Spartans win Lowland League Cup tie at Welfare

Jamie Dishington scored the winner for Spartans in extra time

Spartans should have been ahead after half an hour when Keith Murray latched on to a ball over the top. A combination of Bryan Young and Nikki Murray forced him wide and despite the keeper being grounded, Murray could only flash his effort across the goalmouth from a tight angle.

The opener came for Spartans just four minutes later, Jack Beesley curling in a free kick from 20 yards into Young’s bottom right-hand corner. The hosts were aggrieved, believing there to have been a handball in the build up to the free kick being awarded.

Welfare were awarded a penalty three minutes before the break when Kevin Keane was cleaned out after getting a toe on Dale O’Hara’s clever lofted ball. O’Hara himself took it and sent Blair Carswell the wrong way.

Aaron Murrell had the ball in the net for the visitors with 12 minutes remaining after a deft backwards header snuck into the corner, but the linesman flagged for a foul on O’Hara.

The teams could not be separated before extra-time was required, but a moment of quality from Jamie Dishington shortly after the extra period started regained the lead for Spartans. The midfielder showed good feet to create space before drilling a fine effort past Young.

Elsewhere, Preston Athletic completed their Lowland League campaign with a 5-0 home win over Threave Rovers.