Culter 0 - 2 Spartans: Lawson relieved to see Spartans take care of Culter’s battling ten men

Spartans co-manager Mike Lawson was pleased to see his side through to the third round of the Scottish Cup following a 2-0 win over battling North Junior outfit Culter.

After being reduced to ten men early on, the home side showed character to fight on. However Spartans always looked in control and goals either side of the break from Gavin Malin’s penalty, and a late Jordan Finnie strike sealed the tie’s fate.

Lawson said: “There were times in the second-half where you wouldn’t know who had the extra man, as Culter battled really hard.

“I don’t think we played nearly as well as we can.

“I felt we had the slight edge before we got the penalty, but after Culter had a man sent-off that changed the game as they battled even harder, and fought for their cause.”

Spartans’ first chance came after good work from Keith McLeod saw him cut back to Malin who fired over from 12 yards.

However the game’s breakthrough came on 23 minutes after home defender Ross Crosbie felled the onrushing Omar Kader inside the box.

Referee Colin Steven was left with little option but to point to the spot while Crosbie received an early bath for denying Kader a goalscoring opportunity.

Malin took responsibility for the spot-kick and sent Culter keeper John Farquhar the wrong way with a coolly dispatched effort.

In a first-half of few chances, Kerr Dodds came close when he fired just wide from the edge of the box.

After the break Culter emerged full of renewed enthusiasm and it took a wonderful save from Flockhart to tip Adam Wilson’s free-kick wide.

Wilson was again denied following a Ryan Stott corner from which he headed the ball goalwards but Malin cleared off the line. After a few Spartans chances, they finally got the goal to put daylight between the sides on 83 minutes when Kader fired across goal and substitute Finnie was on hand to cooly slot past Farquhar from close-range.

Culter: Farquhar, Sim (Mountford 75), Crossbie, Kelly, Seivwright, Wilson, McAllister, Youngson, McWilliam (Donald 26), McBain (McKimmie 62), Stott. Unused subs: Murray, McIntosh.

Spartans: Flockhart, O’Donnell (Fusco 85), Hoskins, Sivewright, MacKinnon, Malin, Kader, Manson, Dodds (Finnie 62), McLeod, Henretty (Anderson 76). Unused subs: Donnelly, McTurk.