Mark Stowe was once again the Spartans savour as the striker continued his impressive scoring start to the season by netting the winner against Forfar Athletic.
Manager Douglas Samuel made just one change from the side that defeated Clyde last time out with Cammy Russell returning from suspension.
Spartans looked to build on last week’s win against a Forfar side who came into the fixture as early stage league leaders.
It was the hosts who came flying out the traps with both Russell and Stowe using the opening minutes to show their intent with penetrating play.
However the first threat of a goal came at the other end when Forfar’s Lorimer got in behind the home defence and but for a mixture of Lady Luck, Paddy Martin distractions and Kevin Waugh clearance, it could have been another comeback on the cards.
Stowe then hit the Forfar bye-line, whipping in a cross with pace across the face of the goal which beat Marc McCallum but also frustratingly the en rushing Jamie Dishington who was inches away from connecting.
Russell was certainly providing some challenges for the visitors, literally in cases where these were deemed unacceptable by the Referee who administered no fewer than three cards for unhelpful transgressions against the Spartans playmaker.
A cross shortly after from Russell had the crosshair fixed on the head of Stowe at the back stick only for Morrison to make a timely intervention to knock behind for a corner.
Both keepers then were called into action. Martin first to deny Lorimer, then McCallum to smother at the feet of Russell.
As the interval loomed, James Craigen’s curled effort looked destined to break the deadlock, only for the post to come to the Loons rescue.
HT: The Spartans 0-0 Forfar Athletic
Five minutes into the second half, it was advantage Spartans. A defence splitting pass found Cammy Russell who squared the ball into space where Mark Stowe had time to compose himself before leaving McCallum no chance with a thumping strike that tickled the onion bag.
Whilst the entertaining McCallum was unable to stop Stowe, he was in decent form moments later when he got down low to deny Bradley Whyte from quickly doubling the lead.
Midway through the half, Spartans made their first change of the afternoon with Kieran Watson replacing goal scorer Stowe.
Frustrations threatened to boil over as the game continued to edge towards the latter stages with a few bookings for a plethora of daft transgressions.
A further double swap by Dougie Samuel saw Bailey Dall and Brogan Walls, making his 50th Spartans appearance, replace Whyte and Booth.
With the game moving towards the 90 minute mark, ‘keep-ball’ was the modus operandi of the home side as they looked to close off the game without any late Loons response.
Blair Henderson was then introduced for Russell inside injury time, his aerial presence adding support for late launches into the home box, the last of which sailing over Martin’s crossbar to secure the win.
FT: The Spartans 1-0 Forfar Athletic
