An extraordinary late comeback saw The Spartans claim all three points with a stunning opening day 2-4 victory over Annan Athletic at Galabank to kick-off the 2026/27 SPFL 2 season.
A brace from Marc McNulty alongside strikes from Brogan Walls and James Craigen completed a remarkable turnaround for Douglas Samuel’s side who had trailed by two Charlie Maxwell goals with just six minutes left on the scoreboard clock.
There was one change from last weekend’s Premier Sports Cup victory at Montrose, with Ethan Drysdale returning to the starting XI at the expense of Brogan Walls. New signings Dave McKay and Mack Ross made their first league appearances for the club, while Cameron Russell and last season’s SPFL League Two top scorer, Mark Stowe, returned to the matchday squad.
The first opportunity of the afternoon fell to Spartans captain James Craigen. His free-kick from just outside the penalty area was heading for the bottom corner, but Annan goalkeeper Charlie Albinson produced an excellent save, diving low to his right to deny Craigen.
Despite Spartans making the brighter start, it was Annan who broke the deadlock. Charlie Maxwell cutting inside onto his right foot after evading Ayrton Sonkur deep inside the box and curling a superb effort beyond Paddy Martin into the top corner.
Albinson was called into action again at the other end moments later, this time keeping out Marc McNulty. The Spartans striker’s low drive looked destined for the bottom corner before the Annan goalkeeper got down well to make another fine save.
Half-Time: Annan Athletic 1-0 The Spartans
After a disappointing first-half display, Spartans were expected to come flying out after the interval looking for an avenue back into the game however it was the hosts who doubled their advantage just four minutes into the second half.
A loose pass in midfield coupled with defensive lapse allowed Charlie Maxwell through on goal. Paddy Martin saved his initial effort, but the striker reacted quickest to fire home the rebound and grab both his second goal of the afternoon and doubling Annan’s lead.
With Annan looking to secure their first home win over Spartans since December 2004, Spartans turned to the bench just before the hour mark, making what turned out to be four telling substitutions. Brogan Walls, Mark Stowe, Cameron Russell and Matthew Mudie, making his first SPFL League Two appearance, replaced Tapping, Dishington, Ross and Whyte.
Paddy Martin was then called upon to keep Spartans in the contest, producing another excellent save to deny Maxwell the match ball. The Spartans goalkeeper followed that up with another important stop with 15 minutes remaining. Those saves were to prove crucial.
With just six minutes left on the clock, Spartans found a lifeline. Matthew Mudie drove down the right before delivering a perfectly weighted pass back inside the penalty area, where substitute Brogan Walls arrived to smash home from 12 yards to halve the deficit.
Suddenly, the momentum had shifted.
Four minutes later, Cameron Russell was fouled on the just to the left hand edge of the penalty area. Sonkur, McKay and Mudie were up anticipating James Craigen’s lofted delivery into the packed box.
Instead, for the second successive week, the Spartans captain produced a moment of brilliance, curling an unstoppable free-kick into the top-right corner beyond Albinson to level the score at 2-2.
Having looked beaten only minutes earlier, Spartans had remarkably made it Desmond’s at Galabank. Could the travelling Spartan support dare to dream?
Smelling the proverbial scent of blood akin to a Lion hunting down his Gazelle prey on the Serengeti, Spartans poured forward again. Matthew Mudie burst into the penalty area before being brought down, leaving referee Conor Ashwood with no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.
Marc McNulty stepped up with the clock ticking over to show 90 minutes on the electronic scoreboard. Just as he had done against Annan last season, the striker kept his composure, sending Albinson the wrong way to complete an astonishing turnaround and give Spartans the lead for the first time in the match.
As Annan committed bodies forward in search of an equaliser they had no intention of seeking just 12 minutes earlier, the ball broke to Mark Stowe inside his own half. His perfectly weighted pass found the advancing McNulty. The Spartans forward, chased by Annan player-manager Wullie Gibson, controlled superbly before unleashing a magnificent strike from 25 yards that flew into the bottom corner. It was a stunning finish to a remarkable series of events.
Just ten minutes earlier, Spartans looked destined to leave Galabank empty-handed. Instead, they headed back to the capital with all three points after scoring four unanswered goals in a breathtaking finale.
Full-Time: Annan Athletic 2-4 The Spartans
Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Marc McNulty
(Words: Kyle Patterson / Mark Brown)
