Spartak Dynamo FC

Spartak 7, Glenview ath 1

The biggest win by the second team for years came only after a really poor opening half and required a considerable increase in effort and application.

Spartak, seemingly expecting an easy game in this Leinster Junior Shield opening round,  started miserably and were exposed three times early on on our left flank, where Mick Greene’s distribution and positioning was below par and the centre of defence , manned by Martin costello and Dave O Kelly , were jittery in the extreme. Spartak were grateful to Mick costello for a one on one save with his feet, before th inevitable goal came via the same route. Claims for offside were ignored.

A late challenge on Mick Costello, unpunished by the ref,  led to a bad eye injury and Mick Greene deputised between the posts, with Alan Cummins coming on and Mark Bolger, who struggled up front,  dropping back.

A number of players were off the pace with poor touch and hurried distribution letting them down.

Passing was really poor until a good move involving Dave Williams and Dave Thomson led to Steve Browne firing home the equaliser. Dave Thomson, Mark Bolger  and Steve Browne all missed good chances.

The second half initially saw little improvement, with passing still poor, until Steve Browne flicked home a Thomson corner.

With the visitors tiring , it took Spartak until the 75th minute to get the decisive third goal, when Alan Cummins broke well from just inside the half to finish as the keeper advanced. 

Better passing by Hanratty and Deering in particular started to give Spartak the upper hand. Visitors heads dropped and Spartak then began to enjoy something of a goal fest with Browne and Cummins adding two more each in the final ten minutes as Spartak enjoyed total superiority of possession as Glenview fell into disarray and the game then resembled a practice game of backs and forwards. 

Spartak were happy to overcome a very poor start, and grateful that the opposition imploded. Roll on round two!

Form Report

Mick Costello 6 Niall Hanratty 6 Mick Greene 4 Martin Costello 6 Dave O Kelly 6 Shane McInerney 6 Rob Deering 6 Dave Williams 5 Steve Browne 8 Mark Bolger 5 Dave Thomson 5.

Subs:  Alan Cummins 7 Chris Hogan 5 Girel Nji 5 Colm O Sullivan not used.

Thanks to all those players that turned up last night to support the quiz/presentation night. Well done to Mick Greene for putting in all the work in preparation and organisation. Also thanks to Hano and Jason for their help on the night. Great night enjoyed by all.

With the table quiz and medal presentation night on Thursday there will be no training so full player turn out will be expected. The quiz has in the past been a good source of extra funds for the club so please make an effort to be there. Tables of 4 per team with cash prizes for the winners. Even if you come up on your own we will get a team for you. If anyone can get their hands on any spot prizes that would be great too…..bottles of wine, whiskey etc or anything. The venue is the bar in the Firhouse Community Centre. We are kicking off from 8.30pm.

Spartak 2 , Aston Village 2 – Spartak lost 5-4 on penalties

A serious lapse in second half concentration cost Spartak dearly after a rampant first half looked to have the tie sewn up.

In the first half, only the visiting keeper kept Spartak from running riot. He saved well on a few occasions and had plenty to contend with. Despite missing injured players in Alex Kenny, Tom Flanagan and Neil McGowan(who came on for extra time only), and with Will O Connell unnacountably electing to get married during the season, Spartak still fielded a stong side.

A brilliant opening goal , when Cibirka’s corner was met by a powerful McEnroe header to give Spartak the lead, and number two arrived when Cibirka converted Love’s through pass. With Grier dominating at the back Spartak looked very comfortable. Breen missed a good chance for number 3 after good work by Cibirka and Burke.

As often happens, the failure to capitalise fully when on top was severely punished.  Just after half time , a long throw was (again) flicked on by Breen and several Spartak players arrived too late to convert.

A collective switch off from a throw in led to Village pulling one back on 55 minutes, and they were then revitalised, with Spartak suddenly looking shaky in midfield and hesitant in defence. Lack of communication between Grace and Mahon allowed a visiting forward to take advantage of a diagonal ball to equalise.

 Spartak continually created chances with Grier hitting the post and the hard working Burke forcing the keeper into several saves. Breen just failed to connect with Cibirka’s cross.  Dan O Connell wasted a couple of good positions when breaking forward. At the other end, Village also struck the woodwork twice.

Extra time saw Spartak mostly on top, but once again just failing to capitalise.

The regulation 5 penalties finished level, with Peter O Toole saving, but the advantage was quickly lost when the hitherto reliable Cibirka missed his third penalty in a row. Grace, Grier (at the second attempt) and McGowan also scored.

In sudden death, Village scored and McEnroe, hampered by a thigh injury, placed his shot well but not powerfully enough and the keeper dived full length to save.

A game of two halves really and a  bitter defeat considering the quality of the attacking play and a harsh lesson in football realities.  

Peter O Toole 6 Anto Doyle 5 Rob Mahon 5 Steve Grier 8 Fintan Grace 5 Stuart Love 5 Graham McEnroe 6 Gintaras Cibirka 8 Glen Burke 6 Graham Breen 7 Tom Kowal 4.  Subs Dan O Connell 4 Neil McGowan 5.

EID 4, Spartak 2

Some late resurgence by a resolute Spartak side might have yielded more had finishing been better against a very strong all Brazilian EID side.

Once again EID were found wanting on th organisation side, with porrly marked pitch and no match footballs. Neither had they bothered to make the usual contacts, all the work falling on Jason Doyle.

A skilful EID side knocked the ball around and Spartak were compact and defended well, with Steve Browne and Ross Kelly (until injured) working hard up front. A rash challenge by Cathal Clancy led to the breakthrough from the penalty spot and Mick Costello was caught by surprise by a long range shot for number 2. Rob Deering, when fouled on the edge of the box, did not go to ground as easily as the home side and the ref waved play on. 

Just after the break, Martin Costello put through his own goal, having been pushed, and the goal was allowed to stand. 

Spartak suffered somewhat from injuries – as well as Ross Kelly going off in the first half with a hamstring strain, Tom O Driscoll, carrying a knock , was not as effective as usual and had to be subbed.

Spartak pulled one back when Steve Browne shot high to the net from the edge of the box. Unfortunately a fourth was conceded all too easily.  Niall Hanratty diverted Mick Greene’s free kick to again reduce arrears and Girel Nji had a glorious opportunity when put through by Browne but he shot tamely straight at the keeper. 

Spartak overall stuck to the task, despite minimal possession, and a performance as resolute as this one would have yielded points against most sides.

Form report:

Mick Costello 5 Niall Hanratty 6 Dave O Kelly 7 Martin Costello 7 Cathal Clancy 5 Shane McInerney 6 Rob Deering 5 Tom O Driscoll 5 Steve Browne 7 Ross Kelly 5 Dave Williams 5 Subs Mark Bolger 5 Girel Nji 5 Mick Greene 5

Knockmitten 1 SDFC 0

Spartak over 35’s suffered their second defeat of the season away to Knockmitten on Saturday. The home side applied a lot of pressure for much of the game but for sheer will and effort Spartak deserved to take something from the game. Playing against a strong breeze in the first half the best chance fell to Frank McNamee who headed over an empty goal following a very good move and perfect cross from Gerry Doran.

It remained scoreless until midway through the second half when Knockmitten broke down the right, applied a good cross and the striker’s finish to the top of the net left Leo Gartlan (playing very well) with no chance. Spartak to their credit never gave up and a good long range effort from Barry Crowe was the closest the team came to an equaliser.

The Spartak back four were excellent all through, midfield competed well and overall the effort was good.  Unfortunately poor finishing cost the team on the day. It was also disappointing to see that Knockmitten were happy to breach the spirit of the over 35 competition by playing at least three underage players.

The spartak panel was Leo Gartlan, Tony Kavanagh, Dave Mohan, Tom Maher, Gerry Doran, Ken Byrne, Brian Stafford, John Hallihan, Barry Crowe, Frank McNamee, Rory Campbell, Mark Byrne, Leon David, Jason Doyle.

A €50 prize for the month of October fantasy football winner – provided annuals up to date. So get cracking, and keep an eye on Glen!

The presentation for the victorious LSL Sunday team will take place in conjunction with the club table quiz next Thursday 8th October in Firhouse CC, 8.30pm. Presentation for FF and IKS monthly winners will also take place.  Please make an effort to come along and support.

With another high score this week Brian Stafford has pipped Mick Greene and taken the €50 for September in the I know the score league.

Spartak 3 Manortown 3

Somehow Spartak contrived to dominate the first half in terms of chances and finish the half two goals down. Some profligate finishing and simple defensive errors were the main cause.

Spartak had very clear first half chances the best of which were when Browne’s effort was cleared off the line, Neill Bolger lobbed harmlessly wide from a great position and  Hanratty headed over . Hanratty also hit the post and the rebound was finished by Dave Williams, who was ruled offside.

It was a different story at the other end however when from a throw in, Greene and Williams were left standing and the cross was finished at the near post where Northey, and particularly Clancy, might have done better to avert the danger. Greene enjoyed (if that’s the right word) a testing return to league action after injury and another cross from Spartak’s left looked to be drifting away from danger until Hanratty’s  miscued  clearance to the edge of the box was drilled home.

Spartak began the second half in better spirits and began to test the vistors defence. Browne shot wide, and in one incredible sequence Hanratty again hit woodwork, only for Deering to hit the bar iwith the follow up and Cummins fired over from three yards. Browne latched onto an O’Driscoll through ball to reduce arrears and when a clearance was returned by a McInerney header, Deering sneaked in to head in the equaliser.

An injury to Costello reduced the home side to ten and disaster struck when the vistors broke to score in the 92nd minute. Testament to the fighting qualities of the Spartak lads was evident in the manner of response, with all out attack and a fine through ball from Deering producing  the equaliser for Browne to finish clinically on 95 minutes.

 Northey 5 O Kelly 7 Greene 4 Costello 7 Clancy 6 McInerney 6 Hanratty 6    O’Driscoll 6 S Browne 7 N Bolger 6 Williams 5

Subs Cummins 5 Deering 7 Mouhad 5 Subs not used, Girel Nji, Chris Hogan.