It was more of a sense of Deja Edu for Dougie Samuel and his Spartans charged as they left it til late for the second week in a row to record yet another vital three Lowland League championship points as they edged of Edusport Academy 2-1 at Ainslie Park courtesy of a Blair Atkinson double.

With all the other teams in the title chase securing victories in their respective fixtures, Spartans looked to be heading for a draw as the game drifted deeper into added on time.

Then Atkinson popped up to break French hearts, just like Scotland’s Rugby Union side done across town last weekend, to ensure parity was restored at the business end of the table.

The first half offered no goals however it did see the hosts with the bulk of possession and attempts on target. The opening half hour saw the Edusport net come under attack with relative regularity however the ball just wouldn’t find its way into the onion bag.

David Greenhill, last weekends hero, came close with a free-kick as Spartans laid siege upon the Annan-based side’s penalty box.

After soaking up the pressure and preserving their rearguard, the Students came back into the game and it took a sterling show in the back division to hold them at bay.

HT Spartans 0-0 Edusport Academy

The half time oranges done, team talks taken, both sides came out for a second forty five and shortly after, Spartans had the opportunity to take the lead. Ross Allum was upended in the box leaving the match official with an easy decision to make. Allum dusted himself down only to see his attempt saved and Ian McFarland’s headed rebound go wide.

Allum however atoned for his miss when the delivered a telling ball that found Atkinson who opened the scoring in the 63rd minute.

A grandstand finish was set-up when Edusport levelled proceedings with just eight minutes left on the clock.

Then there were loud appeals from the home support for a penalty kick when a cross appeared to hit the arm of a defender inside the area. Play raged on as claims for a spot kick were brushed aside by the man in the middle.

The spoils looked certain to be being shared as the sands of time moved on grain by grain, by not before Atkinson popped up to net the winner. Cue absolute scenes and a jubilant / relieved Dougie Samuel ‘doing a Mourinho’ down the touchline.

Elation for the Ainslie Park men and utter deflation for Edusport who must have thought they’d done enough to pick up a point in the capital.

FT Spartans 2-1 Edusport Academy

Spartans: Carswell, Herd, Stevenson (Dishington 68), Corbett, Tolmie, Greenhill (Lamarca 87), Atkinson, McFarland, Allum (Stevens), Brown, Maxwell.  Subs: Bremner, Thomson, Guthrie, Stobie.

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Blair Atkinson

Spartans and BSC Glasgow shared the spoils in the Clackmannanshire rain with both sides having to be content with a point in a top of the table slog.

New signing Gavin Malin took his place on the bench following his move from Edinburgh City. The midfielder returning to the club after a five year break.

Billed as a proverbial ‘six-pointer’, the match had all the potential of a Karpov v Kasparov chess classic with a midfield war of attrition seeing each side carefully look for that decisive ‘check-mate’ moment.

There was lots of early bluff and bluster in the opening stages and the best of the chances came in the 6th minute with Murray dragging his shot wide of Carswell’s net.

A claim for a spot-kick in the 15th minute by the home side when Smith went down theatrically inside the box did indeed see the Referee blow his whistle and stop play, only for him to brandish a yellow to match the BSC striker’s kit for simulation.

Spartans were forced into making a replacement on the half hour mark with Blair Tolmie retiring and Gavin Malin making his second debut for the club.

Perhaps the highlight of a first half played out in dreich conditions saw Stevens drill a low shot across the synthetic surface, only for the home keeper to get down low to push the effort round the post.

With half-time on the immediate horizon,  a free-kick tight on the bye-line from Craig Stevenson had the potential to deliver danger but the opportunity went a-begging and the teams went into the sheds all square.

Half Time: BSC Glasgow 0-0 Spartans

Six minutes into the second stanza, Maxwell made good yards to the bye-line and his cross almost caught everyone off guard and it was inches away from creeping into the back post.

At the other end, Blair Carswell was the Spartans hero of the hour (and a half) when he made himself big to pull of an instinctive save to deny Smith inside the six yard box.

Malin the delivered a corner deep into the BSC area causing some confusion for the home stopper and perhaps with an air of non-expectancy, the ball landed on the head of Bremner who could only head wide.

The honours at the end were even and with results elsewhere in the top four going to plan, there’s plenty to play for as the business end of the season heats up.
Full Time: BSC Glasgow 0-0 Spartans
Spartans: Carswell, Herd, Stevenson, Nixon, Tolmie (Malin 29), Greenhill (Bremner 73), Brown, McFarland, Stevens, Corbett, Maxwell (Allum 77). Subs (Unused): Atkinson, Khutsishvili, Guthrie, GK. Stobie

Scott Maxwell’s 15th minute header was the difference between the sides in a closely fought North Edinburgh derby that saw Spartans edge out neighbours Civil Service Strollers 1-0 at Ainslie Park.

For many a home fan, the personnel in the visiting line-up was as familiar as their own team’s listing with several ex-Spartans players and backroom staff in their ranks, giving that derby feel an extra sparkle to it.

A popular man, outwith match winner Maxwell, around the ground was Chairman Craig Graham with all and sundry congratulating the Academy Chief on his recent New Year’s Honours news, which saw him deservedly awarded the MBE.

With the Christmas trees lining the pavements awaiting collection, one would be forgiven for thinking the season of goodwill was behind us, however perhaps Strollers keeper Stuart Burnside was counting his lucky stars when he let a Craig Stevenson free-kick slip through his fingers and into the path of Scott Maxwell. Unfortunately the striker couldn’t borrow a spade in time to dig the ball out from under his feet to get any purchase on directing a potential gift-wrapped goal home.

Next up was Craig Stevenson’s dynamic dash to the bye-line, one of a handful in relative quick succession, this time his delivery whizzed across the six yard box, with Jason Stevens hitting the back on the net, sadly sans the ball.

The wave of home pressure finally paid off after a quarter of an hour.  A trademark long throw by Jack Nixon catapulted itself into the box and found the head of Stevens.  His flick on found the welcoming noggin of Maxwell who nodded home past Burnside to break the deadlock.

David Greenhill came closest to doubling the lead when he was a mere shoelace length away from connecting as he slid in on goal keen to convert another fine delivery by the in-form Stevenson.

HT: Spartans 1-0 Civil Service Strollers

A change at the interval saw Alan Brown replace Jack Nixon.  The replacement didn’t take long to get in on the action, with his long stride style runs up the line causing chaos amongst the Strollers defence.

Greenhill finally had the ball in the net early in the half only for jubilation turn to frustration with the stand-side linesman rooted to the spot with his flag flapping freely in fresh feeling Pilton wind.

As clichés go, a one goal lead often never feels enough, and as Strollers started to work up a mild head of steam in order to forge an opening to get back on level terms, David Churchill progressed deep into home territory.  Happily for the hosts, but not for the player, his final effort didn’t match his run and the shoot drifted decidedly wide of the target.

Samuel made two further changes as the game balanced on a proverbial knife edge, Ross Allum replaced Jamie Dishington whilst Willie Bremner continued his comeback trail with 15 minutes at the expense of goal scorer Maxwell.

It was Bremner who almost set up what would have put the contest to bed when his cross found Stevens at the back post however the striker was unable to extend his legs enough to give enough direction towards the net.

FT: Spartans 1-0 Civil Service Strollers

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Ian McFarland

Spartans: Carswell, Herd, Stevenson, Nixon (Brown 45), Tolmie, Greenhill, Dishington (Allum 63), McFarland, Stevens, Corbett, Maxwell (Bremner 75).  Subs (Unused) Thomson, Atkinson, Khutsishvili, Stobie.