Spartans Under 20s progressed into the draw for the East Regional 2nd Round draw after a tricky opening round tie against Whitehill Welfare at Ainslie Park.
After the previous week’s disappointing defeat on the road to East Fife, it was an opportunity for Les Atkinson’s side to bounceback in the search for silverware.
The opening exchanges saw neither keeper troubled then Given Ndlovu had the best chance of the game so far when he saw his shot well saved by the Welfare goalie.
However, it was the former who got the better of the latter after 16 minutes when Ndlovu collected the ball on the edge of the box and whilst it wasn’t the cleanest of connections, the ball found it’s way into the net to give the hosts the lead.
That lead was doubled into the 23rd minute when Ndlovu stepped up to slot home from the penalty spot.
The advantage was halved just four minutes later when some slack defending saw Adam Meek rounded and the ball was lofted high into the net despite the attentions of the back-tracking defender on the post.
Mackie Scott then had an opportunity to restore the two goal advantage shortly after following fine play again by Ndlovu however the striker couldn’t direct his effort home, and his frustrations were clear.
HT: Spartans 2-1 Whitehill Welfare
The second half was a few minutes old when they were awarded their second penalty of the evening when the Welfare keeper brought down Ndlovu. Unfortunately for the goalie it was his face that made the bulk of the impact with the Spartans playmaker’s leg and there was a lengthy break whilst he got cleaned up and a big dollop of vaseline applied.
However, to his credit, the groggy goalie got up and saved Ndlovu’s spot kick and was brave in the rebound, so much so that he won a free-kick in the process.
With twenty minutes left, the two goal lead returned when tremendous pace by Sam Lovie took him into the box and he found Mackie Scott in space six yards out and he put the ball into the empty net.
The celebrations were cut short though when a low drive through a plethora of bodies evaded Meek and it was back to a solitary goal lead.
Changes in the Spartans team saw Mrowczynski, Black and Cameron all come on at the expense of Ndlovu, O’Brien and Cunningham.
The passageway to the second round was secured though with two minutes of the ninety left. A delightful touch in the box by Mintbox Removals Man of the Match Ben Lamont saw him take the ball down, control and send the ball between defender and goalie to make it 4-2.
Then, with the game deep into injury time, Rui Black collected the ball on the edge of the box, looked up and sent a gloriously curled effort beyond the despairing dive of the Welfare keeper to make it 5-2.
Full Time: Spartans 5-2 Whitehill Welfare
