Spartans cruise into next round

Spartans cruised into the third round of the Image  Printers cup with victory over First Division Kelso.

The home side dominated the entire game as Kelso, set up in a defensive formation, tried to frustrate the Edinburgh side.

Willie Bremner deservedly opened the scoring however in the 39th minute. Gary Cennerrazzo made himself space on the edge of the box and played a defence-splitting pass to the feet of Bremner, who coolly slotted the ball into the far corner.

Bremner eventually scored his second goal to double the lead in the 68th minute when his low shot from just inside the box wasn’t held by the Kelso keeper and the ball slowly rolled over the line and into the net.

Kelso changed their formation and started to push forward in search of a goal that would bring them back into the game. Chris Black used his power to create a chance for the visitors in the 74th minute however his shot was blocked by Spartans defender Ally MacKinnon.

The Borders side struggled to create any other goal scoring chances and Chris Flockhart had a lazy Saturday afternoon in the Spartans goal.

As the game looked to be winding down towards full time, second-half substitute Jack Beesley made the most of the advancing Kelso defensive line to run onto a ball from Robbie Manson. Beesley was tripped just inside the box and the referee awarded a penalty which Keith McLeod converted in the 83rd minute.

Spartans Manager Douglas Samuel said: “We are pleased to progress to the next round and to keep another clean sheet.”

Spartans: Flockhart, Manson, Cennerrazzo, MacCuish, MacKinnon, Whatley, Martin (Wringe), Bremner (O’Donnell), Henretty (Beesley), McLeod, Anderson.

Kelso United: Dowie, G McNulty (Mabon), Angus, Harker, Tait, D McNulty, Black (McClure), Laidler, Burnett, Wallace, Lauder.