Spartans 20s 3-0 Edinburgh University U20s: 'Controlled' Display From the Home Side
- James McKenzie
- Apr 26, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 30, 2024
Spartans recorded a controlled and comprehensive victory over Edinburgh University under the Friday night lights at Ainslie Park.
Fans were treated to some Friday night entertainment as Spartans U20s took on Edinburgh University 20s at Ainslie Park in the Scottish Lowlands Development League.
Spartans were plucking away in the early stages but to no avail, with Given Ndlovu seeing the first chance of the game blocked and cleared away by an astute Edinburgh University backline.
Failing to really slice open the university defence, Spartans decided to gamble from range, with Sam Coats' sighter being parried away by Dan Kelly.
Second time was the charm for Coats however as another blistering strike towards the same area of the goal proved too much for Kelly and left the net bulging and Spartans a goal to the good after 21 minutes.
A second goal would follow just a matter of moments later as Ndlovu's corner was met at the near post by Charlie Rothnie who headed home and handed the hosts an early two goal advantage.
(Image: Mark Brown: Spartans FC)
Ndlovu continued to terrorise the away side down the left flank, shifting inside of his marker and seeing his curling effort claimed by Kelly.
High on confidence after adding the second goal, Rothnie went for goal again from just outside the area but saw his effort narrowly miss the mark.
Spartans relentless first-half display wasn't coming to an end anytime soon, with Niall Geanny and Ndlovu testing the keeper and forcing a pair of fantastic stops from the man between the sticks.
Andre Anagnostou was quietly having an impressive first-half, and he almost had a goal as his reward but he saw his sweetly struck volley tipped over by Kelly, another stunning stop in the first 45.
A key part of Spartan's first-half dominance was some defence-splitting passes from the backline, as a fantastic long ball from Andy Kelly picked out Ndlovu on the far side who saw another curling effort fly straight down the throat of the keeper.
The home side picked up where they left off in the second-half, as Given Ndlovu was once again the orchestrator, sliding it through to Aaron Cameron who slotted past Kelly for their third of the game.
Edinburgh University were handed a lifeline as a dubious penalty decision was given their way, but justice was served as Dan Hart provided a fantastic penalty save to deny Jason MacNiven.
(Image: Mark Brown: Spartans FC)
A pair of trialists' took to the field looking to impress the Spartans management team, and Trialist B was looking the brighter of the two, seeing his long-range effort flash just wide of the Kelly's right post.
Edinburgh University made the most of Niall Geanny pulling up on the left-hand side, sending a cross into Morgan Matthew whose close-range effort was well saved by Hart, having a far busier second-half than he did the first.
Trialist B continued his efforts to impress, rising highest despite his slight frame to meet a picture perfect cross but his header was cleared off the line by the Edinburgh University defence.
Spartans went in search of more goals late in the game, with Kyle McNeil flashing an effort across goal that was pushed wide of the mark by Kelly.
Manager Les Atkinson commended his players control of the game over the course of the 90 minutes when speaking to Scouting Edinburgh after the match, stating "It was controlled from start to finish. I was quite pleased, it was a good solid performance. Nothing too flattering, but solid."
Spartans U20s Manager Les Atkinson with Scouting Edinburgh post-match
Star Man - Given Ndlovu
The wide man caught the eye instantly as he always looked a threat going down the left-hand side. Using electric pace and tricky dribbling to always get the better of his marker, he was on top form in an attacking sense and whilst he may not have gotten the goal his performance deserved, the two assists will do just fine.
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