Paul Watson’s second half double saw The Spartans come back from a two goal deficit at the break to earn his side a point on the road in the opening match day of the William Hill SPFL 2 campaign.

Spartans were unbeaten in both encounters between the clubs at Stair Park last season however that record looked on the ropes come half time however a spirited fightback saw a share of the spoils come the final whistle.

The opening quarter of an hour saw a cagey affair and the players adjusted to the warm conditions and a slightly slippy surface underfoot caused by overnight rain.

There followed a six-minute one-two rapid double blow on the Spartans chin that had the visitors on the ropes.

Stranraer went on the counter and as Ayrton Sonkur put in a last gasp challenge to try and thwart Deryn Lang, the ball could only be deflected and it looped over Blair Carswell and into the empty net.

It could have been all square moments later when Cammy Russell sprung the offside trap to race towards goal.  He looked to square to Blair Henderson who spun to face Jacob Pazikas between the sticks however his effort went narrowly wide of the post.

Then, in the 26^th minute, Stranraer doubled their lead. A long hoof up the park saw the ball fall to Lang and he look to turn Sonkur, his team mate Elliot Dunlop had other plans and slammed home via the inside of the post.

The crossbar came to the Spartans rescue shortly after with the rebound being headed off the line by Sonkur as Stranraer attempted to put further light between the sides before retreating to the sheds.

HT: Stranraer 2-0 The Spartans

Would the hosts rue the missed chances ahead of the break? Could Spartans pull this back from the brink come full time? 

Well, just four minutes into the second half, the deficit was halved.

A Cammy Russell in-swinging corner was headed back across goal by Blair Henderson to find Paul Watson hovering on the six yard line and he nodded home.

Callum Booth then launched a probing cross to the back post and it was only an inch or two too high for Jamie Dishington to connect with.

It was Dishington’s last involvement as he was replaced by Brogan Walls midway through the half.

With a quarter of an hour left on the clock and as cliches go, the next goal likely to be crucial, it was the visitors who found the net to silence the vuvuzela blower in the stand.

Lewis Hunter was wrestled to the ground in a move that wouldn’t have looked out of place across the road at neighbouring Wigtonshire Rugby Club’s paddock.  Tomas Brindley earning a caution for his involvement that offered Spartans a free-kick out wide.

Cammy Russell sent the free-kick into the box and after two ricochets, it landed at the feet of Paul Watson who slid in with a half volley that flew beyond the defender on the post and into the back of the net.

Both sides tried valiantly to create a late winner however it just proved to be too elusive and were eventually rewarded with a point a-piece for their efforts.

FT: Stranraer 2-2 The Spartans

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Paul Watson

Super Sub Cammy Russell was the toast of the travelling Spartan Army come 4.45pm on Saturday as his late strike saw their side defeat lofty Livingston to reach the Last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup.

A visit to the Set Fare Arena brought the curtain down on the Group E stages of the competition in a winner takes all tie between the clubs who shared the spoils in a no-scoring pre-season friendly a few weeks earlier.

Douglas Samuel made two changes from the midweek win over Forfar, with Danny Denholm and Brogan Walls in the starting XI with Cammy Russell and James Craigen on the bench.

As the pyro smoke seeped out of the home stand, the game got underway in what were perfect conditions for dynamic, fast flowing football.  However, with the chance to top Group E at stake, things started off a little edgy as Spartans looked to set out their stall against the odds-on Championship side.

Half an hour had passed with neither keeper called into action, Livingston with the lion’s share of possession and Blair Henderson forcing a corner as he left fly from outside the box in a chance to counter.

At the other end, the home support must have wondered how they weren’t ahead with a trio of shots in the box pinging off the Spartans defenders and a crucial headed clearance off the line by Kieran Watson.

HT: Livingston 0-0 The Spartans

The second half wasn’t far gone before Blair Carswell, making his 300^th appearance for the senior side, was forced into a trademark super stop when he got down low to deny Matthew Clarke from close range.

On the hour mark, Spartans made a double swap with James Craigen and Cammy Russell swapping with Danny Denholm and Brogan Walls.

Livingston pushed hard as the home support became restless.  Ryan McGowan looked to swoop as the ball rebounded off the post and as he looked to put his laces through the ball from eight yards out, Ayrton Sonkur launched is grand frame with customary bravery and he somehow managed to block a net-bound shot with a corner the outcome.  The no-nonsense defender punched the air in celebration knowing his intervention was as good as a goal at the other end.

The game threatened to be decided by penalties as neither side looked able to find that elusive avenue to the Last 16.  Cammy Russell went on the counter with the break of the ball seeing him progress deep into the Livingston half.  Unfortunately his fresher legs saw him pull away from support and the opportunity fizzled out.

Then, with just five minutes left on the clock, Kieran Watson’s probing free-kick into the box wasn’t properly cleared, arriving at the feet of James Craigen.  He passed into the path of Cammy Russell who was hovering around the penalty spot.  A double pirouette from Russell saw him land up facing towards the goals and his self-described ‘sclaff’ outfoxed Shamal George and trundled into the box.

Cue absolute scenes amongst the travelling support as Russell raced over to celebrate before finding himself under the weight of a near full team pile-on! 

Would Livingston be able to pull it back with the time left on the clock?  Could The Spartans make history by reaching the Last 16? 

A final throw of the dice from the hosts saw them win a corner after Lewis Hunter blocked a Tete Yengi cross.

Defensive, heroic headers from Jamie Dishington then Kieran Watson edged the ball further away from goal, with Bradley Whyte then fouled by Andrew Shinnie as the midfielder completed the clearance.

Moments later, Referee George Calder offered one final glance at his watch and called time on what was an incredible day.

FT: Livingston 0-1 The Spartans

Long live the sclaff!!

Blair Henderson’s late goal against Forfar Athletic was enough to claim the win in the latest round of Premier Sports Group E ties and sets up a top of the table clash against Livingston this weekend.

Manager Douglas Samuel fielded an unchanged XI that saw off Cove Rangers seven days earlier with the sunny Edinburgh conditions in direct contrast to the fog filled Balmoral Stadium experienced last week.

Last season’s SPFL 2 head to head encounters between the sides at Ainslie Park were both decided by solitary Spartans strikes and this latest war of attrition turned out to be no different.

Early creative play from the hosts looked hopeful as they searched for the opening goal. A Cammy Russell long throw into the box was nodded on by Ayrton Sonkur however there were no takers to trouble Marc McCallum between the Forfar sticks.

Referee Gary Hanvidge was keen to let play flow as much as possible in a closely fought opening period with the advantage rule being applied frequently despite a few robust challenges creeping in.

The first notable attempt of the evening fell to Ross MacLean however the Forfar man only succeeded in hitting the top of the TV Tower behind Blair Carswell’s goal.

On the half hour mark, Spartans were forced into a change as James Craigen was forced to withdraw following a jarred neck sustained in an aerial collision.

Just before the interval, Blair Henderson came closest to breaking the deadlock following a bit of a stramash in the box and as he just about managed to dig out the ball from under his feet, his effort was saved by McCallum.

HT: The Spartans 0-0 Forfar Athletic

New signing Brogan Walls made a cracking run through the middle of the park as he advanced towards the box before a wee tug en-route impeded the Spartans man. Whilst a shot at goal did materialise, it was tame at best with him off balance however that was deemed advantage enough and play raged on.

Blair Carswell had little to do for 55 minutes however he was called upon to deny former Spartans favourite Mark Whately who drilled a decent effort his direction.

Cammy Russell continued to torment the Forfar defence.  It looked as if the Spartans playmaker had been wrestled to the ground following a challenge with Matt Allan, only for Russell to be pinged as the transgressor.  Disappointed with the verdict, he was offered a caution for his remonstrations.

Shortly after, the Gaffer made his first set of changes with Mackie Scott and Danny Denholm coming off the bench, replacing Kieran Watson and Callum Booth.

It was 1-1 in Russell v Allan bookings as the game headed closer to a penalty shoot out decider when the Forfar defender crudely swiped Russell’s legs to halt any further advance.

Then, with just three minutes left on the scoreboard, a mix up in the Forfar defence gifted the ball to Blair Henderson inside the box.  Not known for looking gift horses in their mouths, the talismanic striker needed no invitation to swoop, round the keeper and slide home into the empty net.  Queue scenes.

Injury time offered one final squeekybumtime moment to survive in the shape of a Forfar corner.  The keeper was up, the ball came in, the home defence dealt with the threat accordingly and with that, three points secured.

FT: The Spartans 1-0 Forfar Athletic

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Bradley Whyte

Douglas Samuel’s Spartans got back to winning ways in their Premier Sports Cup Group E campaign – and in some style – with a 0-5 win on the road against League 1 side Cove Rangers.

Ahead of kick-off, both sides joined in a minute’s applause in memory of longtime Cove Rangers supporter Diane Adams. 

The game got underway as the sweeping fog covered the ground, making visibility poor for anyone keen to monitor play at the other end of the park.

Closer to your scribe was Cammy Russell who raced into the box in the 17th minute and was upended. A penalty kick awarded and up stepped Blair Henderson to get off the mark competitively this season.

It was almost a second for Henderson when Jamie Dishington’s cross found the hitman’s head. But for a defender scrambling at the far post, it may have been a brace for the striker.

Spartans did get that second goal of the evening following a telling run by Cammy Russell who managed to turn the ball into the six yard box, only for the outstretched toe of defender Gillingham to poke it beyond his own keeper.

James Craigen decided to have a pop from 25 yards to test the keeper’s visibility however the stopper was able to gather and ensure his side didn’t concede a third before the break. 

HT Cove Rangers 0-2 The Spartans 

There were just eight minutes on the second half clock before Cammy Russell whizzed past his marker. A low cross into the heart of the penalty area saw Blair Henderson slide in but in the process of colliding with the keeper, the ball squirted out into the path of Jamie Dishington who tucked it into the empty net.

Spartans made the first of their changes with Danny Denholm and Brogan Walls replacing the industrious Blair Henderson & Bradley Whyte. 

Midway through the half and a strike of sublime quality by Cammy Russell saw the ball come out of the fog and fly past the keeper into top bins to further extend the lead.

With ten minutes left, Under 20s midfielder Archie Wylie replaced James Craigen.

Moments later, it was five. That man Cammy Russell the architect after he was chopped down in the footrace to goal. From the resultant free-kick, he sent it over the wall and it was bulging the net before the keeper had the chance to make his move. 

Further changes were made late on with Niall Geany and Chris Inglis swapping berths with Watson and Henderson. 

FT: Cove Rangers 0-5 The Spartans

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Cammy Russell