Spartans Off To A Flyer

Celtic 0 Spartans 1

Spartans continued where they left off from their mid-season friendlies with a 1-0 victory away to second placed Celtic. Spartans took the lead in the fourth minute through a Sarah Ewens strike after the forward latched onto a Celtic misplaced pass, rounded the diving Chloe Logan and slotted the ball into the empty net . Both sides continued to create several good chances however it was Spartans that came away from Lennoxtown with a clean sheet and a valuable three points.  View photographs

Spartans Friendlies

Spartans signed off their mid-season friendlies with a 6-1 win against Celtic Reserves at Ainslie Park. After winning against both Newcastle and Hamilton in previous weeks, Spartans head into the second half of the season having scored 13 goals in three games, with six different scorers against the Glasgow outfit. Spartans opened their account inside the first ten minutes with Sarah Ewens latching onto a Trish McLaughlin pass to tap the ball home. Moments later it was 2-0 as Claire Crosbie headed home a Sarah Archibald corner at the

Olivia Jets In

Danni Moves On

Spartans midfielder Danni Pagliarulo has decided to leave Spartans for current League Champions Glasgow City.

We were delighted to have Danni back at Spartans this season after her time away from football and we will miss not only her ability on the park but her bubbly character off the park.

Danni joins City in time for their forthcoming European campaign and we wish her all the very best for the rest of the season. 

Danni was involved with Spartans from day one and previously at Edinburgh Ladies and Whitehill Welfare and we hope to see her back at Spartans some time again in the future. 

Spartans Friendlies

Spartans came from two goals down to win 4-3 at the Academy against Hamilton.

The friendly was an opportunity to give the squad a good run out and experiment before the second half of the season begins next Sunday.

The game was played in three thirty minute periods. Hamilton finished the first period 2-0 ahead after a Crilly double. The second period saw Spartans draw level after goals from Marshall and Clelland. The final period saw goals from Mason and Ewens for Spartans and Walker for Accies.

Spartans Friendlies

Claire Crosbie scored her first hat-trick for the club as Spartans came from behind to beat Newcastle United 3-2 at Ainslie Park. Newcastle took the lead through a Jess Havlock header in the 18th minute however Spartans were level inside 5 minutes through a fierce Crosbie drive from outside the area. The game however came to a halt eight minutes before half-time as Newcastles Mercedes Riolfo landed awkwardly and required hospital treatment for a serious knee injury. Within minutes of the restart Spartans were 2-1 ahead with Crosbie firing a left-foot volley into the bottom corner after great wing play by Becky Galbraith. Newcastle did get a life-line as the referee awarded a

Spartans Friendlies

Spartans Premier Team and Reserves will meet Newcastle United First Team and Reserves in a double header at Ainslie Park on Saturday 14 July 2012.

Newcastle visited Ainslie Park in 2009 and spectators were treated to a thrilling game Spartans eventually winning the game 5-3. Although we can't promise a goal feast I am sure that there will be some great football on display and no shortage of talented footballers.

So get yourself along and take your seat in the stand for an enjoyable experience. Entry is free, kick-off is 1:00pm for the Premier team and for the Reserves.

The Busy Bee Public House is located in the west of Edinburgh in Saughton Mains and after being recently refurbished, it prides itself on the friendly and efficient staff who are eager to please all visitors to their establishment.

The Busy Bee cater for live racing and have telephone betting facilities available, with sky sports , ESPN and all major events shown live on large screens.

As a traditional pub serving quality bar meals and snacks at extremely low prices and have a function room available for hire for all occasions and events with regular live acts performing monthly

One Goal

Women footballers and cancer charity team join up to raise awareness.

Women footballers have teamed up with a charity to highlight the importance of exercise as a way of cutting the risk of developing breast cancer.

The Scottish Women's Football Association and Breakthrough Breast Cancer will use social networking to promote their message.

The partnership, entitled One Goal, also aims to inform women about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

Almost 4,500 women are diagnosed with the disease in Scotland each year.

It is the most common cancer among females and about 1,000 women die annually from the disease.

One Goal will use Twitter to reach players, clubs and volunteers to help them identify breast cancer earlier.

Audrey Birt, the charity's Scotland director, said: "We are really excited about this partnership as it will not only help promote breast awareness to women but also the value of exercise for improving your current physical health and longer term benefits such as reducing your risk of breast cancer."

Maureen McGonigle, executive administrator at Scottish Women's Football, added: "We are using social media as a key platform for this relationship because this is where women's football can create most interest.

"Breakthrough will team up with our clubs and players on Twitter to communicate throughout the season important messages about breast cancer."

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon is backing the new partnership and helped kick-off the One Goal campaign.

She said: "We know that the earlier a cancer is diagnosed the greater the chance it can be treated successfully and that more lives can be saved in Scotland through earlier detection and better treatment."

The Partnership has the full backing of Spartans FC 

Lana steps up

Spartans young talented winger Lana Clelland has today received her first senior International call up.

Lana has been included in the squad for the International Challenge match against Cameroon on the 15 July at the Chris Anderson Stadium, Aberdeen Sports Village, Aberdeen - Kick-Off 3:00pm.

Lana's call up is just reward for her sparkling performances both for Spartans and for Shelley Kerr's Scotland Under 19 team during their UEFA Championship campaign.

All at Spartans are delighted that Lana is being recognised as a top player and wish her all the very best.

Spartans rue missed opportunities

In the last league game prior to the mid-season split, Spartans and Rangers shared the points with a 2-2 draw at Ainslie Park.

The home side, who will be playing in the top six for the second half of the season, took the lead through stand-in Captain Claire Crosbie’s drive from outside the area in the seventh minute and proceeded to dominate the majority of the first half, doubling their advantage five minutes before the break through a Sarah Ewens chip from the edge of the box (pictured left).

The home side continued to create the better of the chances and should have increased

Spartans continue to strengthen

Spartans are delighted to announce the signing of Alana Marshall from Rangers.

Alana is a left sided midfielder who we feel will give a better balance to our side and who we expect to make an immediate impact. Alana has been on the edge of the International A squad in the last couple of seasons and we hope that at Spartans she will gain the confidence she requires to make that breakthrough on a regular basis.

Alana's first game will be against her former club Rangers and hopefully she will close of the first half of the season with three points for her new club.

Under 13's Kim Little League Cup Final Spartans 2 Hearts 4 After Extra Time

Spartans youngsters gave a very good account of themselves in today's final against a much bigger and stronger Hearts side at the Ainslie Park Stadium.

Goals from Emma McLeary and Megan Kerr were pegged back twice by Georgia Adderley first from a free-kick and then from a last gasp strike to take the game into extra time.

A second goal from Emma McLeary and a Helena Todd strike was enough to give Hearts victory.

Spartans goalkeeper Emilia Mapson had a fantastic game and received the player of the match award for her efforts. The Spartans coaches can be rightly proud of all the girl's performances with a bright future ahead for this group of players.

Scotland 8 Israel 0

Scotland defeated Israel in a Euro qualifier at a rain sodden Tynecastle to consolidate 2nd place in group 4.

Ex Spartan Hayley Lauder opened the scoring inside a minute, and Little made it two with a powerful strike from the edge of the box that left Israel goalkeeper Merav Shamir with no chance. Sneddon, got the third with another thunderous shot from the edge of the box Love was next on the score-sheet. The midfielder got onto the end of a Lauder cross, and sent a looping header high into the net. It was a Ross ball that led to goal number five. Her cut-back from the by-line was directly to the feet of Little, who sent a low shot past Shamir. Ross, who was tormenting the Israel defence, got a goal just before the half-hour. She pounced on a ball into the box and rounded Shamir to slot coolly into the bottom corner. Little got her hat-trick just before half-time. A Ross ball in from the right wing

Hearts 1 Spartans Reserves 2

Spartans moved above opponents Hearts to the top of the Scottish Women's Football League 2nd Division East after a hard fought 2-1 away victory at Forrester Park, Tranent.

Spartans took an early 2-0 lead after goals from Heather Laing (left) and Trisha McLaughlin. Spartans dominated proceedings in the first half maintaining their two goal cushion comfortably but it was a different story in the second half as Hearts began to get a foothold into the game. The game swung from end to end with numerous chances created by both sides. In the final seconds Hearts scored from a great strike from Gemma Piaskowski to narrow the gap to one goal before referee Mathilde Peace brought the game to an end.

Spartans add to squad

Spartans are delighted to add both Becky Galbraith (Left) from Leith Athletic and Katie Reilly (Right) from Hamilton to the first team squad.

Becky was looking to play at a higher level and we are grateful that she looked to Spartans to achieve that. Becky made her debut as a substitute against Kilmarnock and came on against Hibs. Becky is an athletic striker with tremendous pace and once she adapts to playing at the top level will be a great asset to the squad.

Spartans V Dee Ladies

It is with great disappointment that we confirm that Dee Ladies have withdrawn from the Henson Scottish Cup 2nd Round tie.

Dee Ladies cited their inability to field a team as the reason for their withdrawal.

Spartans will now have no game this weekend and will progress to the third round of the Cup.

Rangers v Spartans Reserves

Our reserve team will face Rangers at Murray Park in a 4:00pm Kick-Off on Sunday 10 June 2012

Hibernian 2

Spartans 0

Hibernian claimed all three points in the Scottish Women’s Premier League encounter with Spartans by beating the capital club 2-0 at Albyn Park, Broxburn.

However it was the losing team, Spartans, who dominated the 90 minutes and could quite easily have won this

match but for three great saves by Shannon Lynn, the woodwork on two occasions and two penalty claims waved away by referee Mathilde Peace.

It was against the run of play that Hibs took the lead midway through the first half with Joelle Murray curling in a free-kick from just outside the area and into the bottom corner of the net. And Hibs managed to secure the victory five minutes from time with Caroline Weir latching onto a rebound to fire into an empty net after Rachel Harrison had saved the initial Laura Kennedy shot.

 Full match report Click Here...      Click here for photographs.......       highlights to follow.

Spartans 9 Westdyke Girls 1

Four goals from Sophie Cunningham, two from Ronaigh Douglas and one each from Olivia Aitchison, Rosie Milligan and Brogan Douglas gave the U15 girls a great win over their Northern visitors.

The win sees the girls through to the third round of the Scottish Cup

Spartans 5 Kilmarnock 0

Spartans got back to winning ways in the league with a 5-0 victory against bottom of the league side Kilmarnock. The home side controlled the match from start to finish and were four goals ahead at half time through strikes by Diana Barry,

Molly McKean and a brace by Lana Clelland. Spartans continued to dominate and wrapped the game up through Louise Moultray's first competitive goal for the club.

 Full match report Click Here...             Photographs Click Here...                highlights to follow.

13 July 2012