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 

The first half got underway in conditions that could only be described as blowing a hoolie with the wind swirling around the Ainslie Park arena that set out which direction this first half was to follow.

Some neat early Spartans play in the heart of the Elgin half featured a series of passes involving a handful of home side however the pesky wind saw the ball eventually run away from Cammy Russell.

It took until midway through the half before the first clear cut opportunity of the match. A long ball up the park found Jamie Dishington who holds up play for Blair Henderson to pass into the path of Bradley Whyte and his shot was saved.

Kieran Watson was next to get in on the action, neatly turning his man, getting to the byeline however his cutback offered no takers and the visitors had the opportunity to clear again.

Blair Henderson was then denied by the base of the post and moments later, he could only turn away with head in hands as he looked on in agony as his shot narrowly went past the post.

There was one final opportunity from a 20 yard free-kick ahead of the interval and it took an exceptional save from a tremendous Rhys Armstrong free-kick to ensure the visitors kept a clean sheet as the players headed up the tunnel.

HT: The Spartans 0-0 Elgin City

There was no need for the measuring tape to be produced as a new PB for clearance distance was recorded at Ainslie Park as an Elgin defender unceremoniously hoofed the ball over the fence and it finally landed on the roof of the flats opposite.

Spartans looked threatening and save for a spot of housekeeping at the other end of the park by Kevin Waugh as he marshalled his man out of the field, the hosts appeared to be in control and the Elgin defence vulnerable.

Then, in a remarkable 90 seconds of SPFL football, Spartans found themselves two goals to the good.

James Craigen picked up the ball on the far corner of the Elgin penalty box and he’ll unlikely to have hit a sweeter strike that saw the ball travel like a Wimbledon Centre Court first serve into the net. He rightly wheeled away to celebrate with fans and team mates alike as he opened his Spartans account.

The Spartan Army following had barely digested the wonder-strike when they were back up on their feet celebrating a second time.

Cammy Russell looked to have been felled in the penalty area however before the Referee had time to consider the appeal, Rhys Armstrong swooped on the scraps and unleased an unstoppable effort to double the lead.

A third was almost delivered when Blair Henderson got down low to head goal bound, only to find the outstretched leg of the Elgin keeper who someone managed to prevent further light between the sides.

With fifteen minutes left on the clock, there was a double change with Danny Denholm and Gavin Morrison replacing Dishington and Whyte.

There then followed a goal from the tourists against the run of play that set up for a nervy final quarter of an hour.

Spartans conceded possession in the Elgin half but thankfully talismanic Jordan Tapping was at the back to not only win the ball, but was fouled in the process offering some calm down time.

With time ticking by, albeit it felt rather slowly, Spartans introduced Sam Jones at the expense of Cammy Russell.

With no further late dramas, the final whistle sounded and a historic first win in the SPFL recorded.

FT: The Spartans 2-1 Elgin City

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Rhys Armstrong

Spartans: Carswell, Watson, Allan, Waugh, Tapping, Dishington (Denholm 74), Henderson, Russell (Jones 89), Armstrong, Craigen, Whyte (Morrison 74). Subs (Not Used) Weir, S Brown, A Brown, S Newman, B Lamont.

Attendance: 567

The Spartans maintained their unbeaten start to life in the SPFL with a defiant comeback display against Dumbarton and it was Jamie Dishington for the second week in succession who popped up with a point earning equaliser.

Douglas Samuel made one change from the opening day side that faced Clyde with Kieran Watson coming in for Ayrton Sonkur at the heart of the defence.

Both teams kicked off the campaign with draws and were keen to get their opening win of the season in the bag early and it was the visitors who were looking lively from the off in the hunt for three points.

Jamie Dishington and Cammy Russell making early runs at the home defence however the final piece of the penetrating jigsaw couldn’t be put in place.

At the other end, Dumbarton forced a pair of corners in quick succession, looking to use their height at set pieces however it was Blair Carswell who came out on top in those tussles.

Cammy Russell scooped a cross into the box that found Blair Henderson however the striker just couldn’t fully dig the ball out from under his feet and his effort was deflected wide.

As the game stuttered towards the interval, Blair Carswell raised a strong arm to somehow deny the opener and the The Cat needed to look sharp in order to collect the rebound at this near post.

HT: Dumbarton 0-0 The Spartans

The groundstaff delivered the half time entertainment with the big hose as they watered a section of the pitch with the Spartans subs showing nifty footwork to avoid getting a good soaking!

Spartans started the half in fine form taking the game to last season’s runners-up and Mikey Allan was unlucky with his effort from inside a congested box that narrowly went wide.

It was to be quite the start to the second half for the defender as he then picked up a caution after a robust challenge in the middle of the park that Referee Whyte deemed was contrary to the laws of the game.

Dumbarton were then awarded a penalty kick after a cross into the Spartans box saw Mikey Allan look to use the full length of his body to seek a way to prevent its pathway, unfortunately the ball hitting an arm on the way.

The spot-kick was converted and Spartans found themselves, perhaps rather unfortunately on the balance of play, behind.

Summer recruit James Craigen was next up to have a chance to open his Spartans account and his effort offered oooohs from the crowd as it narrowly whizzed past the post.

Now, when you are defending a slender lead, game management is fundamental. Dumbarton keeper Brett Long certainly living up to his surname with the goalie in no rush to resume the game whenever the ball went beyond the byeline.

Danny Denholm then replaced Jordan Tapping who had another staunch performance and this was followed shortly after by Sam Jones swapping with the industrious Bradley Whyte.

A teasing corner into the crowded back post by Rhys Armstrong was met by the head of Kevin Waugh who just couldn’t direct his header another 15 degrees to the right to trouble the keeper.

Cometh the hour (and a half) cometh the Dish. For the second week in succession, it was Jamie Dishington who came up trumps with the equaliser.

Cammy Russell’s deep corner saw the ball come off the Dumbarton defender who was under pressure from Mikey Allan. It dropped into the path of Jamie Dishington who was situated in line with the penalty spot and his volley blasted through two Sons players before it tested the strength of the net pegs.

Gavin Morrison replaced Rhys Armstrong before play resumed for an added time period where neither side could find a winner.

FT: Dumbarton 1-1 The Spartans

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Jamie Dishington