Kilmarnock secure hard-fought win at Spartans to boost hopes of Betfred progress

Posted Wednesday, July 25, 2018 by PA

A second-half strike from Lee Erwin and a double from substitute Mikael Ndjoli earned Kilmarnock a 3-0 victory over the Spartans, strengthening their chances of reaching the knockout stages of the Betfred Cup.

The Premiership outfit were made to battle all the way by the Lowland League champions before breaking the hosts’ resistance after the break.

Erwin made the breakthrough in the 63rd minute before summer signing Ndjoli’s brace gave the scoreline a more respectable look.

Killie started at a furious pace and could have been out of sight by half-time.

Kris Boyd had the ball in the net in just the second minute but was penalised for a push on Blair Tolmie.

Iain Wilson’s shot was cleared off the line by Gary Cennerazzo three minutes later, and Jordan Jones’ follow-up shot was saved by home goalkeeper Scott Costello.

Jones then turned provider but somehow Costello and his defence scrambled Erwin’s effort clear in the midst of an almighty goalmouth scramble.

Costello was called into action again in just the 11th minute as he blocked Boyd’s header.

But, after withstanding the onslaught, Spartans settled and managed to break out of Kilmarnock’s stranglehold.

The Edinburgh side pushed men forward when they could and, with another Boyd shot saved by Costello, they reached the interval still level.

Stephen O’Donnell was sent on at the interval, and the second half kicked off in the same vein as the first with Kilmarnock laying siege to the home goal.

Boyd nodded a Rory McKenzie corner over within 90 seconds and was then inches away from getting a touch on Erwin’s cross-cum-shot.

With Costello repelling another Boyd header, it looked like the part-timers could stand firm.

But the Premiership men finally broke the deadlock soon after the hour mark. Wilson’s cross from deep ricocheted kindly for Erwin, and the striker drilled in from eight yards.

Summer signing Ndjoli – a 78th-minute replacement for Jones – then hammered in O’Donnell’s low cross to make sure of the points.

And the former Bournemouth striker added gloss to the scoreline when he bundled in after Boyd chested the ball into his path in the 90th minute.