Spartak Dynamo FC

Congratulations to Neil McGowan and Jason Doyle who share the last man standing pot after Bolton’s 2-2 draw yesterday.

Liffey Valley Rangers 1 Spartak 2

Some standout performances got the baby blues through to the Tom Cullen cup semi final, not least from Peter O’Toole who capped a fine performance by producing  a really top class save in injury time from an intended back pass by Anto Doyle.  Anto, not a renowned header of the ball, placed the firm header low to Peter’s left and the keeper’s reactions were sharp – Anto must owe him a few pints! 

 Alex Kenny starred at the back as the second half onslaught was repelled time and again; and Neil McGowan provided the coolness and accuracy to score and assist for the goals. All around the pitch there was evidence of a determination and resolve which ultimately won this particular battle.  

Two players who have not always been first choices did extremely well and gave evidence of the depth of the squad. Kevin O’Toole was given the task of marking the best opposition player and stuck to his task.  Dave Browne won his numerous aerial battles.

Spartak made the breakthrough on 16 minutes when a Liffey clearance was returned first time into the box by Alex Kenny. Neil McGowan showed coolness in beating the offside trap, controlling and slotting past the home keeper. Two minutes later Neil had a header saved and a good move ended when Graham Breen’s header from Ger Byrne’s cross was saved. Spartak survived a couple of hairy moments when Dave Browne let the centre forward turn and on another occasion a mix up was finally calmed by Peter O’Toole.

Spartak got their second on 47 minutes, when an attack by Graham McEnroe was half cleared.  Neil McGowan fastened on to the lose ball and crossed for Graham Breen to head his 20th of the season. Neil had to go off with cartilage   trouble just minutes later, and will be out of action for a while.

Spartak had some good opportunities in the second half, with good approach work by Graham McEnroe, Breen and Byrne. Substitute James Finn had two efforts  saved.

But mostly the second half was a case of defending diligently and the back four of Rob Mahon, Glen Burke , Browne and Kenny were on top form – they had to be given the pressure.

Behind them Peter had to deal with some horrible bouncy efforts on a hard and bumpy pitch and took off a couple of fine saves as Spartak struggled to hold possession as distribution from the back was ofen of the urgent variety. Dave Browne headed clear at the back post to clear danger and finally Liffey got a breakthrough on 68 minutes when Ger Byrne lost possession and the ball was switched to the back post where the winger got the better of Glen Burke to touch past Peter O’Toole.

The Spartak defence held out much to the delight of the travelling support (Shane , Mick, Chopper and Peter’s father in law)

Form Report

Peter O’Toole 9 Glen Burke 8 Rob Mahon 8 Dave Browne 8 Alex Kenny 9 Graham McEnroe 8 Neil McGowan 9 Anto Doyle 7 Ger Byrne 7 Graham Breen 7 Kevin O’Toole 7.

Subs James Finn 7 Fintan Grace, Stuart Love, Niall Hanratty.

Flights booked so far (come on lads) – add your name by reply to post when booked

Paul McGowan – flight booked

Frank McNamee – flight booked

Saturday Team- AWAY to Phoenix – Monday 26 April AWAY to Everton

Sunday Team – AWAY to Meath Rangers in the Cup Semi-Final

Over 35’s – AWAY to Greenhills

Spartak 3 Mourne 2

When Mourne equalised on 88 minutes it looked very much  as if Spartak’s promotion challenge was over. However, digging into reserves of resilience, Spartak found a way to win the game with Ger Byrne heading in on 90 + 4 minutes.

Mourne started the better and settled into a passing pattern which Spartak struggled to replicate, and Spartak endured a couple of hairy moments when they were lucky not to concede.

Spartak created some chances and Ger Byrne shot over from close in, while Glen Burke had an effort cleared off the line. Spartak were grateful to Dave Browne’s great block when a score looked imminent.

On 35 minutes a Graham Breen flick on was touched home by Stuart Love. The lead did not last long and the vistors equalised on 41 minutes when Dave Browne fluffed a clearance and the ball ran through to a clearly offside Mourne player to equalise. With the referee displaying a somewhat eccentric interpretation of the offside law, Spartak were forced to play deep and a lot of pressure was placed on the midfield.

Spartak needed a boost and the introduction of substitutes Anto Doyle and Neil McGowan coincided with some improved passing and Breen had a header cleared off the line from Burke’s corner. Burke then shot over when well placed after good work by Byrne.

On 64 minutes, a towering header from Breen went in off the post to give the home side a deserved lead.  Some bad fouls by the visitors went unpunished and a blatant stamp on Byrne attracted only a yellow card. Breen had to be replaced after taking a battering  and Dave O’Kelly, making his first team debut, lent a lot of energy to the cause. 

As Mourne pressed Peter O’Toole made a good save and Rob Mahon kicked off the line. But on 88 minutes a half cleared corner was met by a visiting defender who cracked a shot that O’Toole tipped brilliantly onto the bar. Alex Kenny blocked the second effort from the rebound but the no 2 then drilled in.

Spartak rallied, however,  and were rewarded when Byrne scored with a rare header to keep the race alive.

 Form Report

Peter O’Toole 7 Dave Browne 6 Rob Mahon 6 Steve Grier 7 Alex Kenny 7 Kevin O’Toole 6 Will O’Connell 6 Glen Burke 6 Ger Byrne 7 Graham Breen 7 Stuart Love 5.

Subs Anto Doyle 7 Neil McGowan 7 Dave O’Kelly 7 Mick Greene.  Graham Mc Enroe no show.

Ratoath 6 Spartak 1

A leg weary Spartak side, playing their third game in six days against fresh opponents, capitulated early in the second half to a heavy defeat. The LSL fixture secretary, having messed up all season, predictably set 3 games for six days and then no game on this coming Saturday or in midweek. It takes a special type of talent to make such lop sided arrangements, and perhaps Spartak need to be more vocal in response. For example this game could have been played the following week when neither team had a mid week game.

As well as tiredness, Jason Northey, beaten from a 30 yard free kick in the first minute, had his worst game of the season and conceded six without making a save. In conceding so many,  he was culpable in respect of poor judgment or decisiveness in leaving his line. When Jason was injured in conceding number six, Mick Costello took over between the sticks as Spartak finished with ten.

Martin Costello and Shane McInerney carried knocks into the game with hamstring and groin problems respectively, out of necessity, as Spartak’s large panel dwindled at the prospect of a distant mid week game.  Mick Greene was forced off before half time after blocking a pile driver with his head. Tom O’Driscoll, also injured going into the match, had to be substituted just after half time. 

Spartak never functioned as an attacking force, with players opting to thump the ball down the middle or run with the ball until dispossessed rather than take the option of a pass. Both full backs wasted possession and the midfield never got a foot on the ball. The strikers were restricted to battling for aerial possesion. As a result Ratoath enjoyed the majority of possession and threatened to overwhelm the visitors in the first half.

One nil down from the first minute, Spartak held out till half time by dint of some dogged defending, but without putting a move together or testing the home keeper.

The first ten minutes of the second half saw Ratoath score three times, the first when Rob Deering and Martin Costello were beaten, the  second when Northey came for and missed a cross; the next a penalty after a mix up between Northey and Mark Bolger. Then on 68 minutes Martin Costello was caught in possession and was unable to prevent number 5.  

Spartak’s lone goal came at 0-5 down from an optimistic long range shot by Neill Bolger which the home keeper allowed pass under his diving body. 

The sixth and final goal on 75 minutes saw Northey again slow off his line and beaten; however in the clash with the forward he took a knock and Mick Costello went in goal.

An extremely  poor performance even allowing for the mitigating factors of tiredness against a fresh team who had not played Monday.

Form Report

Jason Northey 4 Dave O’Kelly 5 Mick Greene 5 Martin Costello 5 Cathal Clancy 5 Shane McInerney 4 Anto Doyle 4 Rob Deering 4 Colm O’Sullivan 4 Tom O’Driscoll 4  Neill Bolger 4

Subs: Mark Bolger 5 Ross Kelly4 Mick Costello 6

Spartak 0, Greenhills 1

Spartak, having had the better of first half exchanges, faded in the second period and despite some fine late saves from Jimmy Browne, Greenhills forced the winner in the 87th minute. 

Probably Spartak’s best move and chance came in the second minute when Paul Tormey swept the ball wide to Liam Cullen, on the overlap, and his cross was met by Rory Campbell in the six yard box. Unfortunately the header was just too high.

An assured performance at the back restricted the visitors attack in the opening period, and Spartak, with five men strung across the middle,  had more chances on the break, with claims for a penalty when lone striker Campbell was impeded and then Tormey’s downward header rebounded unluckily over the bar.  

Spartak’s pattern was upset as substitutions for tiring players were made, and few chances were created in the second period. McNamee’s header from Doran’s free was well gathered by the keeper but other set pieces proved less productive as advantage was taken of a free at the edge of the box and corner kick overhit. Rory Campbell’s penchant for running into offside positions also upset attacks on occasion.

With just one in attack for the home side, Greenhills were able to move the ball from defence easily, and pushed more men forward as time wore on.

Tony Kavanagh, who was assured at the back, had to retire with hamstring problems and that seemed to unsettle the balance of the defence to the extent that Jimmy Browne was forced to make two smart saves to deny the visitors.

With Spartak seeming to settle for a point, a deflection on a long ball took out the central defenders and the visiting winger was through. Jimmy Browne took off another splendid block but then an unfortunate tangle between Browne and Ken Byrne, as they both scrambled to clear,  allowed the forward to slot home.

No reward on this occasion for a solid, if unadventurous, performance.

Form Report

Jimmy Browne 8 Liam Cullen 7 Gerry Doran 7 Tony Kavanagh 8 Dave Mohan 7 Paul Burke 6 Mark Byrne 5 Paul Tormey 6 Rory Campbell 6 Frank McNamee 6 Ken Byrne 7 Senan O’Duchan 6 Shay McClafferty 4 Leon David 5 Greg Callan 6

Spartak 2 St Pats Cy 2

Spartak had to be satisfied with a point from this tough encounter with the Ringsend outfit. Without no fewer than five of the previous game’s squad for a variety of reasons and with a number of players carrying knocks into the game it did not make the ideal preparation, however Steve Grier’s overnight trip from Sligo to play was a boost.

 On a poor pitch, quality football was at a premium but Spartak made the early running and shots from Gintaras Cibirka tested the keeper, while Glen Burke and Neil McGowan, from a 30 yard free,  were just off target.

Cibirka shot over from a narrow angle when a cross might have paid dividends.

A stray square pass from Burke allowed Pats to get a shot in – just over. Spartak made the breakthrough on 24 minutes whe a Steve Grier throw was  headed powerfully in by Graham Breen.

Spartak seemed to ease off and poor marking from a throw resulted in a free conceded by Grier and which Pats smacked off the bar. Disaster struck on 32 minutes when Cibirka passed back to Peter O’Toole, whose kick was short and skied. The Pats winger tussled with Anto Doyle for possession, and fouled him, but when Anto put his hands on the winger in the box, the ref pointed to the spot.  1-1. Dave Browne was yellow carded for his protest. Worse was to follow on 44 minutes when a goal kick was flicked on to a clearly offside visiting player who went on to score. The ref maintained he got the ball direct from the goal kick, a version that was hotly disputed by the home players.

Spartak found it difficult to pass the ball and were being bullied off the ball in the middle of the park, where St Pat’s displayed more aggression and control.  On the attacking side Neil McGowan had a good volley saved and Stuart Love’s header from a corner was too close to the keeper. Glen Burke had a great solo run but just failed to find the final cross. Glen also was over with a snap shot from 15 yards. At the other end Pats had a drive just wide.

Spartak got the equaliser from another set piece when Burke’s corner was headed in Breen.  Kevin O’Toole had come on earlier and made a good impresson as he set about winning the ball but was soon in the ref’s notebook. He also had a powerful goalbound drive blocked by a Pats player, who took some time to recover.

Neill Bolger reacted to a foul off the ball and when a Pats player tried to extract revenge he was red carded. 

There were still chances to break the deadlock. On 86 minutes Spartak were grateful to Rob Mahon’s saving tackle and in injury time Breen’s flick on was volleyed over by Bolger with the keeper stranded.

Not a night of classic football but Spartak showed resilience and mental strength in adversity to claw their way back into a tough game which had turned against them for a while.

Form report

Peter O’Toole 6 Anto Doyle 5 Rob Mahon 7 Steve Grier 8 Dave Browne 7 Glen Burke 7 Neil McGowan 6 Gintaras Cibirka 6 Will O’Connell 5 Graham Breen 7 Stuart Love 5.

Subs Kevin O’Toole 6 Neill Bolger 6 Fintan Grace 6 Mick Greene. Mark Bolger no show Tom Kowal no show.

Spartak 7, Dun Laoghaire 2

A splendid performance by Ger Byrne who scored four times as well as earning a penalty and generally being a total nuisance to the visiing defence, was the key ingredient to this win.

Ger won the penaly after four minutes when he was impeded running onto a ball by Niall Hanratty. Mick Greene converted.

Hanratty then missed a simple chance when James Finn flicked on Dave O’Kelly’s throw, and Martin Costello was wide after Tom O’Driscoll’s clever corner found him free ten yards out.

Spartak’s defence was uneasy and after Hanratty lost possession had to scamble the ball out for a corner. Mark Bolger and Dave OKelly were too easily beaten in one attack which fizzled out.  There were legitinate claims for a penalty when Bolger handled. The visitors had a free header from a corner. Jason Northey was then penalised for carrying the ball outside his area and Dun Laoghaire equalised after some sloppy defensive efforts by Spartak.

Byrne was again impeded in the area but the ref chose not  to award a second spot kick and then Hanratty was wide with his cross after a good move. On 26 minutes O’Driscoll set Byrne free and he scored with a measured lob from an angle as the keeper advanced.

While the work rate of Finn and Shane McInerney kept the midfield busy, full backs  Dave O’Kelly and Mick Greene struggled to move the ball constructively and the wide men, Hanratty and Chris Hogan, were unable to deliver telling crosses. Byrne added number 3 on 29 minutes when his intended cross floated in.

The second half began withe the visitors enjoying a considerable amount of possesion as Spartak, perhaps showing weariness from Saturday’s match, stood off. Chris Hogan was pulled back when clear but the offence was not penalised.

Spartak became more fragmented and McInerney picked up a yellow card in an altercation, while Hanratty was lucky when he let his man run into the 6 yard box but missed contact with the cross. Dave O’Kelly had to make a great saving tackle to prevent a clear chance.

On 62 minutes Hanratty thundered a shot off the bar, but on 64 minutes the visitors were right back as they scored after a run from an offside position. Martin Costello, running back, missed the tackle. 3-2.

Substitutes Steve Browne and Colm O’Sullivan brought an immediate injection of much needed energy and when the keeper spilled Browne’s shot, Byrne had a simple task to finish.

Hanratty, doing better when switched to full back, put Browne through to finish on 75 minutes, and also crossed for Byrnes 85th minute goal.

In between Browne had a remarkable cameo. When Tom O’Driscoll was taken doen in the box, and the offender red carded, Steve was nominated to take the penalty, as Mick Greene was off the pitch at this stage. His weak effort was blocked by the keeper but the rebound sat up invitingly 5 yards out. With the choice of walking the ball in or blasting to the net, his overly  casual approach led to him somehow managing to scuff it back into the prostrate keeper’s arms, for the miss of this, or any other, season.

Just a minute later he scored from play when Martin Costello put him through

For 70 minutes this was a close game, and the gap widened only as the visitiors lost composure and shape, with Spartak’s substitutes making a telling contribution.  Nonetheless, three good points and a boost to the goal difference.

Form Report

Jason Northey 6 Dave O’Kelly 6 Mick Greene 5 Mark Bolger 6 Martin Costello 6 Shane McInerney 7 Niall Hanratty 6 Chris Hogan 5 Ger Byrne 9 Tom O’Driscoll 6 James Finn 7

Subs Colm O’Sullivan 7 Steve Browne 7 Cathal Clancy 7 Ross Kelly Mike Hull Rob Deering Neill Bolger

Because of glut of midweek games the next training session will be Thursday 22nd April at 9 in Kilians