The Spartans maintained their unbeaten start to the KDM Evolution Trophy on Saturday with a 5-1 victory over Hibernian B at the Vanloq Community Stadium.
Douglas Samuel once again rung the changes to the starting XI, with his squad rotation system in full operation, offering important minutes to legs across the board.
Spartans Community Foundation Patron Gordon Strachan was amongst 383 inside the ground for a fixture that stretches back to the club’s inaugural campaign in 1951.
It was the hosts who were straight out the traps from the off with Cammy Russell swinging in a cross with the keeper coming to collect ahead of if dropping on the head of Mark Stowe.
Incessant pressure for the opening quarter of the game failed to flip into a finish to trouble the scoreboard, but that changed in the 22nd minute. A corner into the melting pot of the six yard box pinged off players before finding Sean Welsh who unleashed an unstoppable shot that flew into the back of the net.
Ten minutes later, that lead doubled. Cammy Russell’s cross inside the penalty area was deemed to have been blocked by the arm of the covering defender by Referee Calder. Russell stepped up to slot home the spot kick to extend the Spartans lead.
There was almost a third before the interval when Mark Stowe made a darting run to the byeline, delivered looking for Mackie Scott who found himself just off balance enough to not get enough purchase on the shot to trouble the keeper.
HT: The Spartans 2-0 Hibernian B
It didn’t take long for Spartans to put further light between the sides. Route One made it three with Blair Carswell’s long clearance bouncing into the path of Mark Stowe who composed himself before chipping the advancing keeper to find the empty net.
On the hour mark, Spartans made life a bit of a challenge for stadium announcer Kyle when they made a quartet of changes. Bailey Dall, Jamie Dishington, Archie Wylie and Kenzi Nair replaced Craigen, Scott, Waugh & Drysdale.
Dall was to make an immediate impact when his cross found Bradley Whyte at the back post and it was a rare headed goal for the Spartans man who landed heavily after making it four.
Three minutes later, Spartans rounded off their scoring part of the afternoon when Cammy Russell broke into the box before bulging the onion bag with an unstoppable shot.
It was Cammy’s final involvement as he was replaced by Given Ndlovu.
The young Hibs team did manage to gain something for the efforts late on when Cleland converted a penalty to make it 5-1.
Full Time: The Spartans 5-1 Hibernian B
Malt and Hops Man of the Match : Cammy Russell
