Two goals from Natalie Bandura and a strike by Izzy Young gave Spartans manager Jack Beesley’s rebuilt and rejuvenated Spartans Women’s side a 0-3 win away to Stirling University on the opening day of the SWPL 2 campaign.
Both sides had plenty of energy in the tank as the game got underway as the sun shone on the Stirling University campus on Sunday. Spartans with the early opportunity, with a corner, which seemed to be stuck inside the box, bouncing off legs like a pin ball and a pinball wizard machine.
Ronaigh Douglas rose to send a header towards the Stirling keeper, which was well saved. The resultant corner was headed over by Robin McCafferty as Spartans continued to press for the opener.
Izzy Young was next up to have pop at goal as Spartans hemmed the students back into a deep defensive mode in the early stages.
That Stirling defence was finally broken down in the 19th minute, when Polish Internationalist Natalie Bandura opened her Spartans account for the season, getting on the end of an inch perfect Tegan Reynolds cross to send a powerful header into the back of the net.
It was a welcome reward for both teams at that stage when the referee stopped for a seasonal water break as a mercury topped 23 degrees in Stirling. And no, that’s not a typo! That water break seemed to revitalise Spartans the most and moments after the restart, it was a second for the tourists.
A cheeky wee run from behind the Stirling defender saw Issy Young steal the ball, turn onto her favoured right foot before letting fly. Despite a fine diving stop by the home goalie, Young was first to swoop on the rebound to drive home.
Another break in play followed, this time unfortunately for treatment to Tegan Reynolds who was involved in an innocuous middle of the park collision. Despite a shot of Sophie Marr’s magic sponge, it was to be the undoing of the Spartans defender who battled valiantly before eventually being replaced at half-time.
HT: Stirling University 0-2 Spartans
Ava Crawford was introduced for Reynolds at the break and no doubt the Factor 50 was applied in the sheds before the start of the second half, which Spartans took by the scruff of the neck early on.
Bandura looked to extend the lead when she dusted herself down after being taken out en route to goal. Her free-kick from 25 yards out didn’t trouble the keeper this time however it wasn’t long before she grabbed her second of the afternoon when she rounded the goalkeeper and slid the ball into the net, despite the valiant efforts of the defender on the line.
Spartans were to make a treble change just after the hour mark with Emma McMurdo, Emily Cadell, and Hannah Cunningham replacing Davies, Douglas and Bandura.
A long- range speculative effort from Sarah Clelland offered a bit of a challenge for the home stopper as the ball took a bounce on the sunbeaten surface and the keeper had to look lively to response with Robin McCafferty breathing down her neck.
The best piece of individual skill of the afternoon came when substitute Cadell turned her marker inside out tight on the touchline before a mesmerising meg on another home plaas she scampered down the sidelines, drawing applause from the merry band of Spartans supporters basking in the sunshine.
Jack Beesley made one final change with fifteen minutes to go, Lauren McDonald replacing Sarah Clelland.
Emma McMurdo almost got in in the act with a goal of her own with an in-swinging corner which almost out-foxed the home defence, hitting the post and rebounded back into play, but there were no takers for the rebound.
McMurdo had another chance this time of the free kick 20 yards out only to see her on target attempt well saved.
FT: Stirling University 0-3 Spartans
Words: Mark Brown
