The Spartans got their Premier Sports Cup campaign off to a winning start after a late double whammy spun a web of defeat over Championship side Queen’s Park at the Vanloq Community Stadium.
After a 100% record across their brief three-game pre-season run, The Spartans welcomed Sean Crighton’s side to North Edinburgh, looking for their first victory over the Hampden-based outfit.
Sweeping haar brought some welcome fresh breeze to the players during the warm-up as the mercury topped 25 degrees in the sunshine capital.
The teams made their way out of the tunnel, with Captain Kevin Waugh hand-in-hand with mascot Sam. No ordinary mascot either, for Sam was on his Stag Do and the touring party were also the match sponsor too!
On with the action and after a quick swap of ends, Spartans set off attacking the grassy embankment however it was the visitors who were to make the early running, with Josh Fowler forcing Martin into an early save.
First chance for the hosts came following a free-kick after Cammy Russell was felled out wide. James Craigen’s corner finding Bradley Whyte who headed deeper into the box, only for Calum Ferrie to get a fist to the ball with Blair Henderson looking to pounce.
With temperatures more common in Playa del Carmen than Pilton, Referee Chris Graham called a water break on the half hour mark, offering players a chance to catch breath and douse their fire burning lungs with some welcome H2O.
Whatever was in the Spiders water seemed to work well for them as shortly after the restart, they took the lead, with Josh Fowler offering a fine finish after being played in by Carlo Pignatiello.
Spartans rallied and but for a decent stop by Ferrie who denied Blair Henderson, the half time talk in the sheds could have been a different one.
HT: The Spartans 0-1 Queens Park
The second half made a stuttering start with neither side able to trouble the respective keepers who had a little bit more time to enjoy the sunshine than others.
Bradley Whyte got his head to the ball on the edge of the box which ran out of steam before it could trouble the Queen’s Park keeper, as Spartans looked to find a way back into the tie.
Spartans made a couple of changes, with Welsh and Whyte being replaced by Trialist and Walls as the Gaffer added fresh legs with one eye also on a demanding week ahead.
The travelling support behind Martin’s goal were looking for a penalty on the hour mark when Fieldson took a tumble in the box however it was a shout more in hope than any level of expectation.
Another water break followed, as did a trio of changes, with Bailey Dall, Archie Wylie and Mackie Scott coming off the bench to replace Craigen, Booth and Henderson.
Then, a chink of light. A breakthrough. The equaliser.
Cammy Russell’s initial low cross into the box looked to find Mackie Scott, only for a half block. Russell collected the rebound and his back-heel sent Jamie Dishington scampering to the byline. His cross to the back post was met by Bailey Dall who came steaming in to power his header into the back of the net.
With seven minutes left on the Village Hotel sponsored scoreboard, the stage was being built to host a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner.
But nobody told The Spartans. The scorer of the equaliser became the architect of the winner as Bailey Dall was brought down in the box by Timam Scott after being released into the box by Archie Wylie’s pinpoint pass.
Up stepped Cammy Russell for his third spot kick attempt this week. After successfully despatching twice against Hearts B in midweek, it was déjà vu all over again, sending Ferrie the wrong way and edging Spartans ahead with two minutes of regulation time to play.
Could The Spartans hold out? Would there be a final twist in the tail? Five additional minutes of play followed the clock going red.
A Queen’s Park free-kick was launched deep into the Spartans box offering a bit of a scramble before Dall cleared and Russell was brought down as he looked to counter.
A period of keep-ball by the hosts down by the Queen’s Park corner flag frustrated the visitors with scorers Dall and Russell eating up the seconds with every throw-in and corner won.
Finally, the long shrill of the whistle from the man in the middle signalled the end of a sizzler in the sunshine and three points for The Spartans.
FT: The Spartans 2-1 Queen’s Park
