■Craig Gunderson steals in at the back post to put Spartans Colts 1-0 up

Spartans Colts qualified for the semi-final of the Division 3 League Cup with a fine victory over Civil Service Strollers. The home side started very brightly and totally dominated the opening 20 minutes but once Spartans got their passing game going they thoroughly merited this win.

A terrific second half, central midfield performance from captain Fraser Cullen and sidekick Jamie Clark was the foundation. Although the fact they streaked away in the final 20 minutes is probably as much to do with fitness as anything else with Strollers not having had the benefit of a game last week.

But in the end it was very comfortable for Colts in a match that was played with the ball on the deck and with lots of great football from both sides.

A heavy rain storm greeted the players at 2pm further softening the otherwise well prepared pitch. The rain lashed down for the first 20 minutes during which time Civil Service Strollers poured forward towards the Spartans goalmouth with wee Marc Reeves showing some brilliant touches, turns and footwork on the right wing. At the back, Rhys Greenhill was mopping up everything and anything that came his way and quickly switched his team mates back onto the front foot with some great distribution.

But for all their possession and attacking play Strollers only created one single close chance of note when Matthew Bellward got his head to a powerful Marc Reeves drive to divert the goalbound shot over for a corner.

Then as the clouds cleared Spartans emerged as a competitive threat in this game with flame haired Ben Dempsey causing all sorts of problems on the right hand side. Fraser Cullen started to drive things from midfield and Strollers were forced to defend for the first time.

But it was the home side that should have taken the lead on 23 minutes when David Nelson blasted high and wide from 10 yards with the goal at his mercy.

The game continued to swing from end to end but chances were kept at a premium with both defences snuffing out any opportunities that might have arisen. Nyle Millan was enjoying a fine game for Strollers whilst big Joe Jones was starting to become more prominent for Colts.

Just before half time Spartans had two glorious chances to take the lead. First a sweeping move from right to left saw James McArthur being fed the ball by Ben Dempsey. The Spartans number 11 looked offside as he collected the ball on the left edge of the six yard box but rightly played on when others looked for a decision. He looked certain to slot home but for a fantastic blocking save by Strollers' goalkeeper David Taylor who was quickly off his line to thwart the Spartans forward.

From the resultant corner Ben Dempsey collected the ball 22 yards out and hit a fabulous shot towards the top right hand corner only to see Taylor throw himself to his left and push the ball away to safety.

Half Time 0-0

Spartans started the second half the brighter side and had most of the early play but again Civil Service Strollers were doing well defensively. Indeed it was the home side that created the first real chance of the half when Marc Reeves weaved his was magically into the Spartans box on the right hand side. His pass across the face of the goal found no takers however and Colts were able to clear.

But the ascendancy was with Spartans and Jamie Clark was at the centre of most of their play. It was from one of his accurate switch of play passes that Colts almost took the lead on 53 minutes. The ball was fed out wide to Jack MacDonald and his cross was met by Fraser Cullen whose shot only just went past the left hand upright.

Colts deservedly took the lead on 58 minutes. Another fine ball from Jack MacDonald on the right wasn't cleared properly and the ball was played back towards the right hand post where Craig Gunderson was lurking to smash the ball home from close range.

You could sense that Spartans were the fitter of the two sides as Strollers started to toil and tire and their shoulders became even heavier when Colts went 2-0 up on 67 minutes.

A direct free kick was awarded on the wide right hand side, midway inside the Strollers half. Joe Jones stepped up and hit a high shot that probably caught the wind a little and sailed over David Taylor into the Civil Service net. It was fully 40 yards from goal!

It was game over by then and Spartans went onto open up Strollers almost at will in the final 13 minutes with attack after attack. Some fine play down both wings saw them create good chances but they didn't take any of them until the final few seconds.

Jamie Clark sent in a high cross into the centre of the Strollers box where it was met by the head of captain Fraser Cullen who rounded off a fine, inspirational game by sending  a high looping header over the outstretched arms of David Taylor and into the empty net to wrap up a good 3-0 win for his side.

A word also for young referee Liam MacPherson who I thought had a terrific game. A bright future ahead I think.