The Spartans claimed the final SPFL 2 Edinburgh Derby bragging rights with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Edinburgh City on Saturday to finish the season on a high.
Friday evening may have seen the Under 20s win the Development League however one player who had to keep a lid on the title celebrations was teenager Archie Wylie who, having scored in the 3-0 win over Stirling Albion, was in the starting XI.
An early couple of Spartans corners set the tempo for the afternoon however there was to be no quick breakthrough for the hosts against a strong City side looking to make an impact ahead of their forthcoming play-off endeavours.
The visitors may have promised a party in Pilton on their pre-match socials and a few inflated beach balls were being thrown around by the band of City fans on the embankment behind Blair Carswell’s goals. When a few of the balls entered the field of play, it caused a temporary pause whilst they were deflated – as would be their owners be moments after when Spartans opened the scoring.
Cammy Russell sprung great heights in the box get in front of the Mark Weir, nodded it back towards Brogan Walls who returned with the head, sending it looping over the goalie and a pair of defenders on the line, Lynch thinking twice in using his hands before it hit the net.
There was almost an immediate response from the Meadowbank-based side but for the legs of Blair Carswell who done well to keep the shot out.
Brogan Walls endeared himself with the away dugout following a challenge in the middle of the field that caused a furore on the sidelines but no more than a word in his ear from the Referee.
One final opportunity came from the home side as half time approached, with James Craigen making room to fire a cross into the box for Jamie Dishington who just had to stretch that little bit too much to make total accuracy with the connection and the header went narrowly wide.
HT: The Spartans 1-0 Edinburgh City
An early aerial collision saw the start of the half go with a bang – or more of a thud to be fair – and it earned Brogan Walls a caution in the process.
If that was the bang, then the fireworks came in the 52nd minute. Cammy Russell collecting the ball on the edge of the box before turning on a sixpence (kids, ask your Grandparents) before sending an unstoppable shot beyond Weir. It brought the home support to their feet to applaud a moment of magic from the talented playmaker.
Spartans looked to add to their total with Archie Wylie going on a determined run into the box before the Scotland Schoolboys Internationalist was crowded out by a pair of defenders.
The first pair of changes came shortly after with the Hamilton Accies loanee duo Arran Preston and Liam Morgan replacing Wylie & Walls.
Play continued to sweep from one end of the paddock to the other in the pleasant Pilton sunshine as City pressed to get back into the game as Spartans looked to close it out.
Further substitutions were made by Dougie Samuel, Mark Stowe and Blair Henderson coming on for Jamie Dishington and Cammy Russell.
The points then looked to be secured for Spartans in the 69th minute. Arran Preston’s long throw into the box was nodded on by Ayrton Sonkur into the path of Bailey Dall and the former Spartans Youth player, returning ‘home’ via a loan deal with Hearts this year, finished with a delightful lob over the keeper and into the empty net.
A final personnel swap with a quarter of an hour to go saw another of Spartans’ Academy Pathway Graduates Josh Laing take the place of Kieran Watson who drew warm applause from the home support as he headed for the sheds.
City did get a goal for their troubles with five minutes left on the clock, Robbie Hamilton tapping in from close range.
Hamilton looked to double his and City’s tally as time ticked away however he was thwarted by a strong double fisting by Blair Carswell.
FT: The Spartans 3-1 Edinburgh City
Malt and Hops Man of the Match: James Craigen
