Spartak Dynamo FC

Spartak 2, Everton1.

Spartak forced their way back into contention for promotion with a fine display in Marlay, coming back from a goal down to win, and avenging a five goal defeat by the same opponents some weeks ago.

 The back four, after a somewhat shaky start, settled down well and denied Everton any score from play. Peter O’Toole commanded his area well and his handling was good, as well as making a couple of good saves.

A great long pass from Tom Flanagan found Neil McGowan who transferred to Gintaras Cibirka whose shot was defelected for a corner. Graham McEnroe had a shot from close in blocked by a defender.

Two penalty decisions were awarded in close succession. Spartak were unlucky to go behind when Neil McGowan was adjudged to have handled, and Everton converted the softly awarded penalty. Just 8 minutes later Will O’Connell burst into the box, was impeded, and the ref again pointed to the spot. Again a soft award.  McGowan converted the spot kick to level matters.

As Spartak gained momentum, a move by O’Connell and McEnroe set Cibirka free; rounding the keeper he was forced wide and laid off to Rob Mahon, whose shot was blocked. 

Just on half time an intricate close passing move by McEnroe and McGowan put Cibirka in but he pulled wide from a tight angle. 

On 48 minutes, a free kick from 30 yards out on the left was cunningly flighted by McGowan. Glen Burke timed his run to beat the attempted offside trap and squared to Graham McEnroe who drilled in from close range.

In response Everton clipped the top of the bar with a header.

Spartak were playing well on he break. McEnroe glanced a header wide from McGowan’s cross and then McEnroe’s perfect pass put Cibirka through only for the Everton custodian to block with his feet.

At the other end as Everton poured forward Steve Grier made a superb challenge on the bye line and Glen Burke covered another dangerous situation. Alex Kenny and Rob Mahon played their part in repelling the onslaught, with the midfield hard work of Love and O’Connell tracking down danger.

Hearts stopped when Stuart Love’s attempted header clear looped behind him to the far post and Grier had to intervene decisively when an equaliser seemed imminent.  Alex Kenny and Steve Grier were on overtime repulsing the aerieal assault. 

Tom Kowal, booked earlier for kicking the ball away, got a second yellow card for alleged diving. He made a little too much of a foul, and a crowd scene ensued when the Everton manager tried to lift Tom back to his feet.

A great result and a solid display which brings us closer to the leaders, albeit we are still 5th in a 5 horse race.

Form Report

Peter O’Toole 8 Glen Burke 7 Robert Mahon 7 Steve Grier 8 Alex Kenny 8 Tom Flanagan 7 Neil McGowan 8 Gintaras Cibirka 7 Will O’Connell 7 Graham McEnroe 8 Stuart Love 7

Subs Tom Kowal 5 Dave Browne Fintan Grace Kevin O’Toole Graham Breen.

The club AGM will be held in the Three Rock pub. Tuesday 30th March at 8pm. All members welcome.

Saturday Team – AWAY to Phoenix

Sunday Team – AWAY to Orwell (2pm kick off)

Over 35’s fixture TBA

Please post your team for this weekends matches. REMEMBER there is no automatic pick. If you dont give a team you are out. Full list of fixtures are available on the Last Man Standing tab above.

After Villa and Chelsea both drew, just 9 survive this round. Aston Villa’s failure saw off quite a few contenders. No automatic picks from now on.

Please post your team for week 5. There is NO automatic pick. If you dont give a team you are out. Fixtures take place 20/21 March. Full fixtures are available on the Last Man Standing tab above

SDFC 2 Knockmitten 2

Starting with a much changed side from the previous week’s cup encounter Spartak over 35’s earned a deserved draw against Knockmitten at home on Saturday.  Injuries, exams, and other unexplained events meant 5 personnel changes and numerous positional switches were required for this game.

The early part of the game saw the home team having to soak up a lot of pressure and deal with a strong running Knockmitten side.  Despite resolute defending by the Spartak unfamiliar back four of Shay McClafferty, Tom Maher, Tony Kavanagh and Leon David, their dangerous striker managed to squeeze a shot away into the bottom left hand corner to put them one up on 15 minutes.

As the first half wore on Spartak rallied  and managed to create a few openings. Frank McNamee set up Barry Crowe for a good effort on goal, both Ray Grady and Rory Campbell had half chances. Just before half time Spartak got back in the game when from a corner the ball broke to Ken Byrne who finished well to leave the score 1-1 at the break.

The second half mirrored the first with Spartak having to battle hard to stay in the game. Knockmitten went ahead midway through the half when the same striker again managed to get a shot away into the corner. For the remainder of the game Spartak pushed for an equaliser and created further chances. Rory Campell was unlucky on two occasions with a header just wide and a  good save from the keeper. With 5 minutes to go the equaliser came when a clever free kick from Ray Grady reached Matt who struck a powerful shot that hit the back of the net with the aid of a slight deflection from the centre half.

Spartak could actually have won the game in the last few minutes when Ken Byrne was put through by Frank McNamee but shot over. A good shot from Matt that was well held by their keeper was the final action of the game.

Overall a spirited performance from the home side that produced a deserved draw against the odds.

The spartak panel was Jimmy Browne, Tony Kavanagh, Tom Maher, Shay McCafferty,  Mark Byrne, Rory Campbell, Frank McNamee, Barry Crowe,  Leon David,  Jason Doyle, Matt, Ray Grady.

Swords Celtic 2, Spartak 0.

Following their recent good run, Spartak viewed this fixture as a springboard towards the top of the table. However numerous absentees from the regular squad caused disruption and Spartak could only field 11 with the aid of Steve Mongey’s seasonal debut and with Anto Doyle, Fintan Grace and Neil McGowan volunteering to double up. So Spartak were forced to reshape and while the effort was spirited, guile and finishing power were lacking. 

The 2-0 scoreline somewhat flattered the home side, as the second goal came in injury time as Spartak searched in vain for an equaliser.

The home side threatened from a corner early on which Jason Northey got a touch and Fintan Grace tidied up at the back post.

Spartak’s set pieces were foiled by pushing by attackers which repeatedly let the home side off the hook.

On 32 minutes Swords put a flowing move together down the Spartak left flank and a fine shot put them one up. Jason Northey then had a couple of lucky escapes when he puched and missed, and also when he raced outside his box but instead of finding touch he cleared straight to an opposition player who could not convert with the goal open.

Spartak began the second half in determined fashion. Martin Costello went close with headers from Neil McGowan’s frees. One of the best opportunities came to Niall Hanratty who blazed over from seven yards. At the other end Grace and Martin Costello put in saving tackles and then when Northey mispunched the home side shot over. Mark Bolger, moved into atack, was wide with ahalf chance from a Hanratty cross. The second fine opportunity arose when Doyle and  Hanratty combined to send Bolger down the right. He pulled back his cross to McGowan who shot wide. Swords were happy to scramble clear on occasion and Mick Greene, normally reliable, put a couple of corners wide to add to the frustration and Neil McGowan also put one wide. McGowan’s header from Hanratty’s cross was well saved.

 In injury time Swords broke and while Northey got a hand to the chipped effort, he could not prevent it crossing the line.

 Form Report

Jason Northey 5 Anto Doyle 6 Mark Bolger 5 Martin Costello 6 Fintan Grace 6 Neil McGowan 6 Niall Hanratty 6 Chris Hogan 5 Ross Kelly 5 Steve Mongey 5 Mick Costello 5. Sub Mick Greene 5 Thomas Gaynor no show.

We are down to 18 survivors, the forgetful or passive entrants falling with Hull’s loss to Arsenal. Of the 18,  a very nervous 8 are relying on Rafa’s low scoring Reds to overcome Portsmouth tonight.

Pot is €260, half to club and half to winner.

No more automatic choices made; failure to select a team means you are out, so get your choices in early from now on!

Knocklyon1, Spartak 2.

A memorable win for a battling Spartak side closed the gap at the top of Division 2 Sunday.

The victory was the fruit of fine defending and hard work all around as Knocklyon had the lion’s share of possession. Spartak made the most of their few chances and defended bravely and vigorously.

The final ten minutes when the home side threw everything into the onslaught for an equaliser featured great tackling, blocks, headers, clearances and saves from the sky blues  to thwart all attempts.  

Knocklyon had much the best of the first half with Spartak struggling to string passes together. They hit the bar from a corner and Alex Kenny had to clear off he line with Peter O’Toole beaten.  On several ocaasions Spartak were hapy to clear at the expense of corners and throws. On one Spartak break Neil McGowan and Gintaras Cibirka combined but Stuart Love’s pass was intercepted.

On 41 minutes, Spartak got the break through against the run of play and just as Knocklyon were starting to dominate possession. A throw in was flicked on and Cibirka showed strength and composure to hold off a defender, draw the keeper and lay on a simple tap in for Will O’Connell.

Steve Grier made a fine saving tackle early in the second half as Knocklyon tried to get level. Spartak broke well at times and when Tom Flanagan was clear and fouled it was surprising that no card was produced.  Spartak had opportunities from corners when first WillO’Connell mistimed his run and then when Steve Grier shot tamely wide.

Kenny and Grier were dominant in the aerial duels and the Spartak defence tackled and blocked like fury while O’Toole made a couple of fine saves as the siege started to build again.

On 71 minutes Spartak got number two direct from a Steve Grier long throw which Graham Breen’s header  adroitly guided past the keeper.

The two goal lead did not last long as the home number six powered home a header from a corner at the post abandoned by Burke.

Spartak’s best breakout should have yielded a penalty when Burke was fouled; instead the ref, a long way behind the play, chose the easier option of a free on the edge of the box. Cibirka’s effort was deflected over.

 Overall a resolute performance which continues Spartak’s resurgence.

Form Report

Peter O’Toole 7 Glen Burke 7 Rob Mahon 7 Steve Grier 9 Alex Kenny 9 Tom Flanagan 7 Neil McGowan 7 Gintaras Cibirka 7 Will O’Connell 8 Graham Breen 7 Stuart Love 7

Subs Tom Kowal 6 Tom O’Driscoll 5 Dave Browne Fintan Grace Kevin O’Toole Mick Greene.