10.5.16
Spartak 4, Alpine Oldchurch 5
Another remarkable game between these teams. This game was played out in an absolute downpour. Spartak showed seven different starters than in the recent meeting, due to injuries and absentees.
Both teams had promotion hopes, with a victory vital for both to maintain that challenge.
The Sky Blues were shell shocked by a fast starting visiting squad and fell three goals behind in the opening ten minutes.
Gradually a remarkable fightback ensued, and Spartak clawed their way into a 4-3 lead at half time. Dave Kernan was stooped at the expense of a penalty, which Steve Grier converted; then Steve Browne calmly finished form Grier’s cross. Up popped Niall Lennon with two well taken goals, the first a chip over the stranded keeper, the second a close in finish following a flick on.
The second half turned on a soft goal conceded from a free kick; this equaliser gave the visitors the encouragement they needed to go on and score the winner.
Despite Spartak’s frantic efforts to equalise, the game slipped away. In the final play, Karl McCullough should have been awarded a penalty for a bad foul while he attempted to shoot, but the ref did not agree.
Form Report
Jason Northey 5 Dave Browne 4 Tom O’Driscoll 5 Steve Grier 6 Karl McCullagh 5 Kevin O’Toole 5 Neil McGowan 4 David Kernan 7 Niall Lennon 7 Ger Byrne 6 Steve Browne 6
Subs: Keith Kelly 6 Graham Campbell 5 Mick Leslie 5
