Two goals in as many minutes from Marc McNulty saw Spartans turnaround a half time penalty deficit to defeat East Kilbride to go into the hat for the Scottish Cup 3rd Round draw.
John Robertson’s first half penalty separated the sides at the break however a spirited second half comeback saw Spartans overcome their fellow SPFL 2 side 2-1.
With two fixtures between the sides in Cup and League competition in just seven days, Spartans and East Kilbride locked horns for the fifth time in the Road to Hampden at the Vanloq Community Stadium.
The sides left the warmth of the changing rooms for an autumnal feel of low sunshine and freshness in the North Edinburgh air for this clash of the pyramid climbers.
A lively start from the hosts attacking the café end saw Ethan Drysdale work the hard yards down the flank whilst Cammy Russell looked to forge open an early opportunity that went wide of Freddie Owens post.
Spartans were forced into an enforced change after just 14 minutes when Ayrton Sonkur was replaced by Kenzi Nair.
The visitors were to take the lead in the 19th minute from the spot following a contentious award after Cameron Elliott hit the carpet inside the box in dramatic fashion with Jamie Dishington deemed to have felled the East Kilbride man. Up stepped John Robertson to send Paddy Martin the wrong way to give the visitors the lead.
A snapshot from Bradley Whyte from some 25 yards had pace however its accuracy was directly in the breadbasket of the Kilby keeper.
Spartans were then denied by the woodwork when Cammy Russell looked to capitalise on a defensive lapse. His shot rattled the crossbar, bounced in the field of play and perhaps in doing so, was too high for James Craigen who looked to benefit from the rebound, only for his leaping looping header to find its way into Owens’ hands.
HT: The Spartans 0-1 East Kilbride
Former Scottish Cup winner Callum Booth replaced Ethan Drysdale at the interval as Spartans looked for a quick return to level pegging in the second half.
The opening quarter of an hour after the interval was more stop than start with niggling fouls, balls hoofed across the North Edinburgh sky and many a throw-in, often pulled back to ensure they were taken from the correct square of carpet.
Then, cometh the hour, cometh the equaliser. Cammy Russell the architect as he picked up the ball deep inside the East Kilbride half. He proceeded to drive into the box, feigned the shot and slid the ball to Marc McNulty in space. From a narrow angle, Sparky flicked the ball over the keeper into the net to level the score.
The pendulum swung fully in Spartans favour just two minutes later and it was the same man inflicting punishment on the visitors.
When Cammy Russell forced Jordan McGregor to turn and play back towards his own box, his pass put David Ferguson under pressure. Ferguson, with McNulty breathing down his neck made life exceptionally challenging for Owens who tried to take a touch to control the ball but could only manage to tap it into the path of McNulty who swooped like a seagull on chips and cushioned it into the empty net.
It was almost a hat-trick moments later after Russell’s shot was saved, allowing the ball to fall into the path of McNulty who sent the ball wide from close range.
Amidst all the chaos, Spartans had made another change with Murray Aiken making his home debut, replacing Sean Welsh. It was followed by Mark Stowe coming on for double scorer McNulty who departed to warm applause by the home faithful.
Paddy Martin may not have been called into combat too often during proceedings however the keeper needed to be in fine form to tip over the bar.
Mark Stowe had the hot wheels on his heels shortly after and when he fed Cammy Russell into the box, a glorious chance was denied by the crossbar as Cammy Russell’s saved effort bounced unsympathetically on the surface, sprung up and hit the face of the bar.
FT: The Spartans 2-1 East Kilbride
Malt & Hops Man of the Match: Marc McNulty
