Spartans under 20s notched up their tenth league win in a row with a comfortable 1-5 victory on the road at Mid Annandale to remain top of the Development League.

A Friday night minibus ride to Lockerbie and early departure time combo saw just 13 players available for a match against the basement side still looking for their first win.

Spartans started the livelier of the sides with Cameron Dawson rattling the bar from twenty yards after Arron Singh dug deep to retrieve what looked like a lost cause near the byeline.

It was perhaps more a case of when rather than if the deadlock would be broken and it finally came about in the 20th minute. A top quality ping by Singh stung the keepers cold digits, who couldn’t prevent the ball from flying into the net.

That lead was doubled just nine minutes later when Oran Hosey scooped his foot round the ball to thunder it beyond the goalie from a Singh corner kick.

As a contest, the game was effectively over when Spartans extended their advantage ahead of the interval.

A terrific turn of pace by Calum O’Neil saw him reach the bye-line before delivering a textbook whipped in cross that is bulleted home by the head of Cameron Dawson to make it three.

HT: Mid Annandale 0-3 Spartans

Spartans almost made it four when Mikey Allan hit the outside of the post when delivering a cross into the home danger area. Perhaps not what he was intending but it had the keeper scrambling.

Frustration started to kick in, literally, and Les Atkinson’s youngsters had to look light on their loafers to avoid some agricultural challenges as the game progressed.

Danny Sutherland continued to command the midfield, with a well timed tackle to thwart a Mid Annandale attack drawing applause for the small band of travelling Spartan Army faithful in attendance.

A change in personnel saw Olly Hetherington replace Cinar, as Spartans looked to add to their first half lead.

Spartans probably a greater danger to themselves than the hosts at the back. It took a brave piece of goalkeeping by Jordan Pettigrew who collided with a stray boot whilst protecting his side’s fine run of clean sheets. The shot stopper’s nods offering enough spilt claret to see him retire and Robbie Urquhart take over between the sticks.

Midway through the second spell, that somewhere elusive fourth goal finally came. Singh nabbing his brace with an elegant finish after rounding the keeper to slide home into the welcoming arms of the empty net.

Fifteen minutes left on the clock and a breakaway goal narrowed the gulf in the scoreline however parity was restored shortly after when Olly Hetherington drove into the danger area before unleashing an unstoppable low drive that was only going to have one outcome.

Spare a thought though for poor Dougie Crowe. On a bitterly cold evening, the Spartans lad was just too close when fielding a clearance, leaving the lad not sure whether to rub them or count them…

FT: Mid Annandale 1-5 Spartans

Spartans 20s team: 1. Pettigrew (Urquhart), 2. Sutherland, 3. Allan, 4. Wishart, 5. Hosey, 6. Crowe, 7. O’Neil, 8. Hand, 9. Dawson, 10. Cinar (Hetherington), 11. Singh

It was the late show for Spartans under 20s as Les Atkinson’s side scored twice in as many minutes to see off a stubborn BSC Glasgow side at Ainslie Park on Monday night.

With the gruelling demand of three games in seven days, Atkinson shuffled his squad, bringing in Jamie Dishington to the starting XI whilst Blair Carswell returned between the sticks.

There opening quarter of the match failed to see either keeper troubled however midway through the first half, a top class save by Daryl Smith in the BSC goal to deny Anthony Laing drew applause from the stand when he tipped the Captain’s effort onto the bar.

The chill factor was certainly biting for the hardy supporters who made it along for some Monday night action and the cold plumes of breath from the home fans could be seen as they let off a collective ooooft following almost Messi-esque footwork by Blair Carswell to take the ball away from a pressing attacker on the edge of his six yard box.

A penetrating run by Lewis Grant then saw the hardy Highlander zip a cross into the box, but Cameron Dawson was unable to guide his shot home.

HT: Spartans U20s 0-0 BSC Glasgow U20s

After the warmth of the sheds for the players and a bovril boost for the fans, the second half failed to come to life until its final fifteen minutes and it included two replacements who came on moments after the break.

A two minute double whammy floored the west coasters to maintain Spartans impressive home record, starting with a goal for Calum O’Neil.

Cameron Dawson working his way into the box before rounding the keeper and with the angle too tight to be sure of finding the net himself, the prolific striker placed it into the path of O’Neil who rammed it home.

Ninety seconds later the ball found a similar resting place and it did so in some style.

Arron Singh collected the ball deep inside the BSC half before a series of twists, turns saw him slalom through static defenders like a skier going in between the gates on the slopes of Courcheval. He drew keeper Smith off his line to slide the all under the advancing keeper to see his shot cross the line with the assistance of the base of the far post. A delightful finish to a fantastic piece of individual skill and flair.

BSC looked to rally and reduce the deficit to set up a grandstand finish however the Spartans defence remained resolute to make it five consecutive shut-outs on the trot and earn three valuable points that keeps them top of the table.

FT: Spartans U20s 2-0 BSC Glasgow U20s

Edusport Academy stunned Spartans with a stoppage winner after an even match in the South Challenge Cup at Galabank, Annan.

With Greenhill, Tolmie and Guthrie unavailable there was an unfamiliar look to centre of the Spartans defence with youngster Adam Corbett paired with Jack Nixon

The first half was a midfield slog with chances few and far between. Of note was a booking for notorious Spartans hardman Blair Atkinson…

Spartans best chance of the half came just before the break when Nixon met a Maxwell corner but headed the ball over the bar.

HT  Edusport Academy 0 Spartans 0

Spartans kept pressing for a goal after the break and when after 51 minutes, Maxwell hit the deck outside the box; the ref awarded what seemed a softish foul. This did not bother Maxwell who brushed himself down and fired the resulting free kick into the net.

More Spartans pressure led to a shot from Brown being blocked before the ball was scrambled to safety by the home defence.

Edusport were beginning to look dangerous and when a ball over the top led to one on one between the Stobie and home forward Babel, it took great
reflexes from the keeper to keep the Frenchman at bay.  The respite was to be temporary as just four minutes later, a ball round defence put Babel in on goal again – he did not miss this time.

Both teams pushed for a winner but in the second minute of stoppage time, Connor Higgins picked up the ball near the half way line and drove forward.
With the Spartans defence backing off he let fly from 25 yards and ball gave Stobie no chance as it ended up in the net via the inside of the post.

FT Edusport Academy 2 Spartans 1

Malt and Hops Man of the Match –  Craig Stevenson

Team

Stobie, Herd, Stevenson, Nixon , Corbett,  Brown, Atkinson, McFarland, Allum,  Dishington, Maxwell (Khutsisvili). Subs Not used Carswell (GK), Thomson, Hand.