Spartak Dynamo FC

28.4.13
Dundrum 2, Spartak 2

This game had an end of season feel despite the unseasonal cool weather. The Sky Blues were missing players as injuries mounted, and had the added problem of a car break down for keeper Jason Northey. Adam Doran capably deputised between the posts in Jason’s absence, and was soon in action when a wayward ball by Dave Thomson and hesitation by Keith Kelly and Seamus McCahill allowed the home forward through but Adam saved well.

A sloppy back header by Niall Hanratty seemed to put the number 9 in a perfect scoring position, but, luckily for Spartak, his touch let him down.

Spartak took the lead on 22 minutes when Thom O’Driscoll’s corner was cleared to Seamus McCahill who fired the ball back in, and a clever flick from Conor Maguire left the keeper helpless. Moments later some good attacking work by Steve Walsh, O’Driscoll and Maguire saw chaos in the home defence, Hanratty finally turning the ball in past a defender on the line , but the goal was disallowed for offside with the keeper out of his goal.

A good Dave Thomson run saw him nudged in the back when about to cross, but honest Dave stayed on his feet, and then Steve Walsh fired over from the edge of the box.

Spartak had a great chance to take the lead on 51 minutes.when Dave Browne’s pass sent Steve Walsh away on the right, only to be chopped down. From the free the ball fell to Dave Thomson a couple of yards out, but, hampered by defenders, he only succeeded in turning the ball into the keeper’s arms. The game swung the other wasy a minute later Dave Thomson was then harshly penalised and Dave Browne’s man eluded him to head home the equaliser at the back post.

Worse was to follow on 64 minutes when the locals took the lead from what seemed a blatantly offside position.

The Sky Blues redoubled their efforts and had a few efforts blocked before they finally equalised on 84 minutes after good approach play by Aodhan McCahill and Steve Walsh allowed Conor Maguire slip the ball neatly past the keeper.

Form Report
Adam Doran 7 Dave Browne 5 Aodhan McCahill 6 Seamus McCahill 5 Keith Kelly 6 Ken Buckley 5 Thom O’Driscoll 6 Niall Hanratty 6 Dave Thomson 7 Conor Maguire 8 Steve Walsh 6
Subs: Lee Malone 5 Niall Lennon 5

27.4.13
Greenhills/Greenpark 1, Spartak 2

An eventful game in Greenhills saw the Sky Blues collect three valuable points in the promotion chase.

Spartak took the initiative and scored in the 18th minute, when a David Marlow kick out was touched on by Dermot Dooley for Thom O’Driscoll to race on and tuck away a neat shot past the advancing goalkeeper.

Paul Byrne’s header from Thom’s free was just wide and John McCluskey also had a header saved after more good work from Dooley. But on 27 minutes Shane McInerney diverted the ball with an outstretched arm- penalty! David Marlow came to the rescue with a great save low to his left. But the locals continued to press and the Spartak defence switched off following a throw in to allow Greenhills to equalise a minute after the penalty save.

A neat Thom O’Driscoll through ball on 32 minutes sent Shane McInerney scampering away and, before he could shoot, the defender made a despairing challenge – yellow card and penalty. Up stepped Stephen Barr, bravely ignoring the terrible pain from a sore toe, to drill the ball home.

Strangely, Conor Callis was given a yellow card for diving a couple of minutes later when another penalty looked on the cards. This was repeated in the second half when John McCluskey, fouled in the act of shooting form 5 yards out, was also booked for diving!

The second period, although played at a high tempo, and frantic at times, produced no further goals; Conor Callis had the best opportunity for Spartak after good work by Dermot Dooley and Paul Byrne, but dragged his shot wide after a clear run at goal.

Some fine defensive work by the Spartak defence generally kept the hme attack at bay.

It was left to David Marlow to have the last word with a point blank save from a header, from a forward who appeared yards offside.

Form Report
David Marlow 9 Anto Doyle 8 Chris Hogan 8 Martin Costello 8 Stephen Barr 8 Shane McInerney 7 John McCluskey 7 Conor Callis 7 Dermot Dooley 7 Paul Byrne 7 Thom O’Driscoll 7
Subs: David Garavan 6 Ross Kelly 5 Mick Greene

Walkinstown 1 Spartak 4

The Sky Blues secured three more points on the promotion trail with a good performance.

After a quiet opening, Spartak took the lead on 15 minutes from a free conceded by a local injured player returning to the pitch without permission. Sean Doyle’s free found Martin Costello at the far post and his header went in via the keeper.

The Sky Blues then made the near fatal mistake of relaxing and soon the home side were bossing the midfield, with the equaliser arriving when the ball was allowed bounce in the Spartak box and nodded home by the local striker.

Spartak recovered their composure and tempo in the second period and re established the lead on 49 mnutes and when a Sean Doyle free was fumbled by the keeper Dermot Dooley was on hand to score. Dooley then had a big part in the decisive third goal when he won the ball in a tackle and crossed for Stephen Barr to head in. As the home side looked to get back in the match, gaps appeared and Spartak had chances on the break while Stephen Barr, guilty of a few misses, had to wait till the 92nd minute before getting his second following another Doyle free. Sean then received a second yellow in the last minute.

Form Report
David Marlow 6 Anto Doyle 6 Steve O’Hara 5 Sean Doyle 8 Fintan Grace 6 Shane McInerney 5 Mick Costello 5 Stephen Barr 7 Dermot Dooley 7 Paul Byrne 7 Martin Costello 6
Subs: Chris Hogan 6 Conor Callis 6 David Garavan 6

22.4.13
Esker 0, Spartak 3

In blustery conditions Spartak gained a valuable win in Lucan.

Mick Costello, deputising in goal, was the star of the show and was instrumental in keeping a clean sheet and gleaning the three points with a series of saves, safe handling, and good distribution.

On 9 minutes a neat move started by Sean Doyle was carried on by Martin Costello and Paul Byrne to give John McCluskey the chance and he made no mistake.

The Spartak back four was solid throughout and the midfield worked hard in closing Esker down.

A brace of second half goals clinched the win; Shane McInerney’s pass was converted by Paul Byrne on 57 minutes while Dermot Dooley fished off a long kick by Mick Costello for the third goal on 86 minutes.

Jeff Gamble had a brief cameo, on as sub and then sent off within a minute for a challenge on the keeper.

A highly satisfactory performance.

Form Report
Mick Costello 9 Anto Doyle 7 Steve O Hara 7 Sean Doyle 8 Fintan Grace 7 Shane McInerney 7 Conor Callis 6 John McCluskey 6 Dermot Dooley 7 Paul Byrne 7 Martin Costello 6
Subs: Jeff Gamble 4 Ross Kelly 5 Mick Greene 5

23.4.12
Knockmitten 2 Spartak 1

This was a game which Spartak expected to win, but failed to apply the effort and skill to do so. Indeed the Sky Blues lost most of the individual battles against a side who had not registered a win for months.

After a scoreless first half a catastrophic error after 58 minutes by Seamus McCahill (and a lack of cover by his fellow defenders) in failing to deal with a long through ball presented the home side with a simple goal.

Energised by the goal, Knockmitten, embroiled in a relegation battle, responded and added a second goal on 65 minutes as the Spartak defence parted like the Red Sea.

Substitute Steve Grier, back after an injury lay off, led a comeback of sorts, and scored after 83 minutes. But despite an increased level of application, Spartak could not force an equaliser.

This was after a first half which the Sky Blues strolled trough in desultory fashion, thinking they could score when they liked; it was not the case.

Conor Maguire will feel ill used by a very unsympathetic referee who might have awarded two penalty kicks and many frees, but who, as they say, let the game flow.

Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Dave Thomson 5 Dave Browne 4 Seamus McCahill 4 Derek Ruxton 6 Neil McGowan 5 Steve Walsh 5 Conor Maguire 5 Alan Farrington 4 David Garavan 5 Steve Grier 6

20.4.13
Spartak 0, Castle Park 1

A pivotal game in the league was spoiled by awful refereeing; both sides suffered and the quality of the game deteriorated with each poor call by the official.

From Spartak’s point of view the most contentious call came when a Glen Burke goal was disallowed on 18 minutes; there was no appeal from Castle but the referee spotted an infringement which went unnoticed by others.

Glen and Stephen Barr both fired over at the end of decent moves in what was a scrappy encounter.

Castle struck the underside of the bar and Glen cleared off the line.

The Sky Blues lost discipline for a time as things became feisty with predictable results and Castle began to grow in confidence.

Spartak began to show the effects of their recent exertions and hesitation by Martin Costello saw him concede a corner which was headed home at the back post on 81 minutes for the winning goal.

Thom O’Driscoll had a great chance to equalise when the ball fell to him just inside the box as the final whistle approached; he had time to take a touch but opted for a first time effort which just cleared the crossbar.

Form Report :
David Marlow 7 Anto Doyle 5 Steve O Hara 6 Sean Doyle 7 Martin Costello 6 Shane McInerney 6 Stephen Barr 6 Glen Burke 5 Dermot Dooley 5 Paul Byrne 5 Conor Callis 5
Subs: Mick Costello 5 Thom O’Driscoll 5

19.4.13
AIB 0, Spartak 3

Spartak’s busy mid week schedule continued and the game kicked off late as David Marlow explored all suburbs in the vicinity of the pitch before deigning to join his colleagues.

Excellent facilities at DCU and a really good ref made for a fine match

Spartak lived dangerously in a tight first half as the home side pressed and were grateful for the offside whistle on a couple of occasions. Conor Callis had a few good runs and one effort saved by the keeper and the Callis and Fintan Grace combined to cross for Stephen Barr who headed wide.

But the Sky Blues saved their best for the second period when Niall Hanratty and Anto Doyle combined for Stephen Barr to head home on 58 minutes.

A Paul Byrne double finished off the home side; Callis and Doyle were involved in his first while Hanratty and Barr combined for Paul’s second, and Spartak’s third.

With upcoming gamed in mind, and the points secure, Messrs Grace, Doyle and Mick Costello were substituted giving Anto the opportunity to note the combined age count!

Form Report:
David Marlow 6 Chris Hogan 6 Fintan Grace 7 Martin Costello 6 Mick Costello 7 Anto Doyle 7 Niall Hanratty 7 Conor Callis 7 Paul Byrne 7 Stephen Barr 7 Shane McInerney 6 Dermot Dooley 6 Steve O Hara 6

17.4.13
Spartak 4, Beechwood 3

The visitors, three down after 13 minutes, fought back to equalise in the 90th minute from the spot. However the two minutes of injury time were sufficient for the Sky Blues to rouse themselves and score following a corner kick.

The game opened brightly for the Sky Blues as Conor Maguire coolly took advantage of a goalkeeping error to give the home side the lead on 5 minutes. Four minutes later Keith Kelly won a header to send Conor maguire away and his pass put Neil McGowan in but a defender obliged with an og.

On just 13 minutes a Seamus McCahill free sent Alan Farrington clear and he finished from close range.

Steve Walsh almost made it 4 but the keeper saved.

Beechwood got a foothold in the game from the penalty spot when Thom O’Driscoll was adjudged to have fouled in the box.

Spartak were looking comfortable until Eggy was intoduced as a substitute; his error let the visitors in for their second on 81 minutes and then on 90 minutes a rash challenge gave a 90th minute penalty for the equaliser. However he saved some embarrassment by heading home Alan Farrington’s corner deep into injury time.

Man of the match : Derek Ruxton

14.4.13
Spartak 3, St Pats SC 0

A sloppy first half performance saw Spartak set up some chances, but not nearly enough given the timid approach of the visitors. Neil McGowan combined with Steve Walsh with the latter hitting the bar, and then McGowan headed wide after a Dave Browne long throw. Walsh then fired straight at the keeper when well positioned.

The breakthrough came on 51 minutes when Conor Maguire played in Neil McGowan and his shot from 18 yards went straight through the keeper’s legs. Steve Walsh played Conor Maguire through for a neat finish 10 minutes later and the game was over as a contest.

Maguire added number three on 69 minutes, but try as he might could not complete his hatrick.

A routine win and a performance which never reached the heights.

Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Dave Browne 7 Aodhan McCahill 7 S McCahill 7 Kelly 7 Ruxton 8 McGowan 7 Farrington 6 O Driscoll 6 Maguire 8 Walsh 6 Buckley 6 Burke 6 Malone 6

14.4.13
Leinster Junior Shield Semi Final
Oatfield /Shancastle 7 Spartak 0

An unhappy morning at Ballyowen Asto Pitch after Oatfield’s pitch was deemed unplayable.

There followed Spartak’s worst performance of the season.

While the first goal could be deemed unfortunate when players stopped as Sean Doyle went down injured, the second was a soft concession as David Marlow failed to gather. Spartak’s hopes of a comeback when Sean Doyle was harshly red carded for a last man tackle, just before half time, when he clearly won the ball.

It was a game when the Sky Blues could not muster a single decent attacking move and committed calamitous errors at the back.

The result was inevitable given the performance.

Form Report
David Marlow 4 Chris Hogan 4 Fintan Grace 4 Sean Doyle 4 Cathal Clancy 4 Stephen Barr 4 Steve O’Hara 4 Jeff Gamble 4 Dermot Dooley 4 Paul Byrne 4 Martin Costello 4
Subs Conor Callis 4 Glen Burke 4 Niall Lennon 4