Spartans: Final berth is Lawson's aim after lay-off

Spartans, whose last game was towards the end of November when they were beaten 1-0 at home by East Stirlingshire in the second round of the Scottish Cup, are desperate for their game against Selkirk to go ahead at Ainslie Park tomorrow.

Spartans are scheduled to host the Souters in the much-postponed Image Printers East of Scotland Qualifying Cup semi-final and although a small area of the pitch is giving head groundsman Colin Hutchison some cause for concern, there is optimism that the game will go ahead.

Mike Lawson, the Spartans joint manager, is frustrated by the lack of competitive fixtures, although he said: "We have not been affected as far as training is concerned and have only really missed a couple of sessions. We have utilised the World of Soccer and David Lloyd fitness facilities while our own field turf pitch has also been available, thanks to a big squad of volunteers who cleared the snow from it. Our players are also very experienced and have been ticking over by themselves.

"Our previous game was against East Stirling in which we did not play badly, although we lost 1-0. I would say that we earned a nine out of ten for our performance and to have done any better we would have to have played out of our skins. Overall, a draw would have been fair.

"It has, therefore, been a long time to get that result out of our system although our recent postponements mean that we have now gone over a year since we were last beaten by another East of Scotland League team. That was at the same stage of the Image Printers Cup last season when Vale of Leithen beat us 2-0."

Lawson, since he became a manager nearly 20 years ago, has always regarded the Image Printers East of Scotland Qualifying Cup as a top competition because the winners qualify to play Scottish League opposition - Berwick Rangers - in the final of the City Cup.

"This competition opens up opportunities and therefore the game against Selkirk is a huge game for us," stressed Lawson. "We have not played for five weeks so we have no idea how our players will react although, to be fair, it will be the same for Selkirk who in their last game beat Lothian Thistle 3-2 and have had some really good results this season. I regard Selkirk as the most improved team in the entire East of Scotland League this season.

"When you play a Borders club you know that it will be very competitive and Selkirk always play with a great spirit, are well organised and very solid. In our previous league game against them we scored the winner in stoppage time and it was the most relieved that our technical area has been all of this season.

"I will certainly be reminding our players about that game immediately before kick-off tomorrow. Hopefully, that will keep the boys on their toes."Spartans' only concern are the unavailability of David Etale because of injury and Chris Smith is also rated as doubtful, although Keith McLeod will definitely play his last game before he has a hernia operation next week.

Selkirk, meanwhile, have boss Paul Brownlee looking forward to locking horns with Spartans once more. "The last game was very close and we led for most of the game," he said. "It took a wonder goal from Omar Kader to beat us 2-1 in stoppage time and that took a bit of the shine off an otherwise excellent performance.

"We will have to be in Spartans' faces and close them down because, if not, they are liable to run over you. We have not had the ideal preparation for this game although our players know what Spartans are like."

Selkirk have Paul Hossack in excellent form and their recent signing, Jamie Gibson from Gala Fairydean, is in line to make his debut.

Kick-off at Ainslie Park is at 2.30pm with extra time and penalties, if necessary. Admission charges are adults 5.00 and concessions 2.00.