This season the Premier Sports Cup group stage draw paired us with a team from each of the four leagues. In order, we faced Arbroath from the Championship, Stirling Albion from League 2, Premier League Dundee United and Montrose from League 1.
Arbroath were the ‘first footers’ that graced the newly laid carpet at the Vanloq Community Stadium for our opening tie. With several players still unavailable, there was an unfamiliar look to the team. The line-up was:
Martin, Heal, Trialist A, McKay, Drysdale. Dishington Welsh, Craigen, Ross. Whyte, Walls. Subs Carswell, Trialist B, Chisholm, Fitzsimmons, Wylie, Mulholland, Stowe.
There was an early re-shuffle after Trialist A was injured in the first minute and was replaced by Trialist B. The rest of the first half was fairly even but 5 minutes before half time Arbroath took the lead when Andy Winter hit shot from outside the box past Paddy Martin.
In the second half Brad Whyte equalised for Spartans after 55 minutes following a bit of Spartans pressure. There were also appearances off the bench for Stowe, Fitzsimmons, Chisholm and Wylie.
The match looked to be heading for a bonus point shoot-out, before Ryan Flynn sent his shot just inside the post to win the game for the visitors.
FULL TIME: Spartans 1 Arbroath 2
In the Premier Sports Cup, the games come thick and fast, and Stirling Albion were next to visit on the Tuesday evening.
Spartans with made 4 changes with Saturday’s Trialist B starting, Blair Carswell took over the gloves in goal, whilst Mark Stowe started alongside loan-signing Matt Mudie, who signed from Dundee United earlier in the week. The line-up was:
Carswell, Mudie, Trialist B, McKay, Drysdale. Welsh, Craigen, Ross, Stowe. Whyte, Walls. Subs, Martin, Chisholm, Fitzsimmons, Wylie, Mulholland, Heal, McNulty, Dishington.
Spartans got off to a great start when Brad Whyte fired into the roof of the net after 4 minutes. Spartans were controlling the game and looking to go into the break in the lead, but Stirling captain and former Spartan Robbie McNab fired in from distance just before the break.
Stirling took control in the second half and Jordan Allan scored a header from a long ball into the box. And as Spartans chased the game, they were caught on the break and Russell McLean got on the end of pass to nudge the ball past Carswell.
Spartans used Dishington, Wylie, McNulty, Fitzsimmons and Heal off the bench as they tried to find a way back into the game however it was the visitors who held out to register the win.
FULL TIME: Spartans 1 Stirling Albion 3
Our second midweeker saw a trip to Tannadice to take on lofty opponents, Dundee United. After losing to Montrose at the weekend, our hosts were determined not to suffer a second loss on the bounce against a Spartans side who have history in causing upsets against the Tangerines before.
Lightning unfortunately wasn’t going to strike twice and despite a couple of efforts from Mark Stowe to give the travelling Spartans support cause to cheer, United ran out 4-0 winners. There could have been further troubling of the scoreboard but for a Man of the Match display from Paddy Martin, who pulled off some top notch stops throughout.
The line-up was: Martin, Tapping, Sonkur, McKay, Drysdale. Dishington, Heal, Craigen, Stowe. Whyte, McNulty. Subs Carswell, Trialist B, Chisholm, Fitzsimmons, Walls, Mulholland, Ross, Trialist C.
Both trialists, Ross, Walls & Fitzsimmons made appearances from the bench.
FULL TIME Dundee United 4 Spartans 0
Our final group game was away to Montrose. After winning their previous 3 group games including a win against Dundee United, Montrose needed only a point to qualify as group winners. The Spartans party poopers were;
Martin, Tapping, Sonkur, McKay, Whyte. Dishington, Heal, Craigen, Ross, Welsh. Walls, McNulty. Subs Campbell, Trialist D, Chisholm, Fitzsimmons, Mudie, Drysdale, Heal, Trialist E.
An early chance for Spartans saw Marc McNulty’s shot deflected onto the bar, and shortly after Spartans were awarded a free kick just outside the box. James Craigen stepped up and fired the ball over the wall into the postage stamp.
Spartans continued to boss the game, limiting the Montrose chances to long range shots.
In the second half Ethan Drysdale came on to replace Marc McNulty and his direct running caused problems for the home defence as space opened up for Spartans to attack.
Montrose continue to push and one dangerous attack was broken up with a telling tackle from talismanic Jordan Tapping inside the box.
Jamie Dishington then fired a shot from outside the box which would have won many a goal of the season award if only it had not come crashing back off the bar. Shortly after, an Ayrton Sonkur header from a corner also rattled the woodwork.
With the home fans getting restless, Spartans put more daylight between the teams. Craigen found Brogan Walls running up the right wing and his low cross flashed past the defenders and goalkeeper across the six yard box and off the foot of Mackenzie Ross and into the net for his first Spartans goal.
Spartans brought on Heal, Mudie, Chisholm and Fitzsimmons to replace tiring legs.
As Montrose pushed, there was still time for Paddy Martin to dive to his left and save a net-bound shot and preserve his first clean sheet of the season.
FULL TIME: Montrose 0 Spartans 2
