Spartak Dynamo FC

Please post your team for week 5 of Last Man Standing. There is NO automatic pick this week so if you dont post a team you are out. If you are not on the list on the Last Man tab you have not yet posted a team or paid but due to automatic picks you are still in the competioion with one life. If you wish to post a team please do so and pay Paul by the weekend, then you will be added to the list.

Marlay is off today Sat and tomo Sunday for games against Drimnagh and Seaford due to snow, despite availabilty of yellow footballs.

Please post your team for LMS week 4. This weeks automatic pick is West Ham. There will be NO automatic picks after this weekend. Full fixtures are available on the Last Man tab above. Remember the prize fund is a minimium €150

Lads, we are producing a booklet for the 40th celebration. Feel free to forward an article or comment for inclusion to me, by email.
Any memories, highlights, lowlights, etc. Must be fit to publish without risk of defamation!
By 30th November please.

There will be a €50 prize for the highest scoring team in December.  The current overall top 10 is shown below.  Ryan Burke is beginning to open a gap at the top with September’s winner ‘Chopper’ scoring well recently to move into second. Where are all the strong performers from last year? Anyway, all back to square one for the December competition. Remember you must be fully paid up on annuals and subs to claim the prize.

Lads, important dates for your diaries

SDFC Christmas night in Toast Rathmines, Sat 18th December. Always a great night out.

Don’t forget, 40th celebration night in 3 Rock on 19th February.

Spartak 5, St Pats CY 0

Spartak, who were missing key men, made light of the fact in overpowering St Pats in tough conditions.
A strong display by the home back four, backed up by the outstanding Peter O’Toole, laid the foundation for an important victory and the front two of Ger Byrne and Tom O’Driscoll destroyed the visiting defence.

Initially Spartak’s attacks were halted by some dubious offside calls but then Glen Burke’s shot from distance brought a good save form the visiting keeper. On 15 minutes O’Driscoll exchanged passes with Byrne before outpacing the defence and rounding the keeper for a brilliantly taken score.

Glen then blazed over before a lapse from Martin Costello led to Pats hitting the side netting. O’Driscoll and Byrne combined for Will O’Connell to scuff his effort when well placed, and the keeper saved well from both O’Driscoll and Byrne.
Peter O’Tooles’ kick out was nodded on by the tireless Keith Kelly for Ger Byrne to take on the defence and, despite close attention, slot the ball neatly in for number 2. O’Toole then made a great save to maintain Spartak’s lead.

Spartak began the second period well and Will O’Connell again missed after good combination play had put him in. On 62 minutes Niall Hanratty turned defence into attack and Tom Flanagan’s header put O’Driscoll in to finish with aplomb. Minutes later Keith Kelly won the ball and drove through himself to add number 4.

In between Peter made another sharp save low to his left.

Hanratty’s run gave Byrne the ooportunity to hit the post, and Glen and Ger set up Will again to no avail. Hanratty and Niall Tilley combined for Glen to blaze over and when Hanratty’s excellent long range effort was touched on to the bar by the keeper, it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that the inrushing Byrne would add to his goal tally – instead he fired wildly over the bar with the keeper prostrate. A contender for miss of the season.
Niall Tilley crossed for Will O’Connell to finally get on the scoresheet but Glen missed out as he shot over again after good work from Seamus McCahill.

Overall Spartak showed the greater desire to win and turned in a performance to savour.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 9 Niall Hanratty 8 Fintan Grace 8 Martin Costello 8 Dave Browne 8 Tom Flanagan 7 Keith Kelly 8 Glen Burke 7 Will O’Connell 7 Tom O’Driscoll 9 Ger Byrne 8.
Subs Paul Kinsella 7 Niall Tilley 7 Seamus McCahill 7 Kevin O’Toole . Steve Grier no show.

Spartak over 35s 1, Rathcoole 3.

A three goal blast in the first 12 minutes of the second half by the visitors ended Spartak’s recent run and reversed the Sky Blues recent 4-1 cup win over the same opposition.

In a drab first half where the play matched the gloomy weather the game started at a slow tempo with both sides content to play the percentage ball. The first chance fell to the visitors but the forward, having outpaced the defence, blazed over. Spartak picked up somewhat but missed a couple of key chances. Paddy Hughes was through one on one but the keeper saved and, in Spartak’s best move, Shay McClafferty’s ball released Paddy down the right his fine cross was headed over by Brendan Mooney.

Half time was 0-0. Then came those decisive 12 minutes. A long range effort eluded Jimmy Browne for the first; a header when left unattended by the Spartak cover for number two, and with the home defence reeling a dinked ball over the top caught out the back four and the low cross was turned in.
Brendan Mooney opted to shoot at the keeper from a narrow angle rather than cross to better placed colleagues after the first Rathcoole goal.
Spartak then mounted an attempted comeback and reduced arrears when Frank McNamee nodded down Matt Grimes free for Rory Campbell to slot home.
Spartak pressed hard ad finished strongly but te Rathcoole defence worked hard and did not concede again.

Spartak: Jimmy Browne Dave Mohan Barry Crowe Tom Maher Greg Callan Matt Grimes Brian Stafford Frank McNamee Paddy Hughes Shay McCalfferty Brendan Mooney Mark Byrne Con Mooney Rory Campbell

Please post your team for LMS week 3. This weeks automatic pick is Bolton. Full fixtures are available on the Last Man tab above. The prize fund is a minimium €150