Spartans 0-0 St Mirren

Spartans boss 'disappointed' MacPherson not complacent

Non-league Spartans earned a Scottish Cup fourth-round replay against First Division leaders St Mirren with a goalless draw at City Park.

The result ranks as the best in the Edinburgh side's history.

Both teams had opportunities to win the match, but the finishing did not match their effort.

Spartans almost sneaked a victory just before the final whistle when Jonathan Seeley fired just wide of Tony Bullock's post.

The opening 30 minutes had been largely uneventful, apart from two half-chances which were both missed by St Mirren midfielder Charlie Adam.

But towards the end of the half, Buddies defender Ian Maxwell was forced to intercept an Iain Thompson cross before it reached Keith McLeod, who was unmarked at the back post.

Spartans fans add a bit of colour to the occasion

From the resultant Craig Smart corner, Bullock had to claw the ball away as it headed in at the front post.

The first chance of the second half fell to Mark Corcoran on 50 minutes.

But his downward header from a Maxwell cross was tame and straight at Spartans goalkeeper Kevin Brown.

Corcoran flashed a shot across goal on 78 minutes, but it was the home side who almost sealed a quarter-final tie in the final minutes when Seeley blasted wide from 10 yards out.

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Spartans: Brown, Gerrard, Fowlie, Burns, Jon Seeley, Bennett, Smart (Manson 60), Thompson, Johnson (Kader 87), McLeod, Henretty (Mitchell 87).

Subs Not Used: Roseburgh, O'Donnell.

St Mirren: Bullock, van Zanten (Reid 90), Maxwell, Millen, McGowne, Potter, Murray (Anderson 66), Lappin, Sutton (Kean 66), Adam, Corcoran.

Subs Not Used: Smith, Reilly.

Att: 3,346

Ref: C Richmond