Dougie Samuel shuffled his Spartans pack following Saturday’s victory over Strollers with Harvey Swann, Sean Brown and Ian McFarland in the starting Xi for the visit of Rangers B to Ainslie Park.

It was almost an early opener for the first-footers with Blair Carswell having to look lively to pull off a top reflex save to deny the dangerous Robbie Ure from close range.

Jamie Dishington forged open an opportunity at the other end in response however his effort from long range failed to trouble Lewis Budinauckas between the Rangers sticks.

Jordan Tapping was next to try his luck and his header from a telling free-kick from Cammy Russell just went narrowly wide.

It was the provider who was to turn scorer shortly after when he was played in from Bradley Whyte who drove through the Rangers midfield with gusto.  Cammy Russell receiving the ball on the corner of the 18 yard box before sending a low and unstoppable drive across the goal into the net beyond the outstretched Budinauckas.

Rangers rallied and Ross McCausland almost got his side back on level terms however his shot hit the back of Jordan Tapping and the follow up from Robbie Fraser was easily saved by Blair Carswell.

Cammy Russell found himself in an almost carbon copy scenario on the edge of the box after industrious work skipper Ian McFarland.  His shot had the pace and accuracy once again however this time the Rangers keeper was equal to the task.

Rangers then found themselves level on the half hour mark when Charlie Lindsay’s pin-point pass found Ross McCausland who had made his run into the box and collected before sliding home the equaliser.

Jordan Tapping was inches away from restoring the lead when he got on the end of a Cammy Russell free-kick however his header was stopped on the line by the diving goalie.

HT: The Spartans 1-1 Rangers B

Spartans made a change at the interval with Rhys Armstrong replacing Cammy Russell.

Ten minutes after the break and the pendulum swung back in the home side’s favour.  Another excellent corner saw Jordan Tapping rise and nip in front of his marker to bullet his header into the bottom corner to make it 2-1.

Finding themselves trailing for the second time in the match, the Rangers side piled the pressure on the Spartans defence however they were matched by a resolute and robust showing from the back division who offered a blanket of protection for Blair Carswell.

Midway through the half, Spartans freshened the legs once again with Blair Henderson and Gavin Morrison replacing Sean Brown and Harvey Swann.

Blair Carswell was called upon to deny Rangers replacement Jacob Pasnik who got on the end of a corner at the Café end however the Spartans stopper somehow managed to claw the ball to safety.

Now, there was almost an entry for goal of the season shortly after when Jordan Tapping went for an audacious overhead kick inside the area and it wasn’t far away from the target.

Then, with the game heading towards second half stoppage time, Spartans secured all three points when Sam Jones looked like he was considering running to towards the corner flag about-turned and returned the ball across to box to Rhys Armstrong who calmly slotted home from six yards.

Line up: Carswell, Watson, Allan, Waugh, Tapping, Whyte, Dishington, McFarland (Henderson, 69), Brown (Morrison, 69), Swann (Jones, 69), Russell (Armstrong, 45). Subs not used: Penker, Laing, Meek

Jamie Dishington’s sublime 8th minute strike was to be enough to separate the sides and see Spartans end 2022 in winning ways defeating Civil Service Strollers in the North Edinburgh Derby.

Blair Carswell made a return between the sticks for the home side for the final game of the calendar year in front of a crowd of 375 who braved the chill in the Ainslie Park air.

Spartans attacked the Cafe end from the off stating their intent to take an early hold on the Hogmanay contest. And it wasn’t long before that pressure paid off, much to the delight of the Spartan Army faithful.

A tremendous turn of pace and gallop down the flank by Malt and Hops Man of the Match Cammy Russell saw the playmaker pass the ball across the entire edge of the 18 yard box where it was collected by Jamie Dishington who sent a delightful curled effort beyond Whyte to give his side the lead.

Strollers looked to get back into the game quickly but there was no way through the Spartans defence with Jordan Tapping putting in trademark telling tackles to thwart progress.

Cammy Russell then had a pop at one end before Blair Carswell needed to look lively to get down low to deny Faye from equalising.

Kevin Waugh came close to doubling the lead when he connected powerfully with the head from a corner, only for Whyte to be in situ to palm the ball away to safety from under his crossbar.

Half Time: Spartans 1-0 Civil Service Strollers

Spartans continued where they left off at the end of the opening half and Bradley Whyte was denied from grabbing a goal by a timely block after nipping in front of team mate Blair Henderson on the edge of the six yard box to test the keeper.

The two players combined shortly after and it was Whyte who supplied the cross for Henderson however there was too much air in the pass for the big number nine to make any headway in turning it into an attempt at goal.

Sam Jones replaced Rhys Armstrong as Dougie Samuel looked to freshen up his midfield and ensure the lead was maintained.

Jamie Dishington was millimetres from doubling his and the side’s goals for the day when a cross was whipped in towards the back post, only for the header to rattle the bar with force and incredibly stay out.

Sean Brown replaced Henderson as the game entered it’s final stages.

Cammy Russell had one final opportunity when he was upended, not for the first time, and after dusting himself down, he curled the ball beyond the wall and narrowly beyond the upright.

Strollers were awarded a free-kick as full time approached. The delivery sent into the heart of the home box, thankfully only for the header to fall into the bread basket of Blair Carswell.

Full Time: Spartans 1-0 Civil Service Strollers

A dynamic double from Mikey Allan saw Spartans reverse a half time deficit in the pouring rain at Netherdale and give Gaffer Dougie Samuel the perfect early Christmas present of a win on the road.

There was a welcome return to the bench for Jordan Tapping following a recent period on the treatment table in a Spartans side that featured four Academy Pathway Graduates in the starting XI and Miko Komocki on the bench with the replacement gloves.

It was a decidedly foul evening in the Borders heartland however the recent re-opening of the iconic concrete listed stand allowed the hardy supporters much needed shelter as the rain fell throughout the evening.

On with the game and in apt festive fashion, A Shepherd got the match underway and the wise men of Spartans attacked towards the rugby club end.

It was almost an early opener for the tourists when Bradley Whyte had a snap shot in the box but Ryan Goodfellow was equal to the task. The Gala goalie had to look lively moments later when he thwarted the diving Blair Henderson from nodding home.

At the other end it was an early opportunity for the host and a deflected effort wrong footed Adam Meek however the base of the post saved Spartans from going behind against the run of play.

Kevin Waugh was in typical no-nonsense fashion at the back and his pair of successive telling tackles kept the Rovers at bay.

There was a combined appeal for a spot-kick from Mikey Allan and Blair Henderson when their aerial battle saw them and a Gala defender fall to the floor on the six yard line with the ball appearing to hit the latter on the arm. It wasn’t convincing enough for Referee Shepherd who waved play on.

Then, with five minutes to go until some respite from the rain, a deep corner to the back post saw Gareth Rodger climb to head beyond Adam Meek and give his side the lead.

HT: Gala Fairydean Rovers 1-0 The Spartans

Spartans made a change at the break with Jordan Tapping replacing Josh Laing.

The second half was just six minutes old when Spartans levelled proceedings. An average effort from Mikey Allan saw him turn to race back into position but his journey was cut short when it turned into celebration after Ryan Goodfellow allowed the ball to slip through his gloves and legs and it skited across the slippery carpet into the net.

Gala gaffer Martin Scott’s blood pressure was taking a battering as his side continued to put themselves under the cosh with their determination to play from the back as Spartans pressed to take the lead.

The ball did find itself in the Rovers net when Blair Henderson tapped home however the stand-side AR raised his flag in the rain to deny the striker.

However, the next time the Gala defence was breached, it was legitimate and it was Mikey Allan once again who was on hand to scoop the ball beyond Goodfellow and into the net to swing the pendulum in his side’s favour.

The celebrations from the Spartan Army contingent in the stand had barely ended when Jamie Dishington found himself in acres of space inside the box. With no written invitation required, he composed himself before sending an unstoppable strike home for Spartans’ second in as many minutes.

Sam Jones and Ian McFarland then replaced Gavin Morrison and Rhys Armstrong to freshen things in the middle of the park.

There was one final request for a spot-kick from the visitors, instead, the remonstrations from the visting bench were deemed to be in contravention of the spirit of Christmas and a card was offered to Assistant Manager Darren Cameron for his troubles.

FT: Gala Fairydean Rovers 1-3 The Spartans