Lowland League: Spartans bounce back to claim draw

Dean Horribine was key in Spartans' fightback

The result took them three points clear of third-placed Stirling University in the Ferrari Packaging Lowland League table.

Dougie Samuel’s side got off to the worst possible start, finding themselves a goal down after 90 seconds when Aides Ferris got on the end of Robert Jones’ delivery.

Things looked omimous for the men from the Capital when BSC doubled their lead before quarter of an hour had been played as Jones’ neat flick helped engineer space for himself inside the area before beating Blair Carswell.

It was almost game over inside half an hour when Arnault Bembo struck the crossbar from 25 yards.

The North Edinburgh side managed to stem the flow, however, and clawed their way back into the match five minutes before the break when Dean Horribine finished powerfully after being played in by George Hunter.

Hunter then should have levelled from the spot when he was pulled down in the area, but Derek Moore saved his spot kick brilliantly.

The on-loan St Johnstone striker made amends after the interval, however, when he headed home a Horribine cross to equalise.

Edinburgh City travel to Vale of Leithen tonight with the league title already secured but Gary Jardine isn’t tempted to rest players as they seek to keep their unbeaten league run in 2016 going.

“We’ve a few bruised and battered bodies so we’ll look at the squad, but there’ll be a few guys very disappointed if I try and freshen it up,” he explained.

“It’ll be a completely different game to the previous four or five and it’ll be horses for courses. I’ll look at the conditions and the opposition like we’ve done in every game and just treat it as another league game.”

Preston Athletic’s tie with bottom club Threave Rovers was subject to a pitch inspection at the Pennypit this morning.

Should the game go ahead, Craig Nisbet’s side can leapfrog Vale of Leithen into third-bottom spot with a win should City prevail at Victoria Park.