A proper local derby today – a 1.6 mile journey to Ainslie Park & The Spartans, who are not having a good time of it this year, languishing at the bottom of the table. The scout report suggests they have a pretty strong squad, but they haven’t won in the league since August…they are a bit of a strange case.
They are playing a 5-4-1 with Wingbacks, similar to us apart from they have wingers and 1 up top – They have Fullbacks in the wingback positions which might be giving them problems. However Preston Athletic played that formation against us as well in the Scottish Cup and gave us overload problems on the wings so we will need to be careful.
Glasgow & Cairney back in for Docherty & Scott Mackay, Wingbacks back to Defend duty. Might bring us more narrow in possession and defend a bit wider, we shall see if the threat is there in the first 20 minutes or so. Remembering back to the Preston game Burbidge unlocked the game as WB(A) so I’ll keep that in mind from pretty early on.
And guess what – they are going 4-4-2 after playing the 5-4-1 WB for the last 10 games 🙂 Wingbacks back to Support.
HT Spartans 1 (McFarlane 26) Civil Service 1 (Glasgow 12)
Nearly a goal in the first minute, a Balfour shot saved well, and a bright start from the Strollers. And in the 12th minute a lovely cross from deep from Gibb found Glasgow unmarked, and he finished beautifully. Spartans started to come back into the game almost straight away with a good chance. And they equalized in the 26th minute when a cross found x, who found McFarlane with a short pass, who tucked it away. I’ve brought our possession in a bit narrower, see if we can open them up through the middle. Also brought Glasgow back as a Pressing Forward on Support, see if he can get involved more. Coll coming on for Mair, Wing-backs will go to attack on 60 if we need a breakthrough. Cairney has also been put onto Attack duty.
FT Spartans 1 (McFarlane 26) Civil Service 1 (Glasgow 12) Att 165 (96 Away)
Spartans were very much the stronger team for most of the half, totally belying their league position. Burbidge came on for Gibb just before 60 and Mackay for Cairney around the 70 min mark. Went Counter Attacking early crossing longer passing for the last 10 minutes but it finished 1-1 – Pretty disappointing but The Spartans deserved at least a point.
Still 2nd, Dalbeattie won to go 2 points clear, beating BSC Glasgow. Kelty come into contention after their 4-3 away win v East Kilbride, and Gala drew.
Next up in 4 days is the South Challenge Cup 4th Round at Home to Edusport (2nd game in 11 days with them) – See you then.