Sunday 10th April 2011 Liberton United U13s V Spartans U13s
On a very hot morning at Liberton Park, a game which could be the league decider and with Liberton on the home straight with only five games to go, the first game was Liberton United V Spartans.
With Liberton starting by taking the game to Spartans with two attempts on goal within six minutes of play from Keiran Dickson hitting straight at the goalie.
Spartans made a break from a long ball and Paul Weir, on his toes sliding in to clear, and then it was Liberton’s turn to make a break, Lewis Kynoch putting it just wide.
Spartans get a free kick in the Liberton half, but blast it over the goals.
Luag Laspina makes his first start for Liberton in the absence of Mark Barnet who was away participating in a Judo competition and getting more medals. Laspina made a good start, with only a couple of mistakes in the play time, a good start for the lad who is finding his feet within the team, later subbed for Jack Collins. Liberton attack again with the ball falling to the feet of Cameron Oag, Oag strikes just wide. Grant Chappell picks up on a by kick releasing the ball to Lewis Kynoch who shoots straight at the goalie.
Liberton again pick up the ball in defence, released to Lewis Gray on a run, he passes to Kynoch who slips the ball to Chappell. Chappell strikes the ball which hits the back of the net, great goal.
Liberton’s Dickson picks up the ball and plays a great ball down the right to Chappell which leads to an unlucky clash with the Spartans goalie, Liberton were still taking the game to Spartans having most of the possession.
Again the ball falls to Oag’s feet who strikes it perfectly heading in to the goals, but denied by a great fingertip save from Spartans.
Spartans play a long ball again, to be played offside by Liberton’s defence, which we have relied on all season.
Liberton were awarded a free kick in the Spartans half with Oag thundering it just wide of the goals, Liberton attacking again get another free kick with Oag sending a nice ball into the six yard box for another shot at goal, with Collins getting himself onto the thick of it footing it just wide.
Second half started with Gray being subbed for Weir, with all the boys losing a bit of pace, feeling the heat Spartans make a break and score a good goal. Liberton shocked with the goal get back on the front foot again, Chappell releasing Dickson with a nice glancing header down the wing putting a nice cross in to go unluckily wide again. Liberton still determined, got another free kick in Spartans half and another thunderous perfect strike from Oag was pipped wide by the Spartans goalie with a great save giving Liberton a corner. The ball was whipped in and the hard working Sean Gilhooley latches on to it putting it over the goal tops.
Spartans break again, Liberton’s Jack Doyle makes a challenge in the box with the ref giving a dubious penalty and Liberton goalie Lewis Whitelaw receiving a verbal warning just before the penalty is taken. Spartans prepare for the penalty with silence from both sides, the young Spartans lad strikes the ball fantastically, but Whitelaw pulls off a tremendous save keeping Liberton in the game. Whitelaw not only pulls off the perfect save, but also make another one straight after it to then get it out for a corner. Great performance by Whitelaw.
Dickson comes on after being subbed but plays up front for the last minutes of the game. He receives the ball on the left of the Spartans box, takes on 2, 3 players, looks up and finds the Spartans goalie at the corner of his goal. Dickson strikes, and the dips the goalie, one of his trade mark moves this season.
An all round good game of football, with great performances by both Liberton and Spartans.
