About to Shoot...

...and score! Blair Henderson, league top scorer, approaches the ball as he despatches an injury time winner for Spartans in the Division One play-off first leg against Peterhead at Ainslie Park this evening. Felt like a long time since Peterhead took the lead in the eighth minute when their striker found lots of space and calmly lobbed the Spartans' keeper just in front of my viewing position. 
 
By then it was already a fiercely competitive game with players from both sides 'leaving something in' as they went for tackles. After one of the Peterhead strikers got away with another one - either ignored or not seen by the ref - the Spartans defender exacted a bit of revenge and was booked. It seemed to set the tone for the game, with tough tackles flying in and off the ball retribution (see later). 
 
Spartans fashioned an equaliser a few minutes later but for a while it seemed like Peterhead were getting the benefit of all the decisions, with several Spartans' players getting booked for what seemed like fifty-fifty challenges. The ref even had an argument with the Spartans' bench, continuing to shout at them as he moved away across the pitch. 

Finally, after an hour, the first Peterhead player got booked, to ironic cheers from the home crowd. After a fifth Spartans booking, Peterhead finally started to catch up in the referees book. 'Veteran' (36 years old) striker Rory McAllister came on - another familiar name from games of Football Manager, managing Elgin City - and shortly afterwards an 'incident' off the ball at the far end left Spartans' defender Sonkur (he of the early booking) on the ground. I didn't see what happened but McAllister got booked for it - hard not to assume it was a bit of revenge.

After a few close calls at either end it seemed the game might be heading for a draw. Spartans got a late corner and Henderson hit the bar but in the aftermath a Spartans' player went down and the ref pointed to the spot. The Peterhead keeper was booked for his protests but eventually Blair got his chance, as pictured. 
 
There was still time for Peterhead to have a late late penalty appeal of their own but it was waved away by the ref and a fifth Peterhead name went into the book amidst for over-protesting as the final whistle blew. So, Spartans have a narrow lead to take up the road for the second leg on Saturday. Will it be enough in what is certain to be another hard-fought game between the two? Dumbarton also won their home leg 2-1, leaving Stirling Albion with a home game to preserve their League One status. Let's see what Saturday brings.