MONTY AT THE DOUBLE AS JAGS BEAT WELL J-UST!

Manager Kirkwood included himself in the starting line up and it was a move that was to reap an instant reward. An incisive move down the left led to Kirkwood getting the ball at the bye-line and his pinpoint cutback was met by the onrushing Montgomery who steered his shot into the corner of the net to fire Sparta in to the lead. The lead was to last until the 22nd minute when a mistake by Samson was capitalised on by the Well attack. Although looking suspiciously offside, the Well striker fired home from an acute angle.

Sparta unlike recent weeks did not let this affect them, and continued playing their passing game. A rasping snapshot by O'Donnell was parried around the post by the Well no.1. From the resulting corner, Chris Collins drilled the ball to the near post where Ferguson had made a darting run, and with a flick of his head Sparta were back in the lead.

Sparta were playing some nice football again and almost went further into the lead, when Kirkwood met a Reston cross and the ball dropped just over the bar. Hamilton was next to threaten with a dangerous run down the left and a cross that Ferguson and Kirkwood just failed to connect with. Then Montgomery should have scored but when given the opportunity, he sent the ball over the bar.

Samson burst through and tried to lob the keeper, and failed with the rebound when it looked easier to score. Then the youngster O'Donnell pierced the Well back line and curled his shot around the keeper but also around the post as Sparta searched for a third.

Finally the third goal came; again it was Kenny Montgomery who provided the finish, from a shot from the edge of the box. Collins limped off to be replaced by Condron.

Sparta remained in control until injury time when the Well trust no 10 returned Robert Hamilton's kick out with interest into the top corner from 45 yards. But it was too little too late as Sparta ran out winners by 3 goals to 2.

Team: Robert Hamilton; Colin Reston, Steven Samson, Brett Phillips, James Hamilton; Alan Maxwell, Kenny Montgomery, Chris Collins, Ryan O'Donnell; Charlie Kirkwood, Ross Ferguson. Subs: Peter Condron, David Anderson, Andy McIntyre.