Match Report
10 points and 17 places separated them: Spartans 9th with 11, Aberdeen U21 26th with 1. Spartans ranked 5th in the league on five-round form, well above their 9th table position. Scoring rates set the scale: Spartans 2.33 scored and 1.33 conceded per game, Aberdeen U21 1.5 and 3.33, with the league averaging 1.88.
A win had eluded Aberdeen U21 for 12 matches. The five-game form split read 10/15 points for Spartans against 1/15 for Aberdeen U21.
The venue was Ainslie Park Stadium, with room for 3,612 spectators. Half-time and full-time told different stories: it was 2-2 at the break, before 3 more goals closed it at 5-2.
Goal scorers
Spartans: Cammy Russell (68'), Cammy Russell (64'), Mark Stowe (90'), Given Ndlovu (44'), Bailey Dall (35') · Aberdeen U21: Dylan Ross (27'), Jack Searle (18')
Key stats
Possession: Spartans 49% · Aberdeen U21 51% · Total shots: 19-7 · On target: 12-3 · Corners: 2-4