Spartans lose poor Cup tie

Published on Monday 12 October 2009 10:01

Larkhall Thistle 1 Spartans Juniors 0

SPARTANS didn't crash out of the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup – they slipped out with a whimper.

The stage was set for them to make an impact against a side they should have beaten last week but they simply failed to turn up for this replay.

Spartans presented Larkhall with plenty of chances to open the scoring with a series of mistimed clearances and ill-judged tackles.

It wasn't until the 25th minute that Spartans had a shot at goal and it flew high and wide over the bar. They came into the game some more as half-time approached but it was Larkhall who were then guilty of some dreadful football.

The second half was littered with poor passing, poor tackling and very poor awareness and the only highlight was the only goal of the game. Larkhall's winger Stephen Donachy turned his marker nicely before making room wide right. His perfect cross was headed powerfully into the net by striker Joe Shields in the 50th minute.

Larkhall Thistle: Bunnaukis, Carson, Shanks, Shields, Wilson, Clarke, Donachy, Doyle, Earlie, Shields, Menelaws. Subs: Kondol, Paterson, Creaney, Keenan, Campbell, Dunsmore.

Spartans: Patarek, Cruikshanks, Hutchison, Steele, Sutherland, Antoni, Moffat, K Young, Osbourne, Scott, Carmichael. Subs: Hair, G Young, McLeod, Robertson, Bannon, Boyes, Douglas.