Sky Blues Leave it Late

Filed under: General news, Sunday LSL team by: Paul McGowan

2.2.20
Spartak 3, Edenderry Town 1

After a dull first half stalemate it came as no surprise that the visitors took the lead on the hour mark; just earlier they had missed a very presentable headed chance.

Spartak had created a couple of chances, none better than a very early one which Cian Stenson fired over.

It was only after going behind that the home side roused themselves and Cian Stenson twice went close before Owen Marron equalised from close range.

Spartak took the lead after a cute cross by Dave Browne was headed home at the second attempt by Cian Stenson, after Steve Grier’s first effort rebounding off the crossbar.

The clincher came as the visitors pushed out in search of an equaliser, when Cian Stenson beat the offside trap to run through from 40 yards out and coolly slot in the third.

Form Report
Dave Byrne 7 Niall Hanratty 6 Dave Browne 7 Steve Grier 6 Ian Harmon 8 Stuart Love 6 Neil McGowan 6 Niall Lennon 8 Dave Power 6 Owen Marron 7 Cian Stenson 8
Subs: Ciaran Brady 6 Kevin Murphy 6

Battling Point

Filed under: General news, Saturday LSL team by: Paul McGowan

25.1.20

Spartak 2, Ashbourne 2

Spartak held on for a gritty point against a confident Ashbourne side, who had most of the play and possession.

The Sky Blues took an early lead when Ian Corcoran fired to the top corner from 20 yards for a cracking goal.

Ashbourne took over for a period and snatched an equaliser before the break. The Spartak forward players showed a lack of ability to hold the ball up to take pressure from the defence and Ashbourne benefited.

Once again that man Corcoran was on hand to give Spartak the lead early in the second half, but pressure told and Ashbourne headed in from a cross. The visting number 5 showed impressive dribbling skills but was well contained by an in form Darren Hughes.

A hard earned point.

Form Report
Andy Hughes 7 Chris Hogan 7 Darren Hughes 9 Seamus McCahill 8 Kevin Murphy 8 Dwayne Curry 7 Conor Brady 5 Pedro Lopes 6 Owen McCormack 5 Liam Caffrey 6 Ian Corcoran 8

Subs: Enda Grogan 6 Conor Callis 5 Conor Canavan 5

Narrow Defeat in Balbriggan Mud.

Filed under: General news, Saturday LSL team by: Paul McGowan

11.1.20

Hyde Park 6 Spartak 5

A rip roaring game in Balbriggan, where heavy rain before the game turned the pitch to a quagmire.

An extremely slow start by the Sky Blues saw them concede three goals in the opening quarter. However the response was truly dynamic.

Lee Griffin contrive to miss an open goal from six yards; then he headed home from Dwayne Curry’s cross, but the goal was disallowed for offside against Ciarn Brady.

It was all Spartak now. Aidan Duigan headed in Dwayne Curry’s corner. Then Aidan got a second with a fine left footed volley. The equaliser quickly followed as Ian Corcoran slotted in following a scramble.

The lead came less than a minute into the second period. A terrific move involving Jack Rogers, Darren Hughes, Pedro Lopes saw Ciaran Brady lay it off to Aidan Duignan, whose shot from 25 yards sailed over the keeper to complete a perfect hat trick; right foot, left foot, header.

Gradually the home side regained their composure, aided by a strong bench, and led as we entered the final minutes.

A surging Ciaran Brady run saw his cross converted by Ian Corcoran.

Injury time will not be fondly remembered by Spartak stalwart Kevin Murphy, who was unlucky enough to concede a penalty and then with the final kick of the game shot wide after a fine Darren Hughes cross.

Result no, but the performance continued recent improved trend.

Form Report
Liam Caffrey 7 Chris Hogan 7 Darren Hughes 7 Jack Rogers 8 Kevin Murphy 7 Dwayne Curry 7 Aidan Duignan 9 Pedro Lopes 7 Ciaran Brady 7 Lee Griffin 6 Ian Corcoran 7

Post Christmas Friendly Win

Filed under: Saturday LSL team, Sunday LSL team by: Paul McGowan

29.12.19
Parkvale 0, Spartak 2

A calm dry day at Rockbrook saw two second half goals win the game for the Sky Blues in a good run out for both sides.

A brave save by Andy Hughes saw the ball cleared to Dave Browne whose first time pass sent Cian Stenson free. Cian drew a defender before releasing stuart Love aon the left, and his low cross was converted by Gerry McGuiness. A second goal by Cian Stenson clinched the result.

The Spartak defence was ably marshalled by Dave Byrne and Seamus McCahill.

Form Report:
Andy Hughes 7 Aidan Duignan 6 Dave Browne 6 Seamus McCahill 7 Dave Byrne 7 Stuart Love 6 Neil McGowan 5 Conor Canavan 5 Gerry McGuinness 6 Liam Caffrey 5 Cian Stenson 7.

Vital Away Win

Filed under: Saturday LSL team by: Paul McGowan

14.12.19
Leixlip 0 , Spartak 1

A vital away win secured with a fine goal by Conor Brady after Owen Marron’s persistence and speed had created the opportunity.

Spartak began the game strongly, and Dylan Scanlon had a very early chance which he screwed wide.

Leixlip then had a good chance after a free unnecessarily conceded gave them a shooting opportunity from a good position. Spartak got a slice of luck as the shot rebounded from the woodwork into the grateful arms of Andy Hughes.

After the Spartak breakthrough, Leixlip piled on the pressure, pushing men forward, and it took some brave defending from Spartak to prevent an equaliser. In particular a goalmouth scramble saw a series of great blocks to deny the hosts.

As pressure mounted, Spartak tried to break out, but were given offside ten yards inside their own half. Admittedly there was a lack of VAR to assist the ref.

Three points and a clean sheet.

Form Report
Andy Hughes 7 Chris Hogan 7 Darren Hughes 7 Jack Rogers 8 Kevin Murphy 7 Dwayne Curry 6 Ciaran Brady 5 Owen Marron 7 Owen McCormack 5 Dylan Scanlon 5 Pedro Lopes 6
Subs: Conor Brady 7 Liam Caffrey 6 Craig Hyland 5

Full Value

Filed under: Sunday LSL team by: Paul McGowan

17.11.19
Spartak 4, Tymon 1

The Sky Blues gained revenge for a earlier reverse by Tymon with a clear win.

Fielding a full strength squad, Spartak were good value for the three points.

Dave Power poked home his first Spartak goal after a scramble, and Cian Stenson doubled the lead with a neat finish. Tymon reduced arrears, but an extraordinarily confident volley from Owen Marron, after his long range effort returned to him via the crossbar, more or less clinched the point, while Amin Afsar added to Tymon’s pain with a looped effort.

Form Report
Jason Northey 6 Kev Cunningham 6 Ian Harmon 7 Steve Grier 6 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Niall Hanratty 6 Neil McGowan 6 Stu Love 6
Owen Marron 7 Dave Power 6 Cian Stenson 6
Subs: Dave Browne 6 Jeff Gamble 6 Amin Afsar 6 Dave Byrne 6 Jason Fenlon Lee Griffin

Convincing Performance

Filed under: Saturday LSL team by: Paul McGowan

7.12.19
Mount Merrion Youths 1, Spartak 4

On a muddy and windy Bearna Park, the Sky Blues battled their way to an excellent win, despite going a goal down early on.

Ian Corcoran soon headed home Neil McGowan’s corner kick to equalise, and then Ian’s cross was finished by Pedro Lopes. Ian almost completed a purple patch when his shot struck the foot of the post.

In a comfotable second half Spartak added goals from Jack Rogers and Conor Brady, while Ian Corcoran fired a good chance over and James Flynn’s header brought a fine save from the home keeper.

Form Report
Bobby Hayes 5 Chris Hogan 6 Darren Hughes 8 Jack Rogers 8 Kevin Cunningham 7 Dwayne Curry 6 Neil McGowan 7 Owen Marron 6 Pedro Lopes 6 Stuart Love 6 Ian Corcoran 7
Subs: James Flynn 6 Conor Brady 6

Browner to the Rescue

Filed under: General news, Sunday LSL team by: Paul McGowan

27.10.19
Edenderry Town 2, Spartak 2

With many of their teammates opting for a weekend away in various fleshpots, it was a bare 11 players in sky Blue who made the journey to the midlands.

The journey was well worthwhile as a battling performance secured a point.

When Edenderry regained the lead in the 90th minute, it seemed Spartak would leave empty handed despite a good display. But in the 94th minute Dave Browne powered in a header from a Niall Hanratty corner to secure the draw.

Spartak created a number of decent chances; Niall Lennon failed to connect at the far post, Jason Fenlon forced the keeper into conceding a corner, and Dave Browne had an earlier header wide.

Playing with composure, Spartak made light of the situation, with the midfield trio of Hanratty, Lennon and Stuart Love getting through a mountain of work.

The locals took the lead in the 62nd minute, and it was only in the 84th minute that Stuart Love knocked in the rebound when Ciaran Brady’s headed effort came back off the crossbar.

A most satisfying performance.

Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Chris Hogan 7 Cian Stenson 7 Dave Byrne 8 Dave Browne 8 Stuart Love 8 Niall Hanratty 8 Lee Griffin 7 Niall Lennon 8 Jason Fenlon 7 Ciaran Brady 8

Spartak Advance in Shield

Filed under: Sunday LSL team by: Paul McGowan

29.9.19
Sallins Celtic 3, Spartak 4 (AET)

Spartak had to come from behind twice in normal time before Stuart Love nodded in the winner from Jason Fenlon’s cross in extra time.

Jason Fenlon had given Spartak an early lead, justified on the play, but the home team struck back with a powerfully driven free which evaded the grasp of Jason Northey, who had a fine game after recovering miraculously from grievous injury the previous week.

Poor marking from a free allowed Sallins to lead, until Kevin Cunningham drove in from close range. A good move by the home side with ten to go looked to have booked their passage to the next round, but a Steve Grier header in the 89th minute forced extra time.

Spartak sparkled in teh first period of extra time, making several chances before Love’s winner. The second period saw the home side throw caution to the winds; both sides had chances but none were converted.

Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Kevin Cunningham 7 Cian Stenson 7 Ian Harmon 8 Dave O’Kelly 7 Stuart Love 7 Neil McGowan 7
Amin Afsar 6 Steve Grier 7 Jason Fenlon 7 Keith Kelly 6
Subs: Owen McCormack 6 Dave Byrne 6

Torrid Start

Filed under: Sunday LSL team by: Paul McGowan

22.9.19
Tymon Bawn 2, Spartak 1

Spartak’s torrid start to the season continued as the Sky Blues went down to Tymon Bawn by the odd goal in three. A soft penalty award gave Spartak a chance to claim a point, but Steve Grier’s effort from the spot was easily saved by the home custodian. Neil McGowan’s effort from 20 yards gave the Sky Blues the lead, and good chances fell to Eric Barber, Jason Fenlon and Stuart Love, but to no avail.

A sloppy equaliser conceded on the stroke of half time was exacerbated by a goal conceded from a cornerjust after the break.

Jason Northey was fouled and had to depart, leaving the ten men to battle on, which they did. Guile was lacking however and apart form the penalty the best chance fell to Jason Fenlon who shot wide after a good Tom O’Driscoll pass.

Form Report
Jason Northey 6 Kev Cunningham 6 Dave Browne 5 Ian Harmon 7 Steve Grier 6 Stuart Love 5 Neil McGowan 6 Tom O’Driscoll 5 Eric Barber 6 Jason Fenlon 5 Cian Stenson 5