The Spartans recorded their third Lowland League draw on the bounce in a frustrating ninety minutes in baltic conditions at Rosewell against Hearts B.
With temperatures hovering around the zero mark come kick-off, one wonders what several of the home squad thought when they arrived merely hours earlier from the Club’s tour in warmer climes of Marbella!
Spartans started off the livelier of the two sides and forced a couple of early corners which failed to turn into clear opportunities.
As the grass began to glisten in patches where the evening frost stated to lie, the bounce of the ball and ability for slick passing along the ground fizzled out as both sides tried their best to get maintain possession.
A shout for a spot-kick from Blair Henderson was waved away by Referee Shepherd after Captain Darge undertook a spot of mountaineering up the Spartans strikers back in the box. Darge packed away his crampons and play raged on.
With the game heading towards the break and an opportunity for a mid-match thaw in the sheds, Ian McFarland’s nod into the box found Sean Brown who uncharacteristically fired wide from six yards. Frustration etched across his face and with that, the interval beckoned.
HT: Hearts B 0-0 The Spartans
The second half started where the first left odd – jolly well freezing and fair credit goes to the couple of hundred hardly souls who ventured out to Ferguson Park to watch. A virtual beer – or more likely coffee to you all!
Spartans were keen to launch the ball into the home box to seek the opener and on more than one occasion, a melee or a stramash ensued, with the ball hitting off legs like a human pinball machine game.
Ian McFarland, back with the skipper’s armband, showed his experience and tenacity with a telling block as the young Hearts side tried to go on the break.
A triple change saw the introduction of Sam Jones, Jamie Dishington and Gavin Morrison at the expense of McFarland, Henderson and Russell.
Whilst the scoreboard was feeling unloved in some respects, Spartans stand-in stopper Adam Meek remained alert as a 1st XI clean sheet beckoned.
With the game entering it’s final stages, Jamie Penker replaced Rhys Armstrong however there wasn’t to be a heroic supersub moment and one final shrill of the whistle under the full Mid Lothian moon saw the sides share the spoils – and the likely onset of hypothermia!
FT: Hearts B 0-0 The Spartans
