The Spartans and Peterhead shared the spoils in the latest round of KDM Evolution Trophy ties at the Vanloq Community Stadium on Tuesday night.
Both sides went into the game with no fewer than eight changes in their respective squads from their exploits at the weekend. For Spartans, those eight changes included Blair Henderson returning to the starting 11 and he was given the coveted Captain’s armband for the fixture that also saw five Academy Pathway graduates feature in the squad.
Also featuring in the Spartans starting line-up was Mackie Scott, who was celebrating in his 21st birthday, ideally looking for no extra cards from the Ref and preferably a goal to put the cherry on top of a special birthday!
Spartans forced an early free kick however there was to be no end product meanwhile, at the other end McGinn had a pop for the tourists from long distance, but that found itself high wide and not very handsome. Carnwath’s 25 yarder moments later was even further afield from its intended target as both sides struggled to get out of first gear in early exchanges.
There was a shout for a Spartans penalty when Ayrton Sonkur appeared to have the back of his shirt tucked inside Colotty’s hand as he attempted to get on the end of a corner. Unfortunately for the talismanic defender, Referee Calum Scott waved the appeals from the big defender aside.
Peterhead went on the break towards the tail end of the first half with a shot blocked by Sonkur. Blair Carswell, making a welcome return between the sticks, had to race sharply across the byeline to smother to save the corner.
There was a lovely piece of interaction between Jamie Dishington and Brogan Walls out by the touchline as they looked to forge open an opportunity with just over five minutes til the interval. If anything, it gave the fans inside the Vanloq Community Stadium something to warm their hands with as a ripple of applause echoed in the stand.
HT: The Spartans 0-0 Peterhead
The start of the second half saw triple change from the Spartans with Welsh, Dall and Dishington being replaced by Ethan Drysdale, Kevin Waugh and James Craigen.
The first clear chance of the evening came when Drysdale whipped in across from out wide to find Mackie Scott leapt like a salmon to head towards goal however Blessing Oluyemi was equal to the challenge.
Scott had another opportunity shortly after when he broke the offside trap, only for him to look up to see the Oluyemi race off his line and put a timely tackle just outside the box to start to deny the Spartans man.
Midway through the half further changes for the hosts saw Cammy Russell and Mark Stowe replaced Scott and Wylie.
Mark Stowe came close to continue his fine run of goalscoring form when he headed narrowly wide from a corner as Spartans upped the ante.
Then with 13 minutes left on the clock, the deadlock was finally broken. Drysdale’s cross found its way to Blair Henderson who reacted sharply to flick beyond the outstretched arms of Oluyemi, setting himself up with a tap in from close range to take his Spartans tally against Peterhead to seven.
Frustratingly for the hosts, the visitors were back on level terms with just two minutes to go when McGuffie netted the equaliser.
FT: The Spartans 1-1 Peterhead
