The Spartans picked up their first league victory on the road last weekend as they returned to winning ways with a 0-3 victory against Forfar Athletic.

After kicking off November with a narrow loss in Peterhead, a second away day in as many weeks saw the Lothian Motorcoaches bus take the team to Station Park, a venue familiar for a plethora of players across both clubs.

Spartans were to go on the offensive from the off with Cammy Russell looking to get his side on the front foot early on.  His initial drive towards goal saw him attempt to whip in a cross to trouble McCallum in the Forfar goal however it was more of a challenge for the ballboy behind the sticks.

Brogan Walls did have an effort on target shortly after when his header from a corner was clear off the Forfar goal line which was already living a charmed life.

As play raged on from one end to the other neither keeper became particularly challenged as the ball started to suffer a migraine after being hoofed up and down the paddock with frustrating regularity.

Then, with half an hour on the clock, Cammy Russell was played into the box and had time to compose himself before sending a low drive beyond McCallum and into the bottom corner of the Forfar net.

That lead doubled just five minutes later.  The thorn in Forfar’s side, Cammy Russell, saw his fierce effort only parried by McCallum into the path of Brogan Walls who sent the ball back with interest into the empty net.

HT: Forfar Athletic 0-2 The Spartans

Spartans went on the offensive from the off as they looked to seal their first three points away from home of the campaign and Blair Henderson came close with an attempted shot which was closed down before it could trouble the keeper.

With the Forfar fans showing frustration, their side attempted to break down a resolute Spartans defence which was holding up well in the face of the home side’s search for a way back into the game.

Paul Watson was inches away from putting further light between the sides with his shot stopped on the line and in the subsequent stramash in the six yard box, Brogan Walls set the rebound over the bar.

Spartans made a change when Lewis Hunter replaced Aaron Scott.   Those personnel swaps were added to later on with Kieran Watson and Brogan Walls making way for Kevin Waugh and Jamie Dishington.

Blair Carswell had a quiet afternoon compared to previous weeks however he still needed to be on fine form when he had to look sharp to race off his line to offer a fine stop.

Then, with the game entering into its dying moments, Cammy Russell was upended by McCallum in the box.  Blair Henderson stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 0-3.

FT: Forfar Athletic 0-3 The Spartans

Malt and Hops Bar Man of the Match: Cammy Russell

The Spartans made the long trip north to Peterhead but returned empty handed after second half Penalty drama.

Spartans made a couple of personnel changes from the team that lost at home to Cowdenbeath in the Scottish cup. With captain Kevin Waugh still feeling the effect of the strain which forced him off early in that game, in came Paul Watson to the centre of the defence. There was also a change up front as Blair Henderson started on the bench and the front 4 were shuffled to allow Aaron Scott to come in and play the anchor role in midfield.

The match got underway under a clear crisp sky in front of 609 supporters and with both teams playing at a high tempo the chances began to come for both sides. Firstly, a cross by Whyte was headed over the bar by Dishington, then a shot by Smith was tipped around the post by Carswell.

The homesters got their noses in front in 17 minutes when a break up the left hand side produced a low cross by Dunne found its way to the back post where Jack Brown was on hand to knock the ball into the Spartans net.

The lead was only to last 5 minutes Spartans equalised. A corner by Russell to the back post was headed back across goal for Brad Whyte to knock in from a couple of yards.

Spartans were forced into a change shortly after. Hamish Ritchie, on his return to his old stomping ground, was barged off the pitch and crashed into an advertising hoarding. The shaken-up midfielder was replaced by Blair Henderson as the Spartans shuffled their line-up to fit.

The half produced a couple more significant chances as first Cammy Russell hit the crossbar direct from a corner and Peterhead’s Barry rattle the post with a shot. However, the teams went into the break level.

Half-time Peterhead 1-1 The Spartans

The home team started to exert more control on the game in the second half and it took a couple of fine saves from Carswell to keep the score level. First, he tipped a shot from Forrest round the post, before pushing a shot from Barry over the bar.

However, he was unable to prevent Peterhead taking the lead after the referee awarded a penalty in controversial fashion. With the ball in the corner The Spartans players claimed the ball had gone out of play and the assistant referee seemed to agree as he raised his flag, only to change his mind and lower his flag. As the play continued the ball was crossed and a header was cleared by Callum Booth who the referee adjudged to have used his hand. The penalty was scored by Barry to give Peterhead the lead again.

Spartans replaced James Craigen and Kieran Watson with Kevin Waugh and Mark Stowe as the pushed for an equaliser. The chance finally came when they were awarded a penalty of their own.

In the 85^th minute Cammy Russell was fouled just outside the box and, when his goal-bound freekick hit the upraised arm of a defender, the referee awarded a penalty. Blair Henderson took the kick and, for the third time in the game the woodwork was rattled, and the ball was cleared to safety.

With that went Spartans chance to claim something from the game as Peterhead were able to see the game out.

FT: Peterhead 2-1 The Spartans

Malt and Hops Man of the Match was Blair Carswell

Report by Stuart Skakle

The Spartans weekend begins in East Lothian where Les Atkinson’s Under 20s head to Forester Park where they face Tranent in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland Development League.

It’s the third time this season so far that the sides have met – on league and cup duty – with Spartans gaining the early upper hand with a pair of victories.

The hosts come into the game boosted by a penalty shoot-out Challenge Cup away to Glasgow University last week whilst the Spartans head down the A1 on a nine competitive match unbeaten run.

Kick-off is 8.00pm.

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It’s the beginning of the Road to Hampden on Saturday afternoon at Ainslie Park when Douglas Samuel’s men welcome Cowdenbeath in Round 2 of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup.

It’s the 75^th outing in the competition for the Ainslie Park side and the third time the sides have met for the oldest national trophy in the world.  It was at the same stage of the Cup in the 1990/91 where they took part in a ‘farcical’ 0-0 draw at snowy City Park before (eventually) heading to Central Park for the replay.

Both teams take a break from their respective League campaigns with each club undoubtedly keen to be one of the twenty teams who join Championship and League One in the hat for the 3^rd Round draw.

The Blue Brazil are currently 15^th in the Lowland League and will make the trip over the Queensferry Crossing with former Spartan Sam Newman making a return to Pilton following his move to the Kingdom in the summer.

Kick-off is 3.00pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance via Fanbase or you can pay at the gate.

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Jack Beesley’s side take a break from competitive action on Sunday with a closed door friendly.  Beesley’s outfit earned plaudits last week for their industrious endeavours against high-flying Celtic at New Douglas Park, being edged out by a single strike.   Spartans currently sit 8^th in the table with two big games against Queen’s Park and Montrose on the horizon.

Mark Stowe netted his first goal for Spartans in a share of the spoils against Clyde at New Douglas Park.

It was the visitors who came out of the traps quickly first, setting up camp in the Clyde danger area in the opening stages of the SPFL 2 clash however there was to be no requirement for the home keeper to be brought into action just yet.

Spartans continued to press with Hamish Ritchie closing down the defence, perhaps too close on one occasion where he blocked an attempted hoofed clearance from point-blank range knocking the wind out of his sails momentarily.

Mark Stowe headed towards the bye-line edging past his marker but a cheeky wee hand on his back was enough to put him slightly off balance before he could whip in a cross and danger for the hosts was once again averted.

A cross did come in from the boot of Callum Booth which found Brogan Walls on the edge of the box however the attempt wasn’t a collector’s item for the midfielder.

Blair Carswell was called upon to pull off a tremendous stop denying Jordan Allan what looked like an odds on opener for the home side after a speculative launch up the park landed in the path of the Clyde man.

Then, on the 33^rd minute mark, Spartans struck.  Mark Stowe’s turn out of the tackle on the edge of the box was followed up with a sublime effort that nestled into the bottom corner beyond Robbie Hemfrey.

It was almost two before the break when a corner into the box was met by the towering Ayrton Sonkur who could only watch as his header was cleared off the line by Ross Lyon.

Blair Carswell was then called upon when he pulled off a phenomenal stop as he tipped a Paul McKay header over the bar.

HT: Clyde FC 0-1 The Spartans

An early Spartans on the break after the interval saw Kevin Waugh mopped up an attack with a headed clearance that allowed Brogan Walls an opportunity to go on the run.  His pass found Blair Henderson who was a magnet for home defenders and found himself crowded out before he could get an on target shot out.

A neat move with Brogan Walls the architect saw Hamish Ritchie look up to let fly from 25 yards forcing the Clyde keeper into the save.

Clyde then turned defending into a counter attack and it was to bear fruit with Martin Rennie drilling low and hard beyond the despairing diving efforts of Blair Carswell, offering the home support something to cheer about.

Spartans made a double change with Rory Whittaker and Aaron Scott replacing Stowe & Walls.

Hamish Ritchie thrusted his delivery across the face of the Clyde six yard box looking for a taker to divert home however this went a-begging.

Ritchie was replaced by Danny Denholm with just under a quarter of an hour left on the clock.

With the game entering into its final stages, Blair Carswell was called upon once again when he pulled off yet another fine save to deny Craig Howie’s header.

FT: Clyde 1-1 The Spartans

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Lewis Hunter