Mark Stowe’s hat-trick saw The Spartans earn the festive derby day bragging rights with a 1-3 victory at Meadowbank Sports Centre, maintaining the North Edinburgh side’s unbeaten away record so far this campaign.
Douglas Samuel fielded an unchanged starting XI that played Elgin City seven days previously as The Spartans made the short trip across town for the 60th league meeting between the clubs.
As the roars of other Derby-day excitement nearby carried in the chilled capital city air, it was time for Edinburgh’s SPFL 2 clash between two sides who have exchanged victories in their last five meetings.
Spartans started with intent and caused an early mix up inside the City box that was eventually knocked behind for a corner.
Moments later it took a fine stop by City keeper Mark Weir to deny Ayrton Sonkur from deep inside the penalty area as the Spartans defender looked to direct a nod down from Jordan Tapping with his thigh.
Jordan Tapping then put his head where it mattered – right in the path of Innes Lawson’s effort that looked likely to trouble Paddy Martin.
Jamie Dishington’s sliding challenge in the middle of the park directed the ball towards Marc McNulty who didn’t hang around before threading it onto Mark Stowe who beat the offside trap and Edin Lynch to slide under Weir to break the deadlock in the 17th minute.
That lead lasted just seven minutes, when Innes Lawson finished off a sweeping Edinburgh City move to level proceedings.
With ten minutes left on the first half stopwatch, the pendulum was to swing once again in favour of the league leaders. Marc McNulty flicking on Paddy Martin’s kick up the field beyond the home defence for Mark Stowe to pounce and send an incredible strike into top bins in front of the sizeable Spartans support.
Just before the interval, Marc McNulty was to have the ball in the net, only for the lino to have his flag up in quick fashion.
HT: Edinburgh City 1-2 The Spartans
No changes made from the tourists as the sides came out for a second half that offered minimal noteworthy action for the third quarter of a derby that was still hanging finely in the balance.
Mark Weir once again was called upon by the home defence to bail them out with another fine stop to deny Sean Welsh as Spartans pressed to put further daylight between the capital rivals.
Spartans made a change on the cusp of the final ten minutes with Murray Aiken coming on for James Craigen.
Bradley Whyte’s orbital hoof up the middle of the park fell out of the late afternoon sky and caused a whole manner of confusion for the City defence. Under the mildest of pressure from Mark Stowe, the defender wasn’t able to get a connection on the ball and the striker produced a delicate lob that, despite Weir getting a glove to it, landed in the net to secure Spartans three derby day points.
FT: Edinburgh City 1-3 The Spartans
