Missed our introduction to Spartans FC and instilling the ethos of the Spartan Army in cinch League 2? Catch up on Part 1 here.
The intimidating figure of 6ft 8in King Leonidas burst through the front door of Ainslie Park Stadium, muttering Greek curses as he rushed towards his office. He’d just received the news that big-name signing Asamoah Gyan had agreed a move to Bosnia just days after Leonidas had allowed backup striker Cammy Russell depart for Elgin City.
That left Leonidas’ The Spartans FC with one recognised striker, another who wasn’t good enough, and two 16-year-old prospects with a combined 2 appearances for the under-18s. Leonidas particularly liked the look of Ciarán Court, who had 16 determination, 11 stamina and 10 determination with plenty of room for improvement. He wasn’t the only youngster stepping up to the first team though, as he was joined by fellow striker Tom Galloway, centre-back MacKenzie Dalziel and right-back Jamie Riordan, who’s wanted by the likes of Dundee, Inverness and Livingston.
Big Victories Spark Promotion Push
Court wasted no time hitting the ground running as he twice latched onto passes by strike partner Blair Henderson to inspire a 3-1 win at league favourites Peterhead. As a result, Court became the youngest ever Spartans goalscorer aged 16 years 130 days. Leonidas’ offensive formation worked wonders as Spartans went to Dumbarton and put six past them led by star man James Craigen’s hat trick. A 1-1 at home to leaders Elgin City kept Spartans 4 points behind them before a wild game at Stranraer.
The first seven shots either went in or hit the bar as Spartans twice came from behind inside 12 minutes. Henderson latched onto goalkeeper Adam Meek’s clearance to fire them ahead, had a goal disallowed, then headed home for a hat trick inside 29 minutes. Stranraer got one back just after the break before winger Jamie Dishington curled in an absolute beauty from 25 yards, his deflected shot bounced up for Henderson to bag his fourth and sub striker Ben Lamont scored his first of the season. So a crazy game of 30 shots and 5.91 xG finished Stranraer 3-7 Spartans!
That huge win gave the Spartan Army confidence as they thrashed Bonnyrigg Rose 4-0, leaving them just 3 points off the top with 10 games remaining. They nicked a 2-2 at home to East Fife before Court scored for the first time since his record-breaking brace in a 2-0 win at bottom side Stenhousemuir. A few draws followed, including a 1-1 with 4th-place Forfar to wrap up a playoff place with 5 games remaining and 3 years ahead of the board’s schedule. But they were 7 points behind Stranraer, so automatic promotion was probably a little out of reach. However, another absolute thriller at Elgin saw Spartans score four in the first half and come home 6-3 winners led by a Henderson hat trick.
That lifted Spartans back into contention, moving them 2nd ahead of Elgin and 4 points behind Stranraer going into the final four games.
Game 1 – Stranraer (1st, home): The run-in began with a huge game against leaders Stranraer. This time, the match started a lot quieter as Craigen fired a free-kick over and Court had a shot saved before the visitors scored from their first attack. Spartans bossed the game but, unusually, failed to put their chances away until Lamont’s late header secured a deserved point.
Game 2 – Bonnyrigg Rose (10th, away): They were much more clinical at doomed Bonnyrigg Rose, where Henderson scored twice in a 5-3 win. Elsewhere, Stranraer suffered a shock 3-1 loss at home to 8th-place Dumbarton and Elgin won to go top.
Game 3 – Peterhead (6th, home): Spartans’ final home game was against league favourites Peterhead, who were lingering in a lowly 6th. They made a great start as youth prospect Graeme McGinley (see below) broke Court’s record at the age of 16 years 130 days and midfielder Rhys Armstrong earned an easy 2-0 win. Elsewhere, Elgin and Stranraer drew 2-2 at Dumbarton and Forfar. So that Spartans went top of the league for the first time since gameweek 2 heading into a potentially thrilling final day!
Game 4 – East Fife (9th, away): So if Spartans could win at East Fife, against whom they’d scored 9 goals and got 7 points in 3 meetings, they would win League 2. Elgin hosted 4th-place Clyde and Stranraer hosted 8th-place Stenhousemuir.
Spartans obviously conceded to East Fife’s first shot while Stranraer raced into a 2-0 lead. But Lamont’s towering header got them level from a corner and they went into half time level. East Fife grew into the game but a swift counter ended up with left back Harvey Swann whipping in another cross for Lamont to head home again and get the promotion party started. It was in full flow as Craigen’s shot rebounded off a defender for a cruel own goal and Court came off the bench to seal a 4-1 victory.
King Leonidas was on the pitch as the final whistle blew, bearhugging Lamont and Court to the floor as the entire squad joined a massive pile-on. Because Spartans FC had won cinch League 2!!
Spartans FC won the League 2 title by one point from Stranraer, ending the season on 71 points after 21 wins, 8 draws and 7 defeats. But they set a new League 2 goals tally of 94, 17 more than any other side and usurping the 87 scored by Ross County back in 1999. And only Forfar (43) conceded fewer than their 44. Henderson was 3rd-top scorer with 27 but got the highest average rating of 7.55 to win League 2 Player of the Year. Craigen was the leading assister with 17 and Meek kept the 2nd-most clean sheets with 9 and Leonidas of course won League 2 Manager of the Year.
Henderson led Spartans’ goalscoring chart with 34 goals in 48 games fpollowed by Craigen (12), Armstrong (11), Bryan Mwangi (10) and Court (6). The impressive Craigen led the assists with 23 followed by Henderson (14), Mwangi (10), Armstrong (8) and Swann (6).
A Bright Future At Spartans?
Midway through the season, starting chairperson Craig Graham stood down to allow a takeover which, as usual, provided no new investment. But the incoming Corey Woolfolk, who was an American player with the likes of Vancouver Whitecaps, cut the existing link with Dundee United then agreed a senior affiliate deal with Hearts.
But more promising news was Leonidas’ first youth intake. You have to be a bit careful with “golden generation intakes” at lower levels, but this intake delivered 8 players with 5-star potential and 6 more with at least 3.5-star potential. The star of the intake may be winger McGinley, who scored a hat trick in a 5-3 win against the under 18s. But the youth staff think midfielder Ruari Curnyn has the best potential along with wingers Chris Telfer and Ruari Darge, who was player of the match against Stranraer, midfielders Kevin Hale, who became the youngest player in club history at Elgin aged 15 years 127 days, and Daniel Connolly, centre-backs Scott Hodge and Andrew Stuart and left-back Aidan Lamont.
Could Leonidas find players capable of strengthening his Spartan Army for life in League 1? Or would they be forced to rely on their new hot prospect youth intake? Join us next Wednesday to find out!
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