Students let two-goal lead slip as Spartans hit back

Bridge of Allan Sports Club’s ladies squash team took their unbeaten run to 11 games after a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Edinburgh University to hand the Minewood ladies a timely boost ahead of this week’s top of the table clash with ESC1.

The leading two sides are level at the summit of East Ladies Division 1 and with the Birds and the Bees-sponsored ladies boosted by the return of Scotland Under-17 No.1 Lucy Murchie (pictured) , the scene is set for the most important fixture in the ladies’ top tier this term.

Captain Sabine Mackenzie, who misses the match through work commitments, said: “We were delighted to get a good solid victory against the students and it was great to have Sheena Logan back with us again.

“We have the big one with ESC coming to Minewood and both of us sitting top, level on points. So it goes without saying we must make the most of home advantage as the winner

THE SPARTANS .............................. 3 STIRLING UNIVERSITY ................. 2

Stirling University let a two-goal lead slip as The Spartans came back to snatch a last-minute winner to take all three Lowland League points on Saturday.

Midfielder Craig Brown and player/manager Chris Geddes – making his first start of the season – gave the students a two-goal lead, but the home team replied with three second-half goals.

Stirling made five changes to the team that played Spartans in last weekend’s goalless encounter.

Despite fielding a weakened side, it was the students who took the lead after 22 minutes. Jason Jarvis’s corner led to a scramble in the penalty box. Brown won the ball and dispatched a powerful shot into the bottom corner to give his team the lead.

Stirling’s lead was doubled after the break when captain Angus Mailer showed great vision to pick out Geddes, who outpaced the defensive line to get his shot away. His initial effort was saved, but he made no mistake with the rebound and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Blair Carswell.

On 60 minutes, Spartans pulled a goal back when the University defence failed to deal with a corner and Michael Bolochoweckyj bundled the ball over the line.

Spartans equalised just before the 70 minute mark. Fry’s mistimed clearance left the University defence exposed. The ball was played to Jack Smith, who calmly scored the equaliser.

The students looked to have steadied themselves in the closing moments of the game, but they could not keep Spartans out. In the 90th minute, Blair Atkinson flicked on the ball from a low corner to the near-post – sending it into the far corner.

On Saturday title challengers Bonnyrigg Rose visit Forthbank