The Spartans recorded their third clean sheet on the bounce and make it four successive wins as they defeated Cumbernauld Colts 3-0 at Ainslie Park in Saturday’s Lowland League encounter.

After a gruelling trip to Cowdenbeath in midweek, Spartans welcomed the Colts in a game sandwiched between two UEFA Women’s Under 19s Championship fixtures as the Academy once again hosting International football.

Spartans started the game in the unusual position of attacking away from the Café end and there was almost food for thought for the visitors early on as Scott Maxwell, who celebrated his 200^th appearance last Tuesday, won possession but couldn’t get enough purchase on his shot as he was closed down.

As the weather took a turn for the worst, fans headed for the comfort of the back of the stand with a reminder that it’s becoming time to replace t-shirts with cagoules for footy matches.

In attack Spartans looked dangerous whilst in defence they continued to look resolute with Malt and Hops Man of the Match Kevin Waugh getting in some robust challenges to thwart the visitors.

There was an early introduction to the game for Ian McFarland as he came off the bench for Scott Maxwell who took an knock and was unable to continue.

With just eight minutes before half time, Mikey Allan opened the scoring.  A telling in-swinging corner saw Blair Henderson do enough to make life difficult for the keeper and Mikey Allan was on hand at the back post to tap in from close range.

In a rare excursion into the home box, Colts looked for a rapid response however Blair Carswell was on hand to get down low to deny any hope of an equaliser.

From almost drawing level, Colts were to go into the break two goals down when Kevin Waugh went on a bursting run through the middle of the park.  He shipped the ball to Cammy Russell who whipped in a cross which was half cleared however the talismanic defender had continued his onward movements into the box and powered his header beyond the keeper into the net.

HT: The Spartans 2-0 Cumbernauld Colts

There was an early break in play as Ian McFarland required treatment after be scudded his napper on the thigh of a Colts player in a collision in midfield. 

Not sure what was in the magic sponge but it almost saw ‘Subo’ add a third when his thumping drive from 25 yards narrowly sailed over the bar.

Another pressing move by the home side saw yet another corner sent to the back post, this time finding Jamie Dishington unmarked.  His initial shot was blocked however the Club’s top Lowland League scorer swooped like a seagull on chips to convert the rebound for this 42^nd goal in the competition.

There were further substitutions for the home side, this time unenforced by injury with Josh Laing and Alan Brown coming on for Cammy Russell and Rhys Armstrong.

If Colts task to get back into the match wasn’t already beyond them, it was completely off the table when they were reduced to 10 men after a second yellow for Dylan Tennant.

A late swap saw Mikey Herd give Blair Henderson an early rest and with that, the game came to a close and Spartans moved up to 4^th in the table.

FT: The Spartans 3-0 Cumbernauld Colts

Sean Brown was the Spartans saviour in the midweek trip to the Kingdom as his second half strike saw his side earn the three points in a tricky tussle against Cowdenbeath.

Bradley Whyte returned the bench following his recent spell on the sidelines as Spartans looked to maintain momentum following a couple of useful victories.

The home of stockcar racing had a chill in the air as the sides made their way onto the rare occurrence of a grass pitch for this Lowland League encounter, the first between the sides and only the second visit to Central Park for Spartans, the previous in a Scottish Cup Replay back in January 1991.

Spartans started the hungrier of the two with Blair Henderson putting himself about, causing a nuisance in the Cowdenbeath danger zone.

The game was lively from the off with Jamie Dishington spending some time on the turf as the defence looked for the best way – legally or otherwise – to deal with him.

Dishington was hauled back by former Spartans u20s players Johnny Jarron just on the right side of the box for the home defender who earned a caution in the process.  Cammy Russell stepped up and his free-kick was well saved.

Another free-kick, this time from Rhys Armstrong was inches away from being converted by Cammy Russell as the visitors pushed for the opener.

It was a special moment for Scott Maxwell who celebrated his 200^th appearance for the club however he got one card he’d prefer to have not had, that being a yellow from the Ref.

HT: Cowdenbeath 0-0 The Spartans

Just a few days earlier, the sides produced double figures in terms of goals between them however the game continued to flow with both defences remaining resolute.

Then, with seven second half minutes played, Sean Brown made a dart into the box and his shot managed to squeeze beyond the keeper and it trickled it’s way over the line to score what was the prove to be the telling strike.

An audacious attempt from Rhys Armstrong was up next and his effort wasn’t far away from doubling the Ainslie Park side’s lead.

The evening dampness was making the surface a tad greasy and some of the players looked as if they’d swapped their studs for slippers at the break as they struggled to stay on their feet.

Blair Carswell wasn’t overly tested by the Cowdenbeath strike force however he had to look flash to come off his line and stay big to block a potential equaliser.

The 136 inside the Blue Brazil arena let out a collective ooooft when a long range effort from Cowdenbeath’s Jack Garrad, swerved and then rattled Carswell’s crossbar before the Goalie watched as it dipped behind.  A let off for the Spartans side who knew a draw wouldn’t be of much use to them.

Alan Brown then replaced scorer Sean Brown and it didn’t take long for Hovie to get his kit dirty as he got stick into a couple of challenges out wide.

Cammy Russell produced a cheeky meg on the touchline before working his way infield before sending a cross towards Blair Henderson who headed over the bar.

A couple of further Substitutions for the visitors saw Josh Laing and Sam Coats – two products of the Academy Pathway – replace Dishington and Armstrong.

It was another sublime piece of skill from Malt and Hops Man of the Match Cammy Russell when he outfoxed three Cowdenbeath players in the corner to somehow elude their collective challenges and he was denied by Daniel Farrell’s feet from scoring a wondergoal.

FT: Cowdenbeath 0-1 The Spartans

A double from Cammy Russell set Spartans on their way to a comeback victory on the road against East Stirlingshire at a fresh feeling Falkirk Stadium on Wednesday night.

With Jordan Tapping ruled out of contention due to a knock at the weekend, there was a further shift in the defensive pack for Dougie Samuel as he looked to get back to winning ways at the first time of asking following Saturday’s derby defeat.

There was an early scare for the tourists who saw the ball hit the back of Blair Carswell’s net after just four minutes however the stand-side linesman was having none of it, putting up his flag without hesitation.

A decent run to the bye-line from Jamie Dishington, one of several players who have played for both teams, saw him send the ball back into the danger area however there were no takers in the box.

It was the other end of the park that saw the opening goal as a slack back pass was pounced upon by McDonald who poked the ball past Blair Carswell and Scott Honeyman had the freedom of Falkirk to tap into the empty onion bag.

Spartans rallied as they sought to get back into the game quickly whilst the hosts were keen to build on the blunder looking for their first win of the campaign.

Jamie Dishington cut inside from the touchline to give himself just about enough space to test Connelly from 20 yards.

The same player was to cause chaos as he progressed to the edge of the box and a combination of challenges which wouldn’t have looked out of place at Murrayfield saw the playmaker man-handled to the ground.  Cammy Russell’s free-kick cleared the wall but to his disappointment, also the goalframe too.

Shire found themselves reduced to 10 men after 26 minutes, double the length of time it took them at Bo’ness, when Kyle Ewing was the recipient of his second yellow of the evening for a foul in the middle of the paddock. 

Numerical advantage then for Spartans however the key number was still goals and the hosts had more of them despite having fewer players.

Spartans set out to redress that imbalance and Blair Henderson forced a goal line clearance whilst Mikey Allan’s header landed on top, rather than under, the roof of the net.

Then, with ten minutes until the interval, the score was tied.  Cammy Russell was on hand to finish off a move that saw the tourists spring the offside trap and the striker raced in before sliding the ball under the advancing keeper to make it 1-1.

HT: East Stirlingshire 1-1 The Spartans

Jamie Penker replaced Alan Brown at the break as Spartans looked to continue with the momentum built from the equaliser before the interval.

There was a shout from the visiting contingent when Rhys Armstrong sent his free-kick towards goal and when the net rippled on the far side with the keeper scrambling, those in the stand were perhaps unfortunate with their angles and despite their momentary enthusiasm, it was quickly established that the ball had indeed, hit the outside of the net.

Sean Brown was next to enter the fray at the expense of Ian McFarland and he was make an invaluable impact when he was on hand to head home from a corner to put his side into the lead for the first time.

Four minutes late, it was almost a carbon copy that put light between the teams when Blair Henderson this time rose like a salmon to beat off the defence to nod beyond the spreadeagled Connelly who remained stranded on his line.

Henderson was next to earn some rest time and he was replaced by Under 20s skipper Sam Coats.

Blair Carswell was more of a by-stander in the second half however he was called into action when he produced a fine fisted stop, beating away a thumping effort from Kai Wilson.

The scoring wasn’t finished and when Cammy Russell raced into the box, there was only one likely outcome and he laced his boot through the ball, cutting it across the keeper, and drilling it low into the opposite corner to round off the win.

It was his last action too as he came off along with Rhys Armstrong with seven to go and youngsters Chris Inglis and Joe Tait, making a welcome return, on as their replacements.

FT: East Stirlingshire 1-4 The Spartans

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Rhys Armstrong