Spartans u20s got
their 2021-22 season under way in winning fashion with a five goal thriller
against Stirling Albion at Ainslie Park.
With no fewer than
88 clubs spread over 6 Conference divisions, the Development League set-up this
season is the biggest yet.
Under 20s Head Coach
Les Atkinson had a fine blend of experience, returnees and new recruits within
his match day squad of 18 players.
For visitors
Stirling Albion, it was their debut in the Development League and it nearly got
off to the worst possible start as Ben Lamont lobbed the advancing keeper, only
to see his effort crash off the crossbar.
The Binos then went
up the park and took the lead following some kamikaze defending that saw keeper
Miko Komocki exposed and Spartans, remarkably, were playing catch-up already.
That lasted for a
full two minutes. A corner whipped into
the box saw Ben Lamont rise above the pack on players on the edge of the six
yard box to head net-bound. The ball
looked to have crossed the line despite the despairing efforts of the goalie,
Blair Atkinson’s toe pushed the rebound back towards the onion bag however it
was Josh Laing on the line who appeared to get the final touch. We’ll leave it to the lads to decide on that
one!
The joy was
short-lived as another blunder at the back saw the Binos take the lead. It took a solid piece of defending by Josh
Laing moments later to ensure there wasn’t further light between the sides as
they disappeared up the tunnel at the break.
HT: Spartans 1-2
Stirling Albion
Spartans made a
double substitution at the break with Reece Mason and Given Ndlovu replacing
Atkinson and McCrory-Irving.
The pair of
replacements injected new found pace and within seven minutes of the re-start,
Spartans were level for the second time.
Reece Mason
collecting a pass twenty five yards out before progressing into the box and
unleashing an unstoppable drive that flashed past the keeper at break-neck
speed.
The swing of the
pendulum saw Stirling Albion claim for a spot-kick that could have seen them
regain the lead however the Referee waved protests aside. Moments later, Ben Lamont was on the move at
the other end of the park, rounding the keeper and before sliding the ball
home, despite the attentions of a back-tracking defender on the line.
Ndlovu and Mason
continued to impress most of the 70 or so watching from the stand with their
nifty footwork, skill and speed, often drawing warm applause and even a wee
‘Ole!’ too.
With give minutes
left on the clock, Liam Thabet came on for the industrious Aaron Cameron.
It was nervous final
few moments as the Spartans defence came under sustained pressure, with Komocki
and his back division doing just about enough to see out the game and take full
points in the opening game of the campaign.
FT: Spartans 3-2
Stirling Albion
A delighted Head
Coach Les Atkinson said, “It’s great to be back to Friday night football
after months of inaction.
“Having only
had around three weeks to work with our squad, I was fairly content with our
performance overall. We lost two soft
goals so some defensive work required over the coming weeks, but plenty of
positives to take from the game.
“The talent we
have brought into the squad and their desire to learn and develop augurs well
for the future. The game itself I thought was very open but felt we pretty much
controlled large parts.
“Stirling
contributed greatly to the game by playing some very attractive football and
could have snatched a very late equaliser which would have been harsh on our
boys.
“A good season
opener from us with much more to come from this young exciting group of
players. We now look forward to playing Edinburgh City on Friday ‘away’ at
Ainslie Park.”
