SPFL 2: Dishington strike on the hour punishes Peterhead

Posted on Saturday, August 26th, 2023

Jamie Dishington’s goal on the hour mark saw The Spartans take full points at Peterhead to finish undefeated at the end of the opening month of life in SPFL 2. 

New signing Paul Watson was included in the squad that travelled north for the second time in a month to the Blue Toon as Spartans looked to replicate their Viaplay Cup group result last time out. 

In terms of box office openers, Oppenheimer it wasn’t, as the opening exchanges were for the purists amongst the crowd inside Balmoor Stadium.

The first noteworthy opportunity came when the hosts carved themselves a half chance in the box, but there was the ever reliable Blair Carswell to smother the ball from a seated position. 

Mikey Allan had to be in fine form in his own box to halt a Peterhead attack with a textbook tackle.  It sent Spartans on the counter, Cammy Russell delivering into the home box, but sadly there be no takers. 

Blair Henderson and James Craigen combined on the edge of the box. The latter pulling the trigger and his curled effort was inches away from breaking the deadlock.

HT: Peterhead 0-0 Spartans 

There were no changes at the break however after a last gasp tumultuous tackle by Jordan Tapping, the talismanic defender was forced to retire and was replaced by Ayrton Sonkur. 

Spartans looked hungrier as the second half started to unfold. Mikey Allan darted into the box from the wing and after a fine stop by the Peterhead keeper, he was up again to deny Allan with the rebound.

Then, on the hour mark, Spartans took what was to prove to be an unassailable lead.

Cammy Russell’s shuffle and turn of pace gave him an acre of free space in the box and as the keeper came out to close down space, he cut it back to the bellowing Jamie Dishington who didn’t hang about and sent the ball into the back of the net from ten yards before wheeling away in celebration.

It was close to a second moments later when the ball ricocheted off legs in the box like they were spring loaded levers in a pinball machine and finally the home defence managed to hoof the ball to safety.

As Peterhead pressed for an equaliser, Bradley Whyte sprung the offside trap, rounded the keeper but in doing so made the angle just too tricky for a pop at goal. He looked up to pass to Blair Henderson, only for a pesky Peterhead defender to put in a challenge to deny him.

Play raged on back up the field and Peterhead did manage to find the back of the net, only to be denied by the far side lino’s flag fluttering in the wind for an offside call.

A free-kick for Peterhead 25 yards out had Spartan Army hearts in mouths as it cleared the wall but thankfully the outstretched Blair Carswell to go wide of the post. 

With ten minutes left on the clock, Spartans made a double change with Gavin Morrison and Sean Brown replacing Blair Henderson and Rhys Armstrong. 

Peterhead continued to throw everything in hope of an equaliser and setting up a grandstand finish however there was to be no give from a solid Spartans defence. 

Short corners and throw ins were the flavour of the month up the home end as Spartans looked to keep possession with Cammy Russell and Sean Brown the key architects of ball protection and general nuisance making. 

With a handful of injury time minutes played, one final whistle from the man in the middle signalled full time and another first – Spartans inaugural win on the road in the SPFL. 

FT: Peterhead 0-1 The Spartans 

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Bradley Whyte