Football: Spartans can close the gap on league leaders Star

Published on Wednesday 15 April 2009 09:48

SPARTANS have the opportunity to narrow the gap at the top of the East Seniors Premier Division to only one point when they play host to Edinburgh University at City Park tonight (kick-off 6.30pm).

Dalbeattie Star lead the table although Spartans have four games in hand over their rivals from the south of Scotland.

Spartans beat Coldstream 3-1 at the weekend and co-manager Mike Lawson was happy with his team's performance, particularly in the first half. "Coldstream were very good and probably committed themselves just a wee bit too early," said Lawson. "We scored a good goal on the break through Nicky Walker and then with a powerful header from Michael Opilka. I tried in the second half to save some players for tonight."

The last time Spartans played Edinburgh University was only a few weeks ago in the South Region Challenge Cup Final when the students were beaten 6-0. "Anything that could go wrong for Edinburgh University did go wrong and they will think that they have a point to prove," added Lawson. "That game was a one-off and they will be smarting because it was totally out of character. It was definitely a freak result.

"The students will probably think that they need three or four more points to make sure of avoiding a relegation battle."

Spartans will be without captain Stewart Fowlie, central defender Dan Gerrard and recent signing David Etale while Keith McLeod and Donal Henretty are both trying to shake off viruses.

Edinburgh University head coach Douglas Samuel has recovered from last Saturday when Kelso United scored with their only shot of the game in the final minute to equalise, and then beat the students 3-1 on penalty kicks. "Our inexperience of lacking the knowledge to see a game out was evident," said Samuel who is also disregarding the 6-0 defeat to Spartans. He added: "That result will have no bearing on tonight because we had an extremely difficult day and lost to the best team in the league. There is absolutely no pressure on us tonight."

Elsewhere, Whitehill Welfare, in third position five points behind Spartans, host third bottom Edinburgh City at Ferguson Park, kick-off 6.30pm, while in the First Division Hawick Royal Albert await Stirling University.