Spartak Dynamo FC

Please post your team for Last Man Standing week 4. THERE IS NO AUTOMATIC PICK. Anyone who has not posted a team can still do so as they are still in the competition with 2 lives due to automatic picks from the last 3 weeks. A full list of fixtures is on the Last Man tab above. If you give a team that you have already chosen (or automatically chosen) you will get the next team available to you alphabetically.

On Sunday the over 35,s travelled to Sevitt Fc from Gormanstown where

a place in the 1/4 finals of the Clifford cup was up for grabs.We played a 4-5-1 formation which has been good to us in the Cup but probably wasn’t the wisest decision by management on the day due to it being a narrow pitch.The pitch itself left a lot to be desired and was played on the day before.We packed the midfield which confused the opposition and ourselves at times.We took an early lead with a great set piece from a corner. Dave Mohan called for the short corner which distracted the full backs who tried to close him down, Frank McNamee spotted this and timed a super run to the near post and with pinpoint accuracy Paul (Scholsey) Burke obliged with a super corner for Frank to head home.

One up and the home team stunned,we started to make a few mistakes at the back. The opposition pressed , our back line were a bit confused ,balls over the top, Jimmy slow getting off his line,Barry Crowe getting involved for all the wrong reasons with whoever wanted a row and with all this plotting against us no-one was prepared for what came next .A defensive clearance from Matt Grimes reached the half way line and Paddy Hughes came to collect. Paddy went on a run and was forced into the corner.Under pressure Paddy made some space for himself and about a yard off their back line and about twenty yards from the goal, Paddy looked up spotted the keeper at his near post, Paddy somehow managed to loop a ball with precision over the keeper into the net.Now were all stunned and with great admiration and a slight nod of the head in disbelief from the opposition Manager were two up and game on.We went in at half time 2 up and a bit mesmerised that we werent 3-2 down. 

Second half started with a lot of pressure from the opposition and they were starting to get on top.Then they got their first, a bit of confusion in our back line let there forward in to score from down the left side. Second goal came with about ten mins left and it was very fortunate for them..Tony Kavanagh hit the deck after a very hefty challenge and follow through in our own box, so all the Spartak players stopped and waited for the referee to blow his whistle for a free out and much to everyones amazement, he didn’t. A twenty yard shot defelected in past Jimmy and were heading to penos.Credit to Spartak who didn’t flinch and scored all five penos after Sevitt missed their 5^th one.

Peno 1:Paddy Hughes   Peno 2:Paul Burke Peno 3:Graham Johnston Peno 4:Barry Crowe Peno 5:Matt Grimes.

Over 35’s squad:

Jimmy Brown 6, Dave Mohan 7, Greg Callan 7, Tony Kavanagh 7, Barry Crowe 6, Ken Byrne 6, Frank McNamee 8, Brian Stafford 8, Paul Burke 4, Matt Grimes 7, Paddy Hughes 8.

Subs: Tom Maher 6, Shea Mcafferty 6,Gary Harte 6, Graham Johnston 6 and Rory Campbell 9.

St Pats CY 1, Spartak 2

Spartak capitalised fully on errors by the home custodian to earn a precious win in the hostile environs of Irishtown Stadium.
Dave Browne’s warning to pack extra shinpads was timely and Fintan Grace, Keith Kelly and Neil McGowan were on the receiving end of tackles which , on oher days,and other venues, would have drawn full sanction.
Pats took the early initiative and Spartak had a let off when the forward, clean through, went past Peter O’Toole only to shoot wildly over from an angle.
Tom O’Driscoll missed a great chance for Spartak, placing his shot too close to the keeper.
The local keeper was penalised for stepping outside his box while kicking out and Neil McGowan exacted the ultimate retribution with a superbly executed free kick after 14 minutes.
Pressure mounted from Pats as Spartak sat too deep, and when Glen Burke was caught between ball and man the resulting cross caused mayhem before the home full back went past Stuart Love, Fintan Grace and Dave Browne to equalise off the far post. Graham Breen just failed to head O’Driscoll’s corner in but otherwise Spartak’s attacks were sporadic at best.
The second half was a war of attrition with Pats moving the ball better. Neil McGowan did a fine job of shoring up a porous midfield, as distribution from defence deteriorated, and he had a couple of volleyed efforts go close.
The decisive moment came on 63 minutes, when Tom O’Driscoll intercepted a poor kick out by the keeper, shrugged off a strong challenge, and delicately lifted the ball over the advancing keeper for a delightfully taken score.
With Peter O’Toole in confident handling form, and the Sky Blues becoming more resourceful with a lead to defend with vital tackles and blocks, Spartak held out for the three points.

Form Report:
Peter O’Toole 7 Glen Burke 6 Fintan Grace 6 Kevin O’Toole 6 Dave Browne 6 Keith Kelly 7 Neil McGowan 8 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Stuart Love 5 Graham Breen 6 Ger Byrne 6.
Subs Anto Doyle 5 Will O’Connell 5 Niall Tilley . Steve Grier no show.

Spartak 1, Phoenix 1

A 93rd minute equaliser, created by Anto Doyle and finished by Seamus McCahill, spared Spartak’s blushes against the 9 men of bottom club Phoenix, in a contest ruined by inept refereeing.
An even later “goal” by Martin Costello was ruled out for a dubious offside decision to prevent Martin from breaking his scoring duck.
All that, however, is to obscure the poor performance by the Sky Blues, many of whom looked well off the pace.
Spartak were given a footballing lesson in the first half as Phoenix passed and moved, while the homesters wilfully wasted possession.
Spartak did manage to create a few chances in the first half, which all fell to Mick Costello, but he did not have his shooting boots on. Seamus McCahill, Derek McGoldrick, Anto Doyle and Chris Hogan all struggled in midfield, where Phoenix more or less did as they pleased. Spartak were grateful to Martin Costello for a few timely interceptions, and when Jason Northey parried, Mick Greene was on hand to complete the clearance.
Spartak were handicapped by the loss through injury of Mick Greene, in particular his expertise at set pieces, which Martin Costello could not replicate.
Phoenix hit the post, and also shot wide when Jason Northey’s kick was short.
The second period descended into something approaching farce as the ref lost control. Late on he dismissed two of the visitors, and failed to deal with a pitch incursion by about a dozen of the visitors camp.
Spartak relied on a few scrambled efforts, with Mick Costello forcing a save and Seamus McCahill unable to direct a header wide of the keeper. In one scramble Niall Lennon could not find the vital reaction to force the ball over the line.
Phoenix took the lead when a free was pulled back from the bye line and driven past Northey.
Spartak were grateful for a point in a game that should have yielded the full haul.

Form Report
Jason Northey 5 Dave O’Kelly 5 Mick Greene 6 Martin Costello 7 Cathal Clancy 6 Anto Doyle 6 Seamus McCahill 5 Chris Hogan 5 Derek McGoldrick 5 Ross Kelly 5 Mick Costello 5
Subs Dillon Burke 5 Jose Vargas 5 Niall Lennon 5 Shane McInerney Ryan Burke.

Please post your team for Last Man Standing week 3. This weeks automatic pick is Bolton. Anyone who has not posted a team can still do so as they are still in the competition with 2 lives due to automatic picks from the last 2 weeks. A full list of fixtures is on the Last Man tab above. If you give a team that you have already chosen (or automatically chosen) you will get the next team available alphabetically.

Notice for all 35’s that this weeks match will take place on Sunday (kick off 11am).We have drawn Sevitt Fc from Gormanstown in the 4th round of the Clifford cup.All 35’s that make the squad this week are asked to make themselves available for a Sunday morning game.As this is a huge game for the 35’s  we shouldn’t need to mention how important training will be this week.For those of you who have forgot what time we train at , it is 20:45pm sharp in Blackrock, will see you all then……….Rory & Dave

Maynooth Town 4, Spartak 3.

With Marlay off, Spartak travelled west to face Major 1 side Maynooth Town on the NUI astro pitch.

Despite Maynooth’s technical superiority, the Sky Blues battled well and took full advantage of set pieces to score three times. Indeed Graham Breen popped one in with a snap left footer on 13 minutes to take the lead, before a rare error by Keith Kelly was punished for the equaliser. Maynooth broke well when a poor Spartak corner was cleared quickly to take the lead just before the break. Paul Kinsella and Keith tried to spring an offside trap, but the locals were too wily to fall for that one. 1-2.
Peter O’Toole was, of necessity, in fine form and made some really good saves to deny the home side, who moved the ball much better by accurate and swift passing. Time and again Spartak players found themselves dispossessed as the winners insinuated their bodies between opponent and ball.
Maynooth’s third and fourth goals were of the unstoppable variety, and in between Stuart Love had forced home a flick on from Breen from Browne’s long throw. Tom O’Driscoll’s late free kick, when Ger Byrne was fouled, reduced arrears and completed the scoring.

A worthwhile exercise against superior opponents.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 8 Mick Greene 5 Fintan Grace 6 Paul Kinsella 6 Keith Kelly 7 Martin Costello 5 Tom O’Driscoll 5 Stuart Love 5 Graham Breen 7 Ger Byrne 6 Neil McGowan 6 Dave Browne 6 Kevin O’Toole 5 Niall Tilley 4 Glen Burke 5 Will O Connell no show, Steve Grier no show.

Please post your team for Last Man Standing week 2. This weeks automatic pick is Manchester United. Anyone who has not posted a team can still do so as they are still in the competition with 2 lives due to last weeks automatic pick. A full list of fixtures is on the Last Man tab above

Mourne Celtic 1 Spartak 4

Spartak displayed superior finishing ability with Graham Breen instrumental in all 4 goals.
With no game since mid November, some of the Spartak players seemed to have emerged blinking into the sunlight for the first time in a while. Cobwebs were clearly in evidence in a few cases and there was a lot of huffing and puffing as Mourne exerted their second half superiority.

Initially all went to plan when, after a foul on Stuart Love, Keith Kelly’s free kick was headed powerfully home by Graham Breen after just 4 minutes. However five minutes later that lead was cancelled when Steve Grier’s schoolboy error handed Mourne an equaliser.
Spartak, with the wind, pressed hard but could not find the finishing touch. Ger Byrne, Tom Flanagan and Seamus McCahill all had opportunities but could not convert.

Spartak’s second goal originated from a disputed throw in; Grier’s throw was flicked on by Breen for McCahill to nod in on 35 minutes. Peter O’Toole was called into action just before half time with a good save.

Stuart Love had what looked like a trademark goal from 2 yards chalked off; the keeper had dropped the ball and Stu forced home, but the ref gave a free out.

The clincher for Spartak was the third goal, just 2 minutes into the second half, when Seamus McCahill placed a textbook cross along the six yard line; before Breener could tap in, their number 2 saved him the trouble by blasting to his own net.

Mourne, with wind advantage, pressed hard and controlled the midfield for the second period; Spartak’s goals were of the breakaway variety, and Mourne wasted a succession of free kicks. Peter O’Toole dealt with all the on target efforts and made one excellent stop from a driven free. Keith Kelly was always resourceful at the back and Grier gradually came into the game, winning important aerial ball, but also being carded for a rash challenge.

The fourth goal was an excellent finish by Breen to McCahill’s cross, when he volleyed the ball back into the far corner.

A satisfactory start to the new year, but fast improvement is vital. Next up is Seaford, conquerors of Colmcilles 4-3 in their last game. A stiffer challenge awaits.

Form Report:
Peter O’Toole 7 Dave Browne 6 Fintan Grace 6 Steve Grier 5 Keith Kelly 7 Tom Flanagan 6 Stuart Love 6 Seamus McCahill 7 Will O Connell 6 Graham Breen 7 Ger Byrne 6.
Subs Paul Kinsella 6 Niall Tilley 6 Niall Hanratty no show.

Please post your team for Last Man Standing Week 1. A full list of fixtures is on the Last Man tab above. This weeks automatic pick is Manchester City. Please pay €10 to Paul ASAP.