Marc McNulty’s second spot kick in as many games was enough to earn Spartans three points and return them to the top of the SPFL 2 table with a 1-0 win over Forfar Athletic at a blustery Vanloq Community Stadium.
With a three game week, Gaffer Douglas Samuel made a couple of swaps in the starting line-up with Callum Booth and Jake Davidson coming into the XI with Cammy Russell and Kenzi Nair taking up berths on the bench.
The opening period of the game inside the Pilton wind tunnel saw both sides trying to second guess the direction of the gusty conditions and similarly keep the ball inside the park’s boundaries.
The first chance of the evening came from a neat move that say Marc McNulty cut inside to send a lovely curled effort that beat the diving Mason Munn but found the base of the post instead.
Spartans were dealt a blow when skipper Kevin Waugh was forced to retire in the 21st minute after failing to shake off a decidedly late challenge from Angus Mailer that earned the Forfar man a booking from Referee Abbie Hendry.
A couple of further opportunities came Spartans way with McNulty drilling the ball into the keeper’s breadbasket before Mark Stowe’s free-kick brought out a fine stop by the diving Munn.
Then, with half time on the horizon, Callum Booth’s one-two with Marc McNulty sent him on a run up the flank before his attempted cross met the arm of Jake Dolzanksi inside the area to give Spartans a shot from 12 yards to break the deadlock.
Marc McNulty stepped up, and with as effective composure as Saturday afternoon from the same penalty spot, sent Munn the wrong way to give Spartans the lead on the stroke of half time.
HT: The Spartans 1-0 Forfar Athletic
As the teams turned around for the second half, there was no such movement in the wind, with Forfar having the opportunity to use the conditions to their advantage.
That almost paid off when half time substitute Tyler Pasnik’s fierce effort was turned behind by Paddy Martin.
Murray Aiken was next to succumb to an awkward challenge and along with Mark Stowe, they were replaced by Bailey Dall and Cammy Russell just after the hour mark.
Dall was unlucky when he looked to forge open an opportunity inside the box and was perhaps a little too honest when his legs were chipped away at before he passed to Bradley Whyte who saw his effort blocked.
A further double swap came from the home bench as the game entered its final ten minutes. Callum Booth and Marc McNulty withdrawn with Kenzi Nair & Paul Watson slotting in.
Cammy Russell then went on a trademark run towards the Forfar goal, his pass finding Dall who unleashed a shot that was blocked. The same duo combined as the game entered its final moments, however this time Dall’s connection cleared the crossbar.
It mattered little however as the final whistle eventually sounded and Spartans had recorded three points and returned to the top of SPFL 2.
FT: The Spartans 1-0 Forfar Athletic
(Words: Mark Brown)
