appeared.

Some uncertainty in the home defence and a poor headed clearance fell to the feet of Cammy Russell and from six yards out, the man in fine form needed have been offered a written invitation to stroke the ball into the net.

Mikey Allan looked to get in on the goals and his run and half volley had fans on the edge of their seat, but failed to offer the accuracy that would have produced something to dine out on for some time.

The points were in the bag midway through the half and it was that man Cammy Russell once again.  A neat run up the touch line by Jamie Dishington saw the ball move to Sam Jones.  He left the ball for Cammy Russell who adjusted and drilled a low shot in off the base of the post.

The goal was the 300^th scored by Spartans at Ainslie Park in the Lowland League and it’s the sixth league match in a row that Russell has found the net.

Sean Brown almost bagged a brace of his own as he looked to benefit from Dishington’s nod down however the Uni keeper got down low to save well.

A triple substitution for Spartans saw Alan Brown, Ian McFarland and Gregor Woods replace Whyte, Jones and Dishington.

A final change saw Mackie Scott make another 1^st team appearance after replacing Cammy Russell.

One final chance to trouble the scoreboard came late on when Kevin Waugh, on the corner of the penalty box, delivered a free-kick that was looking good for the top corner, only for the keeper to spoil the party and push behind for a corner.

FT: Spartans 3-0 Edinburgh University

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Cammy Russell