Goals from Bradley Whyte and Marc McNulty’s for the second match against Dumbarton in a row, saw The Spartans claim three valuable SPFL 2 points. Just as ain the game on 18th October it was the same 2 Spartans’ names on the scoresheet.
The Spartans lined up with an unchanged starting XI, however Captain Kev Waugh returned to bench after a spell out with injury. It was the first time in while that home bench had its full complement as queues for the treatment room finally started to dwindle.
The visitors had new manager Frank McKeown in the dugout, having stepped up from assistant the previous month. Goalkeeper Brett Long returned to the Sons first team in a year after a lengthy spell out with injury. Happily, for some, the Sons’ wore their ‘Charlie Brown’ style yellow tops!
The early exchanges were fairly uneventful, however the Spartans continued to probe for an opening with Drysdale and Dishington prominent throughout. The pressure continued with half chances for Stowe and McNulty keeping the Sons’ defence on their toes
A rare Dumbarton attack was cleared by Martin the Spartans’ goal, as they reminded the Spartan’s defence, they still had teeth.
In the 38th minute the breakthrough was made. After some good work in midfield the ball reached James Craigen at the edge of the box and when the ball rebounded to the edge of the box, Bradley Whyte produced a great strike to give Spartans the lead.
HT: The Spartans 1-0 Dumbarton
The second half continued in the same vein as the first with Spartans’ controlling most of the game and restricting the visitors chances.
Spartans doubled their lead after 67 minutes. After some excellent work down the left flank by Ethan Drysdale, he sent the ball into the box. Although a defender got a foot to the ball, he could only send it to the feet of Marc McNulty who fired high into the roof of the net almost the keeper could move.
A double swap for Spartans saw McKenzie Scott and Bailey Dall replace Mark Stowe & Ethan Drysdale as they tried to bolt the door on any chance of a comeback.
The Spartans’ continued to control the game and after 5 minutes of added on time, the final whistle echoed around the ground and the Spartans won for the third league game in a row.
FT: The Spartans 2-0 Dumbarton
Malt & Hops Man of the Match: Marc McNulty. A thorn in the side of the defence with his movement and an energetic performance topped off with a great strikers finish.
(Report by Stuart Skakle)
