Spartans battle back in title catch-up thriller

Published on Wednesday 22 April 2009 09:46

A MAGNIFICENT headed goal from Struan Preston midway through the second half saw Spartans earn a 1-1 draw with defending league champions Whitehill Welfare at City Park.

The home side now trail Dalbeattie Star by three points with two games in hand over the Premier Division leaders.

Last night's game was an ideal opportunity for Spartans to close that gap to just one and this result will be seen as a chance lost.

Spartans had most of the pressure although Whitehill created more clear-cut chances, especially in the last 20 minutes when the game raged from end to end with Whitehill hemmed in by the home side's all-out attacks followed by incisive breaks from the visitors, many led by the dangerous Scott Gormley.

It was Gormley who opened the scoring in the 18th minute, following a period of intense Spartans pressure.

A Gavin Malin cross had picked out Nicky Walker whose effort rebounded off the crossbar with keeper Youssef Bejaoui beaten. Eventually, the ball broke to Whitehill's Kevin Haynes, who supplied a pass to Gormley. His pace took him into the penalty box where he slickly put the ball wide of keeper Chris Flockhart.

The equaliser came in the 70th minute when a Dean Hoskins corner kick was headed cleanly and powerfully into the net by Preston. Mike Lawson, Spartans co-manager, summed up the frenetic match, played on a fiery, bobbly surface, saying: "We should have won it but could have lost it. In the first half we were nervous and tentative against a Whitehill team that played with no fear. In the second half we threw caution to the wind and the players responded.

"I always said that the title race would go to the wire and I still think it will."

Gary Aitchison, the Whitehill manager, said: "That was a superb game, a very open game which both sides obviously wanted to win."

In the other Premier Division match, Edinburgh University beat Preston Athletic 1-0 with an early penalty from Jack Beesley.

&#149 FIRST DIVISION leaders Tynecastle have the chance to build up a three-point advantage tonight when they travel to meet Vale of Leithen at Innerleithen, kick-off 6.45pm.