Scots triumph in the battle of the Spartans

In association with:

ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

Blyth Spartans 2-3 Spartans
Pre-season Friendly
Croft Park
Saturday 25th July 2015
Attendance: 303

Goals from the in-form Michael Richardson and Sean Reid's maiden Croft Park strike weren't enough for Blyth Spartans to walk off with the Ronnie Swan Challenge Cup as the Spartans of Edinburgh won an entertaining fixture by the odd goal in five.

A quiet start to the game gave way to two goals in a minute with seventeen minutes on the clock and both could be considered very early contenders for goal of the season.

Eddie Malone smashed the Edinburgh outfit ahead with an unstoppable effort from 20 yards but within a minute Michael Richardson expertly chipped Blair Carswell to equalise.

The Scottish side retook the lead for the second time twelve minutes before half time as a run by Michael Herd saw the ball break to Dean Horribine on the edge of the box.

The midfielder's effort sneaked over the line despite the best efforts of Adam McHugh. That meant that the visitors took the lead into the interval.

Tom Wade's side should have been on level terms on the hour mark as their trialist striker was played through on goal by Richardson and after rounding the keeper he seemed set to equalise but was thwarted on the line by two visiting defenders.

The visitors lead was extended with quarter of an hour left on the clock with a somewhat dubiously awarded penalty kick.

The ever dangerous Dean Horribine hit the ground under a challenge from Alex Nicholson and there was enough contact for referee Hulme to decide it warranted a spot kick. Aaron Murrell sent Nick Thomson the wrong way to seal the game for the visitors.

However with injury time approaching Sean Reid grabbed his first goal at Croft Park as the former West Allotment Celtic striker rose to meet a Robbie Dale corner and head home from around eight yards out.

Deep into injury time, there was almost an equaliser for Blyth as substitute Chris Bell met a cross from the left but couldn't make sufficient contact to force the ball into the far corner meaning it was the Edinburgh Spartans who took the trophy back home to the Scottish capital.

Blyth Spartans:

McHugh, Nicholson, Watson, Morse, Bramley, Turnbull, Wade, Dale, Reid, Richardson, Robinson

Subs:

Thomson, A Trialist, B Trialist, Wearmouth, Bell

Goals:

Richardson 18, Reid 90

Spartans star man:

Stephen Turnbull

Spartans:

Carswell, Herd, Malone, Thomson, Mackinnon, Ward, Horribine, Stevenson, Murray, Murrell, Browne

Subs:

Main, Imlah, Beesley

Goals:

Malone 17, Horribine 34, Murrell 74

Spartans star man

Dean Horribine

Entertainment value:

4/5