Trio see red in four minutes of madness

Published on Thursday 11 March 2010 08:59

SPARTANS cruised into the third round of the King Cup with a 7-0 victory against an ill-disciplined Lothian Thistle team, who had three players sent off in a mad four-minute spell early in the second half.

The tie was finely balanced after an hour gone with Spartans leading through a Jorge Vinelli header when Lothian completely lost their cool. Spartans' Gavin Malin fired in an unstoppable shot from 20 yards then Thistle's Mark Lothian used foul and abusive language to the referee, Neil McLennan, who was left with no choice but to send the player off.

The game had barely restarted when Lothian's Martin MacAuley scythed down Vinelli from behind and he, too, was given a straight red card. Less than two minutes later, defender Mike Herd, who had been booked in the first half, was shown a second yellow and subsequent red card.

Spartans substitute Keith McLeod put a fantastic header into the top corner then struck home a shot from the edge of the penalty box. Ross Archibald scored with a sublime chip before Malin increased Spartans' advantage. McLeod completed his hat-trick in the final minute from close range.

Fraser Ogilvie, the Lothian coach, said: "I have to give credit to Spartans because their goals were great and clinical. However, they played against eight men for half an hour.

"It's hard enough playing Spartans with eleven players, never mind ten, nine or eight!"

Mike Lawson, the Spartans joint manager, said: "Although the three sending offs influenced the final score we were already two up."

Spartans now travel to Whitehill Welfare in the next round.

&#149 IN the Central Taxis First Division, Gretna 2008 moved into third position with a 2-1 away win against Gala Fairydean with goals from Dan Carmichael and Ryan Errington.