Spartans attackers given green light for Gretna trip

Spartans travel to face Gretna 2008 tonight with the knowledge that a win would move them further ahead at the top of the Central Taxis Premier Division.

Spartans currently head the league table by six points from Whitehill Welfare.

Spartans’ manager, Douglas Samuel, fresh from a narrow 1-0 King Cup win against his former club, Edinburgh 
University, at the weekend, said: “We beat Gretna 4-0 earlier in the season although I know that they have made several new signings since then and have stepped up significantly. We certainly know that it will be a competitive game.

“We are going to Gretna to win the game and we will not be sitting in. We are going there with attacking players and an attacking mindset.”

Samuel will be without midfield player Mark Whatley who was sent off in the closing stages on Saturday although Donal Henretty and Robbie Manson are both available after suspensions while Andy Martin has recovered from illness. Gretna 2008 manager, Kenny Brown, is looking to lift his side out of second bottom spot in the table although they do have games in hand on all of the teams around them. Brown will be without the suspended duo of Steven Rudd and Nikki White.

The game kicks off at Raydale Park at 7.45pm.

Meanwhile, Craigroyston last night maintained their promotion push with a narrow 1-0 win away to Gala Fairydean thanks to a goal scored by John Dunn midway through the second half.

This Central Taxis First Division clash between two teams in the top half of the table was decided when Errol Douglas made a powerful dash down the left-hand channel and 
his accurate cross picked out Dunn who slotted the ball into the net.

“The first half was very even,” said Craigroyston’s assistant manager Garry Aitchison. “However, I thought that we controlled the second half and the result gives us another three points which moves us onwards and upwards.”