Sparticans 4 - 0 Barnes Beavers (H)
By Simon Fitch
Scorers: Grant K (2), Bell, Sutton M
After a couple of hiccups recently, the Sparticans returned to registering wins on Saturday with a comprehensive victory against a Barnes team who have been difficult to beat in recent years but are currently languishing at the bottom of Division 5.
Captain Skippy had earned his beer during week in finding 12 players. With six left backs injured, Dirk played there with aplomb and we also welcomed Lloydy and Alex into our ranks for the day with the former marshalling our depleted defence and also creating some of our better play.
We were once again profligate in the first period, with chances galore not being converted. Just when things were getting frustrating, Kev rifled home a corner and then Skippy himself finished deftly into the corner to make it 2 – 0 at half time.
The second half started and, at last, our starting move turned into a corner after a rather agricultural tackle on Matt and then into a goal from a move converted by Kev. It was good to score our third before Barnes had touched the ball in the half, though in reality it probably killed the match. The game rather meandered to its close, with us creating more chances and them very few. Towards the end, another planned corner move resulted in Matt slotting into the far post. We may have added a fifth after the final whistle but we allowed our excellent umpires Barney and Roger to finish the game after an injury to the Barnes captain, who fortunately was seen leaving SHC on two feet after teas.
Our curry did not disappoint and we were able to reflect on a team of new and old coming together for the three points. Spartican of The Day was awarded to our captain for his dominant display. Moment of The Match was awarded for Dirk, now renamed Shabhaz after his astonishing dribble in the second half - readers for whom this reference point means nothing may want to use this video to catch up.
We now have a week off league action before the final push. Just the cup to concern ourselves with next week…