Two goals inside the opening six minutes from Paul Thomson and Chris Townsley secured Spartans passage into next Tuesday’s William Hill Scottish Cup 3rd Round draw with a 0-2 win over Highland League outfit Huntly at Christie Park.
The game was just four minutes old when the North Edinburgh side opened the scoring after Paul Thomson used his strength to power home a header following a Craig Comrie cross.
It was the ideal start for Dougie Samuel’s side and just two minutes later Man of the Match Chris Townsley nodded home Scott Maxwell’s corner at the back post to extend the lead.
The woodwork then denied the Lowland League side from further extending their lead when Jamie Dishington’s drive hit the post midway through the first half.
The home support were on their feet in the stand when the ball ruffled the back of the net after Napier chipped Carswell. Their cheers were muted however when they realised it had actually cleared the bar and landed at the back of the onion bag after bouncing off the tournament sponsors’ advertising hording!
It was a warning sign for the tourists and Carswell was then called into action just before the half time whistle when he got down low to push Duff’s shot round the post to keep the two goal cushion at the break.
HT: Huntly 0-2 Spartans
The home side came out of the traps for the second stanza looking for an avenue back into the tie however a resolute defence, spearheaded by Townsley ensured Carswell maintained a clean sheet at full time.
Fine link-up play between Dan Ward, Craig Johnston and David Greenhill saw Craig Comrie come close as the visitors looked to put the game to bed on the hour mark, the final effort narrowly going over the bar.
Substitute Jack Hay was next to test the Huntly keeper with a well worked strike from just inside the penalty box. At the other end, Dishington looked to have earned his team a spot kick after being upended in the box by Allan however the appeals were waived aside by the match official.
With the game entering its final stages, the home side pressed with a hope of setting up a grandstand finale however it wasn’t to be their day, much to the delight of the travelling Spartan Army who had made the 320 mile round trip from the capital.
FT: Huntly 0-2 Spartans
Spartans: Carswell, Herd, Maxwell, Thomson, Ward, Greenhill, Comrie (Watson), Johnston (Hay), Townsley, Dishington, Stevenson. Subs: Beesley, Horribine, Tolmie, Mair, Gilpin (GK).
A Client Manager with an independent invoice financier firm during the day. Outside the office I volunteer as Media Manager across the Spartans FC family. Political hopeful. Broken / Retired Prop who played rugby for Scotland in his prime...
