The Spartans extended their unbeaten run in the KDM Evolution Trophy with a 1-0 over a sprightly Dundee United B team at the Vanloq Community Stadium on Tuesday evening.
James Craigen joined a special band of Spartans Centurions with his 100th appearance for the Club in a side that saw a handful of personnel changes from Saturday’s outing against Stirling Albion.
Spartans were out of the traps from the off probing and pushing forward for an early opportunity to grab a hold of their second game of the group stages against top flight B Team opposition.
The young tourists in tangerine looked lively with decent counter attacks and they forced Blair Carswell to get down low to save as the visitors pressed.
Cammy Russell had the best chance of the half when he burst into the box however he was met with a strong double fisting from United keeper Lewis Haldane as he sent his shot towards goal.
Arguably the best piece of football in a half for the purists came when Marc McNulty’s leap and nod on to Mark Stowe saw the striker unleash a strike that just edged wide of the United sticks.
HT: The Spartans 0-0 Dundee United
A quartet of changes at the interval kept the scoreboard and tannoy personnel busy with Dishington, Scott, Drysdale and Whyte replacing Waugh, Russell, Craigen & McNulty.
Just ten minutes after the break, Spartans were to score what ultimately turned out to be the winning goal. Academy Graduate Archie Wylie turned on the gas as he went on a direct run from the touchline into the box before shaping himself up to send the ball beyond Haldane and bulge the net.
His fellow former Under 20s partner Mackie Scott was close to doubling the lead when his cheeky dink over the keeper just didn’t have the decency to dip quickly enough and frustratingly landed on the roof of the net.
Given Ndlovu then replaced Mark Stowe as the bench continued to be fully utilised by the Gaffer.
Dundee United looked to grab an equaliser and were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out as the game galloped into the final stages. Blair Carswell was equal to the task as he took his career clean sheets to 119 in his 341st appearance for the side.
One final opportunity to trouble the Village Hotels scoreboard fell to Mackie Scott however it was another fine stop by Haldane.
FT: The Spartans 1-0 Dundee United
Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Archie Wylie
