The Spartans ended a busy February with a well earned 2-1 victory over Bonnyrigg Rose at Ainslie Park in yet another monumental arm-wrestle between the two teams.

After a late smash and grab victory seven days previously at Stranraer, Spartans went into the clash against a Rose side who had endured a midweek trip to Peterhead, picking up a point in the process.

There was no place in the home squad for new signing Marc McNulty just yet due to pending International clearance however new coach Ian Thomson joined his colleagues in the technical area for the first time.

The sounds of the drums from the Ultras of both sides welcomed the teams out onto the field in a fixture where a win had eluded Douglas Samuel’s men thus far.

With Kevin Waugh withdrawing in the warm-up, Keiran Watson slipped into the defensive breach and Blair Henderson slipping on the Captain’s armband for the occasion.

The game started in frantic fashion with the hosts camping inside the Rose final third for the early stages.  Jordan Tapping’s header an early opportunity, only for it to come off a defender to go behind for a corner.

Callum Booth looked to be enjoying his role down the flank, taking control of the situation and offering first class distribution with almost every stroke of the ball.

His cross into the box saw Danny Denholm feed Rhys Armstrong but the midfield playmaker could only fire over.

Then, after 21 minutes, the opener finally arrived.  Callum Booth’s long launch up the park found Blair Henderson who fought off his man, took a trio of touches before sending an unstoppable low drive into the bottom corner beyond Paddy Martin.

It allowed the new scoreboard to make it goal announcing debut and it was a magnificent milestone moment for Henderson having just sunk his 100^th throughout his SPFL league career.

It didn’t take long before that lead was doubled.  Rhys Armstrong sending in a delightfully weighted corner kick picking out the head of Ayrton Sonkur to net his third goal in two games. 

Next up to try his luck was Booth.  His first effort resigned to the editor’s cutting room for the highlights package however in a later attempt, his rasping strike just missing the target.

An unfortunate moment next as Cammy Russell ‘took one for the team’ as he raced to chase down a clearance and it was left up to him – and him alone – to decide whether to rub ‘em or count ‘em as the Referee halted play to check on his wellbeing.

Bonnyrigg had their moments, as one would expect, as they sought to halve the deficit before heading to the sheds.  The first decent effort came when Angus Mailer almost posted his side’s response but for Blair Carswell to stamp his authority and save well.

A free-kick next up came following a challenge by Ayrton Sonkur which earned him a caution.  The attempt front the resultant dead-ball set-piece cleared the bar, but there was a second attempt to follow after a caution was distributed for encroachment.  Thankfully this time the wall was effective in doing its job and there was to be no changes to the score as the sides trotted into the tunnel.

HT: The Spartans 2-0 Bonnyrigg Rose

A sterling sweeping move from defence saw Blair Henderson show some trickery on the touchline.  Bradley Whyte took over and threaded the ball wide to Cammy Russell who spotted Henderson making a dart to the back post and but for a timely tackle by Neil Martyniuk, it would have certainly made a bid to be a club goal of the season contender.

Then a moment of drama at the other end.  Firstly, an aerial challenge in front of the visiting technical area saw Jordan Tapping and Declan Byrne so up for the ‘high baw’ however Referee Curran penalising the Spartans man.

The resultant free-kick went deep into the box and for the second time in quick succession, Tapping was once again pinged, this time for an alleged tug on Kerr Young.  The reaction of all 17 players inside the area to the whistle was one of confusion before the tourists realising it was for a spot kick!

Up stepped Neil Martyniuk who had enough power to find the bottom corner despite the valiant endeavours of Blair Carswell who guessed correctly on the direction of travel.

James Craigen was unlucky later on with a tempting free-kick that saw Paddy Martin pull off a fine flying save to deny Spartans regaining their two goal advantage.

Tapping had been in the wars throughout and midway through the half he was replaced by Paul Watson after receiving treatment in front of the less than sympathetic travelling support.

Jonny Stewart must have thought he’d equalised after winning a midfield challenge, going on a run and having a pop destined for the top corner only for Blair Carswell to stretch every millimetre of his arm up to scoop the ball away from the postage stamp.

Meanwhile it was Paddy Martin once again who denied the Spartans with another fine stop to deny Rhys Armstrong as the game entered its latter stages.

A change in the home defence saw Josh Laing replace James Craigen as the game looked to slide into the lottery of added time.

Thankfully, there were to be no visiting team heroics this week in the five minutes added time and with that, Spartans clung on to victory.

FT: The Spartans 2-1 Bonnyrigg Rose

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Blair Henderson

It was a game full of downpours, dramas, debating points and an incredible Sonkur smash and grab in second half injury time at Stair Park as Spartans remained undefeated against their hosts this season so far.

Some of the crowd who had braved the elements had barely made it to their seats before Blair Carswell had been called into action, producing a fine stop in the opening minute to deny James Dolan scoring the earliest of openers.

With the surface sodden, it was made for textbook sliding challenges and it wasn’t long before Ayrton Sonkur enjoyed the opportunity to utilise his long frame to stretch out on the ground to make a telling tackle.  Quite what kitman Ralph Buchanan made of it with the team playing in their white kit is another matter!

When Danny Denholm put Cammy Russell into the box to subsequently finish with aplomb, the joy of scoring turned to dejection with the main stand lino, racing up and down on a tricky muddy track, raising his flag aloft.

His counterpart at the other end of the field was to come to Spartan rescue shortly after when Tam Orr netted, but he was adjudged to be offside too.

Cammy Russell then collected the ball deep in his own half and as he set out on a break on the bed of treacle, he was taken out by Kyle Fleming who earned a booking for his troubles.

Then, the hosts took the lead.  A burst down the wing resulted in a ball crossed along the tricky surface.  Blair Carswell got down low, Tam Orr was there too.  The Cat saving the shot only for the ball to ride over his frame and Orr tapping home the rebound.

HT: Stranraer 1-0 The Spartans

A change at the break saw Sam Jones replace Jamie Dishington.  Jones easy to make out in his resplendent white outfit amongst the backdrop of muddy men.

Spartans pressed hard for the equaliser with a suite of chances following the interval.  A Cammy Russell cross narrowly missing Blair Henderson in the box, Sam Jones laying off for Callum Booth who was blocked from close range and Jones sending a low drive that was collected by the keeper at the second attempt.

As the half moved on to its midway point, Blair Carswell was once again the Spartans saviour with a top stop to deny Matty Grant.

A trio of swaps saw Sean Brown, Bradley Whyte and Jordan Tapping replace Armstrong, Denholm and Paul Watson as gaffer Douglas Samuel looked to fresh up legs that had worked tirelessly on the heavy conditions.

Tapping was to be in the thick of the action shortly after when Deryn Lang won possession out wide.  Both players set off on a foot-race into the box and a last gasp challenge by the talismanic defender saw Lang stumble to the ground in the box.  Cue shouts for a penalty from the home contingent but to no avail.

There was just two minutes on the clock when the two players were to lock horns once again.  Lang looked clear as he raced in for a one-on-one with Carswell however out of absolutely nowhere, Tapping had tracked back to put in a tackle that was to have a significant impact on the outcome of the game.

Meanwhile at the other end, the late show was just beginning…

Blair Carswell’s 92^nd minute clearance was nodded down by Ayrton Sonkur and when it came back to Bradley Whyte on the edge of the box, he sent the ball to the back post where Sonkur positioned himself to head back across goal to net the equaliser.  A point rescued on the road.  Ah, but wait, the fat lady had yet to sing…

Deep into added on time, five minutes to be exact, Cammy Russell’s corner was palmed in the air by the keeper, Kieran Watson was on the bye-line to head back into the crowded six yard box then the long leg of Ayrton Sonkur stretched out to send the ball high into the net to cue absolute scenes.

FT: Stranraer 1-2 The Spartans

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Ayrton Sonkur

The Spartans and Dumbarton played out a goal-free stalemate in the cold in their re-arranged SPFL 2 clash on Tuesday evening, in a game that had two penalty shouts waved aside and a disappearing card trick.

Mason McCready made his full debut between the sticks after replacing the injured Blair Carswell at the weekend whilst Sam Jones returned to the starting XI as did Paul Watson.

There was an early scare within the opening moments of the game as the hosts had the ball in the net, thankfully for the small, but noisy travelling support, they banged their drums in appreciation of the lino’s flag to deny Michael Ruth.

Dumbarton were dominating early proceedings on a tricky surface underfoot that offered its own challenges in terms of determining the direction of passing, whilst neither keeper was particularly grateful for a cheeky wee pass-back heading their way.

Mason McCready, on loan from Partick Thistle, had to look sharp shortly after and he made a fantastic save, pushing David Wilson’s effort over the bar.

It took until the 25^th minute before Spartans had their first offering in the danger area with Sam Newman drilling a shot through a busy Dumbarton penalty box that Jay Hogarth managed to fling a leg at to execute the save.

What Murdo McLeod and Neil Lennon made of the opening forty five as they watched on from the stand is as yet unknown.

HT: Dumbarton 0-0 The Spartans

An early half chance for Spartans to open proceedings saw Cammy Russell thread the ball through to Blair Henderson only for Howarth to race off his line to smother.

Quite how the ball stayed out of McCready’s net just before the hour mark remains a mystery following Ryan Wallace’s effort that the keeper palmed away and the outstretched boot of Jamie Dishington done just about enough to poke the ball beyond Marc Kelly who was ready to pounce.

Dumbarton were awarded a free-kick twenty yards out after Kieran Watson felled his man however the five man wall remained strong with skipper Kevin Waugh taking the sting out the ball with some ‘mid-rift’ control that probably stung in the cold.

Robbie Thompson then replaced Sam Jones.

There were strong claims for a penalty within the visiting ranks when the ball appeared to have been sent behind by a Dumbarton defender’s arm.  Unfortunately any hope of Spartans receiving only their second spot kick of the season were dashed when the Referee pointed for a corner kick.

Meanwhile, a challenge on the Spartans bye-line saw wild remonstrations being displayed by the Dumbarton bench as they demanded a penalty of their own.  All square in terms of score and now in non-awarding of kicks from the penalty mark.

Kieran Watson atoned for his earlier transgression on the edge of the box by putting in a telling tackle and block to deny Kalvin Orsi as the Dumbarton sub looked to pull the metaphorical trigger.

Skipper Waugh was then replaced by Callum Booth with ten minutes left on the clock.

Further confusion followed shortly after when, on the eve of Valentine’s Day, there were cards being handed out by the Ref, however the red version was a Return to Sender following a mix-up of an earlier yellow distributed to a Sons player.

Dumbarton were pressing hard to sneak the winning goal and Spartans were defending resolutely.  With this in mind, another change took place with Academy Graduate Josh Laing making his SPFL debut, replacing Rhys Armstrong.

FT: Dumbarton 0-0 The Spartans

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Jamie Dishington