21.4.16
Spartak 4, Tymon 0
A fine opening goal set the tone for this game; Jeff Gamble’s quickly taken corner was volleyed sumptuously home from the edge of the box by Steve Grier, with his weaker left foot.
Grier also had a header cleared off the line in the opening period, during which Tymon Bawn must have wondered how they reached the interval without scoring. Prompted by former Sky Blue Conor Keegan, they had a litany of chances, but were denied by some excellent goalkeeping by Greg Byrne and their own lack of finishing finesse.
The opening period of the second half saw Tymon dominate for a while, with Chris Hogan clearing off the line, and Greg Byrne continuing to excel. When Greg did miss a cross, Mick Greene was on hand to clear.
On the break a Grier/Leslie/Gamble move saw the latter miss a big chance, and Gamble then had a goal disallowed after a Leslie/Lennon move. In between Jeff displayed his old penchant for being caught offside, breaking down a few moves to the frustration of his teammates.
A turning point saw the visitors defender dismissed for a second yellow card, and it was then that Spartak began to turn the screw.
Jeff Gamble showed skill and determination to score Spartak’s second following a solo run. Mick Young kept his composure to beat a poorly laid offside trap to add number three, and sub Ciaran Keane added the fourth.
Form Report
Greg Byrne 9 Chris Hogan 7 Mick Greene 5 Steve Browne 7 Fintan Grace 8 Steve Grier 7 Mick Young 7 Jeff Gamble 7 Niall Lennon 7 Darren Ritchie 5 Mick Leslie 7
Subs: Conor Callis 5 Ciaran Keane 6 Shane McInerney 5
