A Man of the Match hat-trick performance from Mark Stowe helped guide The Spartans to the East of Scotland City Cup Final with a 0-4 win at Meadowbank.
Bradley Whyte netted the opener in Douglas Samuel’s side’s first outing of 2025 that saw debuts for recent signings Arran Preston and Liam Morgan and returns to Spartans colours for Mackie Scott and Josh Laing.
The frosty start to the year meant it was a delayed opportunity for a Spartans first-foot and it was a short trip across the capital for an Edinburgh Derby in the shape of an East of Scotland City Cup Semi Final.
Both clubs offered some experimental offerings in their line-ups based on the level of minutes in legs achieved over recent weeks for this midweek fixture where fans could watch for only a fiver.
The game got underway with a blanket of smoke gathering in the still East Edinburgh air from the pyrotechnic display offered by the ensemble of youngsters congregated on the periphery of the ground.
An early opportunity fell to Blair Henderson who connected with head however he couldn’t direct it to land under the bar.
Chances were to come at both ends as the sides looked to take control of proceedings, Cammy Russell seeing his shot well saved whilst at the other end, a combination of Spartans limbs in defence managed to deny a City opener.
That deadlock was broken in the 25th minute after Cammy Russell raced to scoop his foot round the ball that looked destined to run out of play and his delightfully weighted cross found Bradley Whyte in space at the back post to drill home.
City were offered an opportunity to draw level with a free-kick just outside the box which Rennie done well to clear the wall but couldn’t get the trajectory of the ball to slow down in time to dip and trouble Adam Meek between the sticks.
Cammy Russell then broke the offside trap and raced towards the City box but a timely intervention by a back-tracking defender and the home keeper narrowing the angle saw the resultant chipped effort clear the bar.
HT: Edinburgh City 0-1 The Spartans
Liam Morgan was introduced at the interval, making his debut following the recent move from Hamilton. He was joined by Mark Stowe who was to have quite the impact on shaping the outcome of the tie.
Just six minutes after the break, Aaron Scott’s deep cross found Mark Stowe unmarked at the back post for the simplest of tap-ins with the home defence looking for a flag from the stand-side lino.
James Craigen was unlucky not to extend the lead when his free-kick from 25 yards stung the fingers of the keeper and was gratefully hoofed to safety by a defender.
A trio of second half replacements saw Mackie Scott return to Spartans action whilst Under 20s starlets Archie Wylie and Harvey Chisholm joined proceedings.
A few minutes later, there was to be further light between the sides when Mark Stowe collected the ball on the edge of the ‘D’ at the City box and let fly, looking up to watch it nestle in the bottom corner to make it 0-3.
Arran Preston had to look lively as the hosts went in search of a late opportunity to salvage something from the tie and put in a telling timely tackle to prevent Meek needing to make any form of save.
Wonderful footwork by Harvey Chisholm found the young playmaker in the box and his shot was well stopped by the keeper to prevent the teenager from opening his senior scoring account.
Then with two minutes left on the clock, Mark Stowe rounded off a wonderful second half showing with a near mirror-like effort from almost the same spot but choosing the opposite corner for the destination.
FT: Edinburgh City 0-4 The Spartans
Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Mark Stowe
