Viaplay Cup: Win on the road sets up final day Firhill showdown

Posted on Thursday, July 27th, 2023

Goals from Blair Henderson and Cammy Russell saw The Spartans earn full points on the road at Peterhead to set up an interesting Viaplay Cup Group B finale at Firhill on Saturday.

Gaffer Douglas Samuel made changes to the side that lost out narrowly to Falkirk and reverted back to the starting XI that defeated Dundee United on the opening day of the tournament.

It was the first meeting between the clubs and the sides made their way out in front of 678 supporters inside Balmoor Stadium which was under a blanket of crisp blue summer evening sky. 

The early exchanges saw the ball get some welly but it was in the 8th minute as Spartans stroked the ball across the pristine Peterhead carpet that the visitors took the lead.

Malt and Hops Man of the Match James Craigen whipped in a telling low cross deep into the home box and it was Blair Henderson who was hovering with intent at the back post to bravely slide the ball home, colliding with the post in the process. 

Unsurprisingly, Spartans were having to do some defending of their own as Peterhead pressed for an quick equaliser. 

Jordan Tapping’s telling tackle at the back saw the talismanic defender slide in and thwart any danger requiring the assistance of his keeper. 

A neat run by James Craigen through the middle of the park allowed him space to he send the ball into the path of Cammy Russell however the final ball was elusive and snapped up by the keeper. 

Cammy Russell then went on the offensive into the Peterhead box, cut inside, shaped up and as he looked to curl one into the bottom corner, a leg at the end of a blue sock appeared and sent the ball over the bar for a corner.

Then, on the stroke of half time, Blair Carswell had to look lively to double fist a fierce effort from inside the box and with that, the sides headed to the sheds.

HT: Peterhead 0-1 The Spartans 

The pies had barely been chomped and the sun had begun its journey behind the main stand when Peterhead pressure turned into an equaliser just five minutes into the second half.

A Kieran Shanks low drive from 20 yards through a plethora of players evaded Blair Carswell and the ball hit the back of the net. 

That set back was to be a short lived one and Spartans were back in front just nine minutes later. 

Rhys Armstrong with the delivery back across the box where Cammy Russell was waiting and even under a heavy challenge, he was able to bulge the back of the net.

The rest of the second half largely played out with both teams cancelling each other out as they sought to add to their scoresheets 

Finally, after six agonisingly long minutes of injury time, the Referee blew one final time and Spartans headed back to Edinburgh with the points in the bag. 

FT: Peterhead 1-2 The Spartans 

Malt & Hops Man of the Match: James Craigen.