Hat-trick hero Marc McNulty keeps Spartans ticking along
Spartans returned to winning ways to keep their League Two title challenge very much alive with a 4-0 victory over Annan Athletic.
The hosts ran riot at the Vanloq Community Stadium against their ten-man opponents with striker Marc McNulty netting a hat-trick, two coming from the penalty spot.
The former Hibs and Dundee United frontman headed in the opener right on the stroke of half-time. Darryl Carrick was then dismissed two minutes after the restart for the Galabankies after upending Mark Stowe in the penalty area, and McNulty duly converted from 12 yards to double his own and Spartans' lead.
Stowe himself then got in on the act in the 77th minute to put the game to bed before McNulty completed his treble with a second from the penalty spot four minutes later.
Spartans stay tucked in behind leaders East Kilbride, five points off the pace but, crucially, they do have two games in hand. They play the first of those tomorrow night when Stirling Albion are the visitors to the Capital.
McNulty said afterwards: "It's a huge win. The last couple of weeks we've dropped some points. To concede last minute against Stranraer last week was disappointing but our performances have actually been really good. We've been getting chances so we just had to stay positive. We had a good full week's training and I think that showed. The most important thing is to win but it was great to get man-of-the-match."
Elsewhere, Edinburgh City remain two points adrift at the foot of the division following a goalless stalemate at home to Forfar.
There were opportunities for both sides but neither could break the deadlock at Meadowbank.
City assistant boss Kirk Crichton said: "It was a really good home performance. We've created three or four really good chances but we've not taken them. It's a really important point, a good clean sheet, and now we go into the last quarter looking to build on that performance."
Meanwhile, Bonnyrigg Rose remain eight points clear at the top of the Lowland League after a fine 4-2 win over Gala Fairydean Rovers at New Dundas Park.
The Rosey Posey make the trip to nearest challengers Clydebank this weekend for a pivotal top-of-the-table clash.