Pre-Season Friendly: Spartans bag win against Brora

Posted on Sunday, July 9th, 2023

Douglas Samuel’s Spartans made it back to back clean sheet pre-season wins as they defeated top Highland League opponents Brora Rangers 3-0 at Ainslie Park.

With summer holidays still the flavour of the month, both teams put out their équipe du jour with that pre-season stalwart Trialist littering the team lines.

The young Spartans Ultras were in fine voice and have been working hard over the summer with their fundraising activities and also making new banners ahead of the forthcoming campaign.

It was almost an early chance to break the deadlock for Bradley Whyte however the playmaker could only send his shot wide from six yards.

The same player came closer next time round when Cammy Russell presented him with an opportunity on the edge of the box but the shot whizzed past the post.

An early knock to Jamie Dishington saw him retired by the Gaffer, likely with one eye on next week’s Viaplay Cup tie with Dundee Utd.

Spartans finally got something to show for their opening half hour dominance when they were awarded a penalty kick in the 36th minute. 

The ball was launched into the Brora box where Cammy Russell was taken out as he looked to knock it beyond the defender. The Referee didn’t need much time to make his decision and duly pointed to the spot.

Cammy Russell stepped up and with some gusto, put the boot through the ball and bulged the back of the onion bag.

With half time looming, Spartans doubled their lead. Russell continued to torment and was once again sent sprawling on the Ainslie Park astro. The free-kick was sent into the box by Rhys Armstrong and evaded a sea of bodies before nestling in the net.

HT: The Spartans 2-0 Brora Rangers

There were a trio of swaps at the break allowing game time in the legs of Danny Denholm, Kevin Waugh and Sam Newman.

Cammy Russell was then denied by a fine save from the Brora keeper and a couple of quick fire corners couldn’t trouble the goalie.

With a full squad of replacements to utilise, Trialist C and Gavin Morrison came off the bench with half an hour left on the clock. 

Then it was goal three for the hosts. Sam Newman with a lip-lickingly good cross from out wide and it was neatly flicked beyond the keeper into the empty net. 

Brora’s chances were limited and one of the best of those came midway through the half when they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box. It cleared the six man Spartans wall however it also done the same with the goal frame too. 

Another Trialist came on along with Chris Inglis and Ben Lamont. 

The rain that had been promised by the weather folks arrived with circa twenty minutes left on the clock. One wouldn’t have been tremendously disappointed if the Ref had offered bad light and rain akin to Ashes umpires.

Sean Brown then decided to go full acrobatic with an overhead kick inside the box as he looked to bag his second brace of the week, only to watch it go over the bar.

FT: The Spartans 3-0 Brora Rangers