Spartak Dynamo FC

10.5.14
Esker Celtic 3, Spartak 2

Spartak completed their Div 3 Sat programme in a closely fought game against the cup finalists.

The highlights of the game for Spartak came from Michael Leslie, who scored the opening and closing goals of this contest. His first, accepting the ball from a throw in and cutting inside on his favoured left foot, was a goal from the moment it left his boot, 25 yards out. A cracker. His second goal was from a similar distance, but this time from a free kick which found the corner of the net.

Spartak attacked consistently in the first period, with Jeff Gamble prominent in attack , and Conor Keegan making strong forays forward frm right back. However, the Sky Blues conceded just on half time, with Chris Hogan caught out of position; his defensive colleagues might have saved the day, but Esker took full advantage.

The home side started the second half strongly, but nonetheless it took two clear errors for them to build a lead. Keith Kelly had his pocket picked and , despite Fintan Grace’s best efforts, the forward scored. Fintan then made a marvellous block after a free struck the post and a goal on the follow up seemed certain.

The third goal, from distance, will leave Bobby Hayes disappointed; Bobby made a number of good saves, but a loss of concentration left him wrong footed and the ball went in via the post.

Spartak’s reaction to the setback of going two behind was heartening; the midfield work rate went up a notch, with Dermot Dooley and Fergus Burke prominent while substitutes Conor Callis and David Kernan added pace and trickery. Niall Lennon, quiet in the first half, grew into the game and added guile to the mix.

Callis’s shot was deflected wide; Lennon’s run got him into a shooting position but he shot straight at the keeper; Mick Leslie had a couple of runs and crosses not converted.

A clever combination between Lennon and Callis saw the latter supply the perfect cut back to late sub Kevin Loftus, just six yards out but his panicky swipe was inneffectual.

Form Report
Bobby Hayes 6 Conor Keegan 7 Chris Hogan 5 Keith Kelly 5 Fintan Grace 7 Shane McInerney 5 Niall Lennon 7 Dermot Dooley 7 Mick Leslie 8 Jeff Gamble 7 Fergus Burke 7
Subs David Kernan 7 Conor Callis 7 Kevin Loftus 5

3.5.14
AIB 3, Spartak 2

A couple of costly errors together with a lack of self control proved decisive in DCU. Chris Hogan was lucky not to be red carded; initially booked for petulantly kicking the ball away after only 3 minutes play, he lived on the edge from then on, with the referee being particularly lenient. Niall Lennon, Neil McGowan and David O’Kelly also went into the book for some testy offences in a game which was devoid of malice.

With the spectre of relegation at stake for the Sky Blues, quite a number of regulars opted out of this one and Mick Greene was drafted in to play a unfamiliar midfield role.

Spartak took the lead midway through the first half; Graham Breen’s tenacity forced a corner, and from Conor Keegan’s kick David Kernan fired in for his first Spartak goal. But just on half time Paul Kinsella wrestled a forward to the ground on the bye line to give away an unnecessary penalty. So 1-1 at half time.

An unfortunate Conor Keegan miskick presented the home side with the lead goal, but a Mick Leslie cross was touched back in by Dave O’Kelly for Neil McGowan to apply a cool finish to equalise.

As concentration dropped and frustrations grew, the yellow card count rose, but it was AIB who got the winner in a breakaway and who finished out the game comfortably.

Form Report
Jason Northey 6 Dave O’Kelly 5 Chris Hogan 4 Paul Kinsella 5 Conor Keegan 6 Mick Greene 5 Fintan Grace 6 Neil McGowan 5 David Kernan 5 Graham Breen 5 Mick Leslie 5
Sub : Niall Lennon 5

29.4.14
Knockmitten 4, Spartak 2

Missed chances, bizarre refereeing decisions and late gambles were a feature of this match. A draw would send both teams down, with only the winner surviving at Dundrum’s expense. So with the game at 2-2 on 87 minutes it was the home side who converted a free rashly conceded by Paul Kinsella as Spartak threw men forward.

After just three minutes the ref blew for an offside against the home team , but then waved play on and allowed the score to stand.

Spartak were not long in replying with Steve Walsh getting his first goal in seven games after Dave Browne’s long throw had caused confusion.

Spartak played with fluency then and when Walsh was taken down in the box, Stephen Barr converted the penalty.

It was at this point that Spartak had the chance to put the game beyond recall, creating many chances; Stuart Love clipped the bar after a good move. Then Jeff Gamble had a good run but shot weakly. Stephen Barr fired a low cross over from close range, and, in possibly the best chance of all, Stuart Love was through on goal but shot too close to the keeper.

Just before half time Jeff Gamble was penalised in the area, but Jason Northey pulled off a fine save from the spot kick.

In the second half the home side came back into it but it was not till the 78th minute that a fine snap shot found the net for the equaliser. At the other end Stephen Barr was having no luck with three chances , striking the post , then the bar, and finally heading home but seeing the score disallowed.

Wit the stakes high, both sides pushed forward, but it was the home side who won the gamble. The fourth goal , with the last kick, was of academic interest.

Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Dave Browne 6 Aodhan McCahill 7 Sean Doyle 7 Paul Kinsella 6 Fergus Burke 6 Stuart Love 6 Jeff Gamble 6 Derek Ruxton 6 Stephen Barr 6 Stephen Walsh 6
Subs: Mick Leslie 5 Graham Breen 5

27.4.14
Balbriggan 0, Spartak 0

A creditable result by Spartak considering centre back Martin Costello was dismissed after just 3 minutes for a rash challenge, which the referee deemed to deny a goal scoring opportunity. In addition Derek Ruxton started in goal for the first time and kept a clean sheet.

Neil McGowan dropped into the back four, and together with Dave Browne, Paul Kinsella and Aodhan McCahill, formed an impenetrable barrier to the home side.

Steve Walsh was always dangerous on the break for Spartak, with good support from Graham Breen, and Mick Leslie.

A point was a just reward for a really hard working team performance.

Form Report
Derek Ruxton 8 Dave Browne 8 Paul Kinsella 8 Martin Costello 4 Aodhan McCahill 8 Fergus Burke 7 Stuart Love 7 Neil McGowan 8 Steve Walsh 7 Graham Breen 7 Ken Buckley 7
Subs : Mick Leslie 7 Lee Malone 7

15.4.14
Spartak 0, Larkview 2

Visitors Larkview clinched the league title with a hard earned win. The Sky Blues played well, and it was only when the home side was reduced to nine men that the victory was assured for the visitors.

Mid way though the second period Sean Doyle handled a goal bound shot on the line; the ultimate sanction was applied, and a red card and the penalty converted left Spartak with an uphill task. The dismissal of Stephen Barr, for a second yellow, finished the game as a contest, with Larkview adding the second from a header following a flag kick late on.

In the first half a Doyle volley had rattled the bar and Steve Walsh and Neil McGowan, until his withdrawal with a hamstring injury, caused Larkview plenty of problems.

Dave Browne had one of his best games for the club, while Fergus Burke covered plenty of ground in the middle of the park.

A spirited display overall by the Sky Blues, against the best team in the league, but to no avail.

Form Report

Jason Northey 7 Dave Browne 8 Aodhan McCahill 6 Paul Kinsella 7 Sean Doyle 7 Stephen Barr 6 Fergus Burke 7 Seamus McCahill 6 Neil McGowan 7 Stuart Love 6 Steve Walsh 7
Subs; Mick Leslie 5 Victor Pires 5

13.4.14
Sallynoggin 1, Spartak 0

After an early flourish which produced chances for Steve Walsh and Stuart Love, Spartak dropped to a low level of performance. A soft goal conceded by a close in finish following a free out wide proved to be the only score. The free which should have been properly defended, was conceded by a rash David Kernan challenge and had a penalty been awarded it would not have been a surprise. The forward fell outside the box, having been felled just inside. Golakeeper and back four stand indicted for a casual approach to defending the kick.

Spartak’s big chance of an equaliser fell to Stuart Love, running in from the left early in the second period, but with the keeper off his line Stuart opted to square it and the pass was intercepted and the chance lost.

Though increasingly desperate efforts were made to somehow forge an equaliser, it was in fact the home side who looked dangerous o the break, with Spartak lacking creativity and guile on the day.

Form Report
Jason Northey 6 David Kernan 6 Aodhan McCahill 5 Paul Kinsella 6 Dave Browne 6 Neil McGowan 5 Stuart Love 5 Ken Buckley 5 Steve Walsh 5 Jeff Gamble 5.
Subs: Paul Byrne 5 Victor Pires 5

12.4.14
Spartak 1, Walkinstown 2

Spartak paid dearly for defensive lapses to miss out on the points, but despite being weary from Thursdays fine win showed plenty of effort and missed some good chances to equalise.

The visitors had most of the early plsy, with Spartak limited to a couple of Dave Berry half chances.

Walkinstown’s first goal was simplicity itself. A long ball found the home back four pushed up, and a running midfielder lobbed Jason Northey. Stung by this reverse, the Sky Blues made a couple of chances from Conor Keegan set pieces, with Dave Berry, Fintan Grace and Jeff Gamble going close.

On the hour the visitors took the lead; a long throw was flicked way past the back post but was returned to the danger area and Northey was beaten from six yards.

Again Spartak found the energy to rally and created good chances through Conor Callis and Jeff Gamble, but could not find the equaliser.

Form Report
Jason Northey 5 Chris Hogan 5 Mick Leslie 6 Conor Keegan 7 Cathal Clancy 6 Shane McInerney 5 Dave O’Kelly 5 Fintan Grace 5 Jeff Gamble 6 Dave Berry 6
Sub Kevin Loftus 5

12.4.14
Spartak 3, Terenure College 2

A sparkling first half performance by the Sky Blues was sufficient to hold off a second half comeback by the visitors.

Spartak were rampant in the opening half and attacked with verve and guile.

A long range effort by Dave Berry was fumbled by the keeper to give Spartak the lead on 13 minutes, and just 5 minutes later Jeff Gamble was fouled in the area, and Fintan Grace buried the resultant spot kick. A Sean Doyle cross was headed down by Jeff Gamble for Dave Berry to finish to make it 3-0. It was exhilarating stuff, and all too scarce this season.

The second half swung in the visitors favour; it would have been difficult for Spartak to maintain the frantic first half tempo, but the Sky Blues hung in and created opportunities. Dave Berry missed a good chance after a lung bursting run by Jeff Gamble just before Terenure reduced arrears.

While Terenure attacked in waves Sparak also had good chances on the break. Jervis Mulhall displayed a sign of rustiness when driving wide after a good move by Shane McInerney and Conor Keegan.

A neat volleyed goal made it 2-3 with six minutes left and from then to the final whistle it was all hands to the defenxive pimps, with Conor Keegan and Sean Doyle showing great resistance.

Form Report
Bobby Hayes 7 Conor Keegan 9 Mick Leslie 7 Sean Doyle 8 Stephen Barr 7 Shane McInerney 7 Dave O’Kelly 7 Mick Young 5 Fintan Grace 7 Jeff Gamble 8 Dave Berry 8
Subs: Niall Lennon 5 Jervis Mulhall 5 Conor Callis 5

6.4.14
Spartak 5, Beechwood 5

A cracking game with a cracking finish. Neil McGowan equalised on 92 minutes with a 35 yard top corner effort, but Spartak still found time, just two minutes later for Steve Walsh to hit the post with free kick in the dying seconds.

Needless to say defences were not on top here; but after Beechwood raced into a 2-0 lead it was the Sky Blue centre backs, Sean Doyle and Paul Kinsella, who took turns joining the attack to each get on the scoresheet. Seamus McCahill, Steve walsh and Neil McGowan combined to give Sean Doyle to chance to fire home; and then McCahill and Walsh combined to send Paul Kinsella through for a neat score.

Beechwood had taken the lead from a free conceded by an over zealous Kinsella in the first minute and a free header then made it two. But the first half comeback was complete when Derek Ruxton shot home from an angle after playing a one two with McCahill.

A mix up between Jason Northey and Mick Leslie saw Beechwood equalise; then a fourth showed up the Spartak defence in a poor light. Spartak fought back strongly and a Walsh corner was cleared to Fergus Burke he crossed fro Stuart Love to nod in, via the bar, to make it 4-4.

A deflected shot gave Beechwood the lead , but McGowan’s late, long range came to the rescue and Walsh almost won it with the last kick.

Form Report
Jason Northey 5 David Kernan 7 Mick Leslie 5 Sean Doyle 7 Paul Kinsella 7 Fergus Burke 7 Neil McGowan 7 Seamus McCahill 7
Stuart Love 7 Derek Ruxton 7 Steve Walsh 8
Subs: Dave Berry 5 Ken Buckley 5 Mick Young 5

23.3.14
Spartak 0, Ballybrack 5

The scoreline here did not reflect the balance of play, as the Spartak players ruefully reflected at the final whistle.

It was a bad day at the office for the Sky Blues. Steve Grier suffered a painful, and season ending, knee injury following a tackle which brought a lenient yellow card; Neil McGowan struck the post with a penalty at 0-1 after Paul Kinsella was taken down; and was then knocked out, in full view of the referee, during an off the ball incident as the visitors scored their second from a corner kick.

A fine header had given the visitors the lead; and their third was also of high quality. As Spartak pushed on to try to reduce arrears, they were severely punished on the break.

But the overriding feeling from this game was what might have been with some rigorous refereeing. Spartak were left, literally, to lick their wounds.

Form Report
Jason Northey 5 Sean Doyle 6 Paul Kinsella 5 Martin Costello 6 Steve Grier 6 Fergus Burke 6 Neil McGowan 6 Niall Hanratty 5 Derek Ruxton 6 David Kernan 7 Steve Walsh 5
Subs: Ken Buckley 5 Mick Leslie 5 Jeff Gamble 5