Crolla's pace and power proves the perfect ingredient in Spartans win

Published on Wednesday 14 October 2009 10:16

SPARTANS bombarded Currie Star with a devastating early four-goal salvo to settle the South East Region Youth FA's under-17 Division 2 encounter at Arboretum.

Paul Crolla's overwhelming display of pace and power propelled the hosts to their first league win of the season and put paid to Star's hopes of adding to their sole victory in the division.

Crolla stormed up the field almost from the off to hand the home side the lead. After rounding Star goalkeeper Andy Hanlon his initial goal-bound effort was cleared off the line, but he followed up to net the opener.

Moments later, Crolla was again terrorising the visitors' defence with his speed, reaching the bye-line before cutting the ball across to strike partner Rory McLean, who side-footed in to make it 2-0.

McLean returned the favour on ten minutes, flicking on a throw-in for Crolla to finish from close range. Then, as the finale to a breathtaking opening 12 minutes, Crolla completed his hat-trick by firing past a shell-shocked Hanlon. Tom Christie, the Spartans assistant manager, noted after the match: "I was a bit disappointed that, at 4-0 up, we couldn't add to our lead. I thought we were devastating in the first ten minutes, but we halved our pace after that."

Indeed, in the second half, Currie mustered the vast majority of chances in front of goal, but, for all their superiority, were unable to register a striker on the scoresheet

Marc Stables' long throw was met by a Derek Paterson header that flashed narrowly wide of Spartans keeper Louis Hart's goal on 51 minutes. Then, Stables' corner on the hour-mark was missed entirely by Hart, but Paterson – again with a headed attempt on goal – failed to capitalise from close range.

Two minutes later, Star midfielder Niall Strickland could not have connected more emphatically with the ball 20 yards from goal, but his rasping drive, to the disappointment of the Currie support, was aimed straight at goalkeeper Hart.

Such was the ferocity of the strike, the No.1 was unable to hold the ball as it came directly to him, instead having to push it round the post from a stationary position.

Calum Nicholls then stung the fingers of Hart once more with a fierce side-footed shot from the edge of the box on 63 minutes.

Some outrageous skill by Star forward Derek Paterson on the right flank, with tricks that drove him past a number of challenges, paved the way to the Spartans penalty area where the spritely attacker played the ball across for Strickland, but his effort once again found Hart in the way.

Graeme Thomson, the Currie Star head coach, spoke of his frustration at missed opportunities but reckoned that on a different day the result could have easily gone the other way.

He said: "We created ten or 12 good opportunities. If Niall Strickland's shot had gone in at the end, it would have been the goal of the season.

"I didn't expect their No.12 (Paul Crolla] to be that fast, and he caught us out at the start. We've not had the best start to the season and to get a few more bodies in would be great.

"We started the last four games with ten men, but still managed to beat Polbeth from the First Division in the cup.

"Liam Johnston in defence played very well, and Derek Paterson and Errol Douglas up front plugged away, tried their best and had a couple of flick-ons. These guys score freely and on another day could have had one or two goals each."

Spartans coach Christie added: "I'm pleased for Paul Crolla and our goalkeeper, Louis Hart, who usually plays in midfield but has played well in goals in our last four or five games after our previous goalkeeper left, and he seems happy to continue there."

Spartans: Louis Hart, Sean Christie, Wilf Whitby, Jack McLuckie, Subhaan Ahmed, Fraser McKinlay, Kerr Flannigan, Rory McLean, Joshua McCabe, Paul Crolla, Mark James, Dean Chakonda, Christopher MacRae, Alasdair Fleming.

Currie Star: Andy Hanlon, Glen Gallagher, Liam Johnston, Ross MacDonald, Niall Strickland, Robert Large, Christopher Downie, Calum Nicholls, Fraser Thomson, Derek Paterson, Errol Douglas, Marc Stables.

IN yesterday's Evening News we misspelt the president of the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur FA's name. We apologise to Mr Charles Gallacher for any upset this may have caused.