A second half sublime strike by Malt and Hops Man of the Match Cammy Russell was enough to separate the sides in dreadful conditions in Bo’ness.

With the players set to begin their respective warm-ups, ironically, the winter weather gods turned on the taps and the wind machines at Newton Park.

The opening half was largely played with the driving rain blowing into the coupon of Blair Carswell with no let up for the The Cat throughout.

A early ball sent up the park by the Bo’ness keeper went all the way into the arms of the travelling tabby, forcing the hosts into rethinking their long ball approach.

Typically, your scribe reviews the live tweets to bulk out the match report however the ball spent as much time out the park than on it, rendering the half dozen or so updates largely ineffective.

There was one opportunity for Cammy Russell as he raced towards the end of the edge of the Bo’ness box however the ball eventually dragged itself wide and behind.

HT: Bo’ness United 0-0 The Spartans

There was a change at the break with the rain – and wind – taking a bit of back seat as both sides looked to get the ball on the ground to play football.

A powerful run and effort by Mikey Allan saw his thumping effort hit the bar. It was perhaps a tad unfortunate on the keeper that the goal kick was awarded as he looked to have made a good fingertip save in the first instance.

Then, with ten second half minutes on the clock, up stepped Cammy Russell to score what was to turn out to be the only goal of the game.

The ball was launched across the paddock for Russell who still had plenty work to do. A wee shimmy later to throw his man off the scent and he continued into the box to slide the ball beyond the keeper into the net.

Blair Henderson came close in the latter stages to double the lead, but for a pesky Bo’ness defender hogging his post at a corner and he hoofed away the header.

Sam Jones replaced Ian McFarland who had been industrious throughout the 75 minutes on the park.

Play was then stopped when Blair Henderson felt the force of his namesake Carswell who came off his line to punch the ball away within a plethora of players on the edge of the six yard box.

Henderson and Herd were then withdrawn with Sean Brown and Alan Brown coming on for the final five plus injury time.

FT: Bo’ness United 0-1 The Spartans

The Spartans progressed to the 5^th Round of the South Challenge Cup with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Dunipace at a wet and wild Ainslie Park.

Ahead of kick-off, the ground fell silent to pay tribute to Tom Allison, a man devoted to East of Scotland Football with tremendous passion, who sadly passed away last week.

With the wind gusting around the North Edinburgh arena, Spartans made the unusual decision to shoot away from the Café end first half.

Spartans started the livelier of the two sides as both sets of players looked to find the best way to deal with the conditions from the off.

It didn’t take long for the hosts to stamp their authority on proceedings and from an in-swinging corner from Cammy Russell, Jamie Dishington flicked the ball on with his head.  The goalkeeper trying his valiant best to palm the ball away however the stand-side Assistant Referee had a great view of it having crossed the line first.

That lead was doubled in the 16^th minute with a whipped in cross from Cammy Russell on wing was knocked into the path of Blair Henderson who side home.

The visitors were thankfully infrequent visitors into the Spartans half however it needed a decent save from Blair Carswell to deny Dunipace an opportunity to have their deficit shortly after.

Half Time: Spartans 2-0 Dunipace

A change at the interval saw Harvey Swann replaced by Sam Jones.

The second half was merely 60 seconds old when the hosts extended their lead.  A fine move stretching to twelve passes saw Michael Herd race to the bye-line before sending the ball back into the box where Blair Henderson was waiting to do his thing.

The windy conditions were joined by the forecasted rain as the collective of supporters made their way further up the stand to shelter from the manky wintery weather.

It was raining goals on the pitch as well and midway through the half, Cammy Russell dispatched the ball beyond the Dunipace keeper from a tight angle to make it four.

A suite of substitutions followed with Alan Brown, Gregor Woods and Josh Laing entering the fray replacing Dishington, Waugh and Herd.  

It was almost the match ball for Blair Henderson when the striker got his head onto a cross however he was met with a super save from the Dunipace stopper.

A final change saw Ian McFarland come on for Cammy Russell.

Then, with just minutes left on the clock, Sean Brown sent a low drive from the edge of box skiting across the wet surface beyond the keeper and into the back of the net.

Full Time: Spartans 5 Dunipace 0

Talismanic hitman Blair Henderson bagged his 50th goal in Spartans colours during a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Caledonian Braves at Ainslie Park.

There was a call-up to the bench for Under 20s striker Mackenzie Scott whilst the team were joined as they entered the pitch by the Youth Section’s 2015 Carswell side as mascots for the day.

The first chance of the afternoon fell to the visitors as the masked defender Jordan Tapping was adjudged to have fouled his man just outside the box. The wall held their own and also blocked the effort before it was hoofed clear.

With just nine minutes on the clock, the opener. Malt and Hops Man of the Match Jamie Dishington collecting the ball before gliding the ball under the advancing Braves keeper to slide into the empty net.

As they would say on the Masked Singer, ‘Take it off, Take it off’ and it was Tapps aff for Jordan who gave an early departure for his facial furniture.

Brad Whyte was unfortunate not to double the lead with a cross / shot effort to the back post. The ball just begging for a wee nudge net bound with a plethora of players rooted to the spot.

As the half progressed, Spartans maintained their momentum and in the 32nd minute, Mikey Allan rose to head towards the goal and despite the valiant attempts by the defender on the line – or more so behind it – the far-side Assistant Referee called the shots and decreed that the ball had indeed crossed. No VAR in North Edinburgh required.

There was some disquiet in the away dugout when Ian McFarland dished out a robust challenge in the middle of the paddock. Ball won, noted Referee George Calder although play was halted to allow both players to receive treatment from the coming together of committed individuals.

HT: The Spartans 2-0 Caledonian Braves

Anyone just finishing off their pie and bovril in the cafe would have done well to have made it back to their seats in time for Braves halving the deficit moments after the restart. Almost shades of the game between the sides earlier in the season.

That momentary fortune for the Braves was dashed just five minutes into the half when Cammy Russell pulled the ball back into the path of Blair Henderson who slid home the third and his half century of strikes for the club.

The provider turned finisher in the 62nd minute after collecting the ball before going on a tormenting run, turning his man one way then another ahead of dinking the ball over the keeper to make it four.

Spartans made a double substitution ahead of the restart with Harvey Swann and Sam Jones replacing Ian McFarland and Josh Laing.

Then, it was Cammy Russell once again coming up with a low drive that sailed into the onion bag to round off the scoring.

There were further changes to come with Sean Brown replacing Mikey Allan ahead of a final brace of replacements as Mackie Scott entered the fray for Blair Henderson and Gregor Woods coming on for Cammy Russell.

FT: The Spartans 5-1 Caledonian Braves