Havelin throws Newcraighall into a spin with his clinical hat-trick

Published on Wednesday 25 November 2009 08:36

SPARTANS made an amazing comeback at Newcraighall to progress in the South East Region Youth FA's under-14 Bill Sheridan Cup as the youth football fixture card was decimated by torrential rain at the weekend.

In one of the few games to go ahead, hosts Newcraighall Leith Vics were 2-0 up after a quarter of an hour, but a six-goal blitz by the visitors, including a Stephen Havelin hat-trick, helped the North Edinburgh side to a comfortable victory.

The all-Division 1 tie began with a bang, as a brace by Dean Ballantyne gave Vics a head start.

The hosts' No.10 started the scoring in stylish fashion, choosing to place his shot from the edge of the box rather than opt for power and was duly rewarded as his inch-perfect strike crept into the left-hand corner of the net past goalkeeper Callum Speedie.

For the second goal, Scott Chapman burst forward from midfield and released a clever pass into the path of Ballantyne, who passed the goalkeeper but let the ball run wide to the bye-line. Ballantyne's subsequent cross-cum-shot, though, caught Speedie, who had since scampered back to his line, unawares and the ball appeared to deflect via the head of the No.1 on its way into the net.

Spartans, to their credit, were always at ease in pursuit of their attractive passing style and contributed significantly to the aesthetic value of the contest.

The visitors also bore a quiet confidence and it was little surprise that, all aspects of play considered, they found their way back into the match prior to half-time.

The first Spartans goal was as welcome for the Whites as it was fortunate, a clearance by Vics defender Robbie Martin cannoning off the left boot of Bruce Scott and rebounding low into the bottom right-hand corner of Craig Hunter's goal.

Buzzing striker Blair Atkinson was a menace all morning with tricks and flicks galore, and it was the diminutive No.9 who won the penalty for Spartans' equaliser on 28 minutes. Havelin duly fired the spot-kick low to the left to beat Hunter.

Hunter became the prey early in the second half as Spartans sought to assume the advantage, but the Vics stopper twice denied his opponents, holding Peter Connelly's testing drive and then thwarting Atkinson by blocking with his legs. On 47 minutes, though, the fifth goal landed, somewhat inevitably, in Hunter's net, giving Spartans a 3-2 lead and setting them on the road to more.

Coaches in youth football may consistently warn their players of the dangers of attempting to play "World Cup passes" but after Atkinson stole possession in midfield he showed the confidence and vision to pull off a blinding through ball between two Vics defenders for Havelin to run on to and shoot powerfully past Hunter.

Ten minutes later, Alistair Thurlow carved a dangerous furrow across the penalty area from left to right, the ball seemingly glued to his feet all the while, and he capped his mazy run with a reverse shot low into the bottom left-hand corner. Havelin stole the goal-scoring show on the hour mark, netting Spartans' fifth after drifting into the penalty area and beating Hunter from close range with a cool finish.

The most spectacular strike of the eight, however, was saved for last. Bruce Scott, clearly keen to show his shooting prowess after the mild embarrassment of his first, rather fortunate, goal, sent a rasping drive with his right foot (Scott is naturally left-footed) into the top left-hand corner of the goal to seal the scoreline at 6-2.

Les Atkinson and Keith McKay, the Spartans coaches, were most pleased with the resilience shown by their team after going two down.

Atkinson said: "They just kept playing football after conceding the early goals. For us, it's about developing footballers and today they were just a joy to watch – it was 'Total Football'.

"We lost nine of our 15 players in the summer, but we're building a good team here.

"I thought the wee man (Blair Atkinson, Spartans' No.9] was brilliant and dominated midfield."

Newcraighall Leith Vics: Craig Hunter, Kyle Knox, Robbie Martin, Stuart Mackay, Adam Forsyth, Thomas Kane, Sam Tulloch, Dean Ballantyne, Moray Kerr, Jordan Grant, Joseph Fennell, Lewis Smith, Scott Chapman, Cameron Watt, Sam Rintoul.

Spartans: Callum Speedie, Gavin Ramage, Elliot Carruthers, Duncan Player, Alistair Thurlow, Lee Horribine, Stephen Havelin, Aiden Lamb, Blair Atkinson, Sean Stewart, Peter Connelly, Bruce Scott, Ross Patrizio, Cameron Gleave, Sam Addy.