The Spartans have been drawn alongside Livingston, Dunfermline, Cove Rangers and Forfar Athletic for this season’s Premier Sports Cup group stages.

We’re delighted to confirm that after discussions between the five clubs in Group E, we’re able to announce confirmed prices for our Premier Sports Cup group stage matches, which will be uniformed across all matches in the group.

Adults: £12

Concession: £8

U12: £1

Our thanks to our colleagues at Dunfermline Athletic, Cove Rangers, Livingston and Forfar Athletic for all being willing to work on this to meet at a point that all clubs were happy with, but also on prices that we believe keeps attendance as affordable as possible for all.

We hope the agreed ‘Kids for a Quid’ option will be well received by supporters of all five clubs.

Advance ticket sales for our home matches against Dunfermline Athletic and Forfar Athletic will be on sale via Fanbase soon and of course, pay at the gate will be available too.

Saturday 13th July, 3.00pm Premier Sports Cup Group E
The Spartans v Dunfermline Athletic 

Tuesday 16th July, 7.45pm Premier Sports Cup Group E
Cove Rangers v The Spartans

Tuesday 23th July, 7.45pm Premier Sports Cup Group E
The Spartans v Forfar

Saturday 27th July, 3.00pm Premier Sports Cup Group E
Livingston v The Spartans

The Spartans have made their first signing of the summer, subject to SFA clearance, as we welcome Hamish Ritchie to Ainslie Park.

27 year old Ritchie joins The Spartans from Peterhead where he scored 20 goals in 93 appearances at Balmoor. He’ll be familiar with the faces in the sheds following the sides having met no fewer than seven times last season.

Attacking Midfielder Ritchie said, ‘I’m delighted to sign with the club. Having met with the manager, I was really impressed with the forward-thinking approach and the ambition of the club. Hopefully I can help Spartans achieve its goals, as well as improve as player and add to the attacking options”.

Gaffer Douglas Samuel was delighted to welcome the first signing of the close season.

Samuel added, “I’m thrilled to bring a player of Hamish’s proven pedigree and quality on board. He will increase and strengthen our options at the top end of the pitch as we look to keep developing and improving as a side. I’m excited to see Hamish in Spartans colours next season”

Ayrton Sonkur’s second half strike set up a mouth watering return leg at Ainslie Park on Friday night after a narrow loss at a decidedly dreich Dumbarton Stadium on Tuesday evening.

There was one change in the Spartans starting XI with Jamie Dishington swapping with Rhys Armstrong whilst Blair Henderson retained the skipper’s armband.

Just over a 1,000 supporters braved the elements as the rain lashed down shortly after kick-off which saw Spartans going on the offensive from the off.  Inventive play securing a couple of early corners however the Dumbarton defence were equal to the task.

The deadlock was broken in bizarre circumstances in the 21^st minute.  Gallagher Lennon’s long ball changed postcodes, never mind direction, in the blustery and soggy Dumbarton sky as it hurtled towards the Spartans box.

Despite Blair Carswell’s efforts to adjust and track the trajectory of the ball, he could only push onto the bar and Tony Wallace was on hand to pounce and tap home to open the scoring.

Spartans rallied and Ayrton Sonkur was close with a glancing header that saw Jay Hogarth scramble and tip wide.

As Spartans pressed to get back on level terms, Michael Ruth made ground down the far touchline before sending in a low cross that was met by Finlay Gray who guided home at the front post.

Cammy Russell came close to halving the deficit moments later, only for a timely tackle in the box seeing him thwarted as he looked to unleash a strike towards Jay Hogarth.

HT: Dumbarton 2-0 The Spartans

Just three minutes after the interval, Spartans were to grab that elusive goal.  After Cammy Russell’s corner wasn’t fully cleared by the home defence, Callum Booth whipped the ball back in with interest.  It was then flicked on by Paul Watson into the path of Ayrton Sonkur who directed the ball beyond the keeper from the edge of the box.

James Craigen was Spartans saviour at the other end with a crucial headed clearance off the line as another wind-assisted Dumbarton corner caused problems for the visitors.

Spartans looked to have been denied a penalty kick when Cammy Russell latched on to a long pass from Marc McNulty and raced into the box with Carlo Pignatiello in pursuit.  As Russell stopped in mid-flow to cut back inside, his standing foot appeared to be taken away by Pignatiello sending Russell sprawling.  Unfortunately for the Spartans man his appeals were unsuccessful and play raged on.

James Craigen was next to find himself in the box after being played in by Cammy Russell.  Craigen’s touch took him away from the defender and his clip over Jay Hogarth agonisingly hit the crossbar.

The travelling support were then treated by the sight of Jordan Tapping coming on as a late replacement, making a return to the pitch after being sidelined for a number of weeks due to injury.

FT: Dumbarton 2-1 The Spartans

Following a Play-Off Semi Final victory over Peterhead, The Spartans get set for a Final showdown against Dumbarton this week to determine who joins Stenhousemuir in League 1 next season.

Douglas Samuel’s side head into the game looking to build on the momentum of an unbeaten nine match run in a season that saw them sit in the top four for 29 out of the 36 weeks of the campaign.

Blair Henderson has been one of the instrumental architects in carving open the opportunity to take the Club to within 180 minutes of ultimate success in an already monumental debut season in SPFL 2. 

The League’s top scorer, who netted his tenth hat-trick for the Club on Saturday in an emphatic 1-5 win at Balmoor, knows that more of the same is still required to see off the Sons who overcame Stirling Albion in the other semi.

Henderson said, “Getting to the Play-Off Final is massive for the club. I mean, we’ve done so well this year to get to where we’ve got to, but we don’t want that to be the end.  These games are two big cup finals in their own right, so anything can happen.

“Having played Dumbarton four times already this season, we know that Tuesday on the road will be a tough game as they are a really good side.  However, against Peterhead the boys turned up and put in a great performance, but we know we’ll have to do that again for us to progress again and get to League One. “

Kick-off 7.30pm, turnstiles open at 6.15pm. Live on BBC Alba.

Admission prices are £17 for adults, £11 for over-65’s and £5 for under-16’s. PLEASE NOTE: Cash only at the turnstiles.