SPFL 2: Sonkur double sinks Stranraer

Posted on Sunday, December 24th, 2023

An Ayrton Sonkur double guided The Spartans to three points and a third successive clean sheet with a 3-0 victory over Stranraer at a wet and windy Ainslie Park.

Danny Denholm made his first start of the season replacing Keiran Watson whilst Jacques Heraghty remained between the sticks.

The opening exchanges saw both sides seek to come to terms with the wind blowing a hoolie and the ball spending an equal distribution of its time either in the air or out of play. 

An early intervention by Jordan Tapping in his own box saw him deal with an aerial threat and in the process head the ball clear and his opponent left hugging the astro in the aftermath.

There was almost a bizarre opportunity for a Spartans opener when the visiting keeper misjudged the flight of the ball however despite it floating over his head, it was recovered without any further damage done.

Captain Kevin Waugh was in good form at the back, with a brace of challenges from a couple of corners, mopping up the danger and escorting the ball to safety.

Then, with 18 minutes on the clock, Spartans took the lead – and in some style.  Heraghty sending the ball towards the middle of the park, which Danny Denholm nodded on. Blair Henderson headed towards Jamie Dishington who managed to get the ball away before he was unceremoniously clattered. 

Referee Calder made an important call to allow advantage and when Henderson was sent the ball back from Bradley Whyte he delivered a low cross to the back post for Denholm to send home.

Not content with supplying the lead, Denholm was at the back shortly after and made a timely double block to deny Stranraer a chance to equalise.

With the swirling wind offering a bit of lottery, Spartans swung in a corner into the away box.  Ayrton Sonkur rose above the defence, heading downwards towards Blair Henderson however it was too close to last week’s hat-trick hero and he’d have needed a shovel to have dug it out from under his feet.

HT: The Spartans 1-0 Stranraer

The second half got underway with little change – same Spartans personnel and the weather still minging.

Cammy Russell broke the offside trap when he was headed into space by Denholm beyond the Stranraer back division.  He rounded the keeper however the angle wasn’t kind for Russell who couldn’t redirect his run towards goal before being closed out.

Another Spartans corner fell to Bradley Whyte on the edge of the box.  Its unclear at the time of writing if the ball has been returned from our neighbour’s garden or if it’s been cleaned up in the shower and wrapped up for one of the bairn’s Christmas presents…

Anyway, back to the action and in the 63^rd minute, Spartans doubled their lead.  Rhys Armstrong’s free-kick whizzed into the penalty box and was half cleared into the path of Cammy Russell.  Never a good thing and it was returned with interest and found Ayrton Sonkur still lurking in the box and he stuck out his telescopic legs to turn the ball into the net. 

Spartans made a change midway through the half, Sam Newman replaced Danny Denholm.

Rhys Armstrong looked to have put far too much welly on the ball shortly after, sending it deep into the Stranraer half into no-man’s land.  Stranraer goalie Lewis Budinauckas, keen to keep the ball in play, looked to scoop it back from the edge of the box however it all went a bit Pete Tong and it was sent behind for a corner.

Cammy Russell swung it in, Ayrton Sonkur was unmarked in the box and got his head to the ball and whilst it may have had some Christmas luck for it’s final journey into the net, there was no taking the credit away from the big Defender who lapped up the plaudits in the resultant celebrations.

Sam Jones then replaced Rhys Armstrong to add fresh legs to proceedings.

Assist specialist Cammy Russell was desperately close to getting on the score sheet himself when his shot looked certain to find the net.  In true Panto style, the cries of “Oh no it isn’t” rung out as it hit the base of the post and cruelly ran along the face of the goal before being touched behind.

The resultant corner from Jamie Dishington then rattled the face of the crossbar as Spartans came close twice in seconds to making it four.

One of the biggest cheers of the afternoon was reserved for the introduction of Alan Brown who replaced Dishington to make it 299^th appearance.  Also coming off the bench was Sean Brown who swapped places with Blair Henderson.

With no further incident of note, the game came to an end.  Spartans comfortable winners and remain in fourth spot in SPFL 2.

FT: The Spartans 3-0 Stranraer

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Ayrton Sonkur