26.9.15
Spartak 4, Knockmitten 2
A stunned Spartak found themselves a goal down after just 16 seconds in this match, but the response was impressive, with the Sky Blues building wave after wave of attacks, forcing the visiting keeper into a series of fine saves.
A sparkling bout of football eventually brought three first half goals, and a raft of chances missed. The highlight of the half came from Jeff Gamble, who snatched a poacher’s hattrick.
Before the goals, however the visiting keeper pulled off a string of stops, when it seemed certain that Spartak would score.
The equaliser came when Steve Browne, breaking from the back, essayed a through pass which Jeff Gamble converted. Gamble then fired in the loose ball from Niall Hanratty’s free kick, before heading in when Martin Costello’s cross deceived the keeper and came off the crossbar.
The second half was a somnolent affair, both teams’ energy sapped by the warm conditions. The visitors tended to hold the ball better, and pulled one back near the end. Spartak’s players had dropped their concentration levels and as a result passing and decision making suffered. Jeff Gamble, hero of the first half, was profligate with the ball, and missed a great chance after rounding the keeper.
Chris Hogan’s cross was turned in by a defender after 5 minutes, but from then on it was the visitors who looked more likely to score, as Spartak wilted in the sunshine. The fresher legs of three substitutes made no difference to the slow tempo of the second period.
Form Report
Greg Byrne 6 Chris Hogan 6 Mick Leslie 5 Steve Browne 5 Fintan Grace 6 Niall Hanratty 7 Conor Canavan 7 Jeff Gamble 7 Dave Kernan 6 Martin Costello 6 Mick Costello 6
Subs: Ciaran Bermingham 5 Ciaran Keane 5 Conor Callis 5
