Spartak Dynamo FC

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Full fixtures list is available on the Last Man Standing tab on the top of this page

Spartak 1 Everton 3

Spartak exited the Tom Watt cup on Saturday with late goals conceded flattering the opposition somewhat.

The match was delayed by 45 minutes due to late arrival of substitute referee and Spartak had to weather an early storm, conceding free after free, mostly needlessly and some blatantly, although the opposition’s propensity to go to ground did influence the referee somewhat.

Spartak’s attacks from free kicks were halted by Everton’s simple expedient of stepping out to play offside.

Spartak led from the 47th minute until conceding an equaliser on 80 minutes from a corner which the  defenders allowed a free header on the 6 yard line.

Spartak had a dream start to the second half when Steve Browne’s run was halted by the keeper’s tackle outside the box; Steve won the block tackle and transferred to Tom O’Driscoll who was coolness itself in finding the net from 18 yards through the covering defenders.

Jason Northey showed hesitation when Everton headed wide from 3 yards and his slowness to leave his line caused a number of incidents, with Spartak’s defenders having to come deep for the through ball. In one incident he took a knock as Cathal Clancy and a forward collided with him in the box.  Nonetheless he made a couple of fine saves from good Everton opportunities.

Spartak were now pinned back as Everton piled into the attack in search of an equaliser. Spartak looked to defend for their lives and run down the clock.

Despite the pressure Spartak looked set to hold on until the goal from the corner. Following the equaliser a slick move by Browne, Bolger and Kelly created a one on one only for the referee to call offside, incorrectly.

Extra time loomed until, in the 90th minute,  Martin Costello, not playing at his usual level,  allowed a ball to bounce and then slipped at the edge of the box and the forward beat Northey with ease. 

To add insult to injury a long ball following loss of possession by O’Kelly gave an Everton player time to pick his spot as Northey backed off. 

Spartak will rue that equaliser.

Form Report

Jason Northey 5 Dave O Kelly 6 Mick Greene 5 Martin Costello 6 Cathal Clancy 6 Rob Deering 6 Neill Bolger 6 Chris Hogan 5 Steve Browne 6 Tom O Driscoll 6 Mick Costello 5.

Subs: Colm O Sullivan 5 Derek McGoldrick 5 Ross Kelly 5

Training tonight as usual in Three Rock.

Training on Thursday is off as the school is on mid term. Instead we are training in St. Columbas College on WEDNESDAY at 9.30 just for this week.

Saturday Team AWAY to Balbriggan – Won 2-0

Sunday Team HOME to Dunboyne – OFF

Over 35’s AWAY to Garden County – Lost 4-1

Saturday Team HOME to Everton in the Cup – Lost 3-1
Sunday Team AWAY to Everton – Lost 5-0
Over 35’s are IDLE

LMS starts next week – premier league fixtures for 20th/21st will be posted.

Rules

Entry fee €10 proceeds 50% to winner and 50% to club.

Each week nominate a premier league side to win by posting on the site; if your team draws or loses you are out; you can select each team only once in each competition. Last man standing scoops the prize.

First nominations to be in by Thursday 18th Feb.

Good luck!

Spartak 1 Drimnagh Celtic 0

In a tightly fought contest, Spartak made it through to round 4 of the Leinster Junior Shield with a resolute performance in a game where Drimnagh had superior possession.

Pinned back in the first half, Spartak relied on the occasional break as Browne, Gaynor and O’Driscoll were unable to hold the ball up and frequently had the ball nicked from them by alert visiting defenders. 

With Shane McInerney caught in possession on a couple of occasions and Mick Costello losing heading contests the midfield struggled to support the front men and were kept busy defensively as a consequence. Chris Hogan tried hard to start passing moves and was composed on the ball.

Spartak’s defenders found it difficult to clear their lines or pass their way out and were relieved at Drimnagh’s profligacy in missing a couple of gilt edged chances. Jason Northey’s handling was assured and his confidence is returning.

One lighting break on 35 minute saw Hanratty and Gaynor combine to put Browne clear on the right but his effort was just wide. The best chance of the half for Spartak fell to Dave O’Kelly but he pulled his effort wide. Tom Gaynor blazed over after Browne’s shot was blocked.

 The second half was a more even contest as Spartak worked hard. Distribution from the back was better with Hanratty giving a few incisive passes down the line and Martin Costello’s great through ball being  miscontrolled by Browne and McInerney was adjudged offside after converting a good cross by Browne.

The winning goal arrived on 75 minutes when Tom Gaynor’s low inswinging corner was touched home by Dave O Kelly, who is on a rich vein of scoring form.

Drimnagh threw men forward in search of an equaliser and when Martin Costello, surging forward on a breakout, gave the ball away the break was swift and a one on one chance was struck too close to Northey, who held on safely.   

As gaps appeared at the back for Drimnagh, Spartak then began to break out but Gaynor missed two one on one chances in injury time to seal the win.  

 Five wins in a row achieved by dint of confidence arising from solid teamwork .

Form Report

Jason Northey 7 Niall Hanratty 8 Mick Greene 6 Martin Costello 8 Dave O Kelly 8 Shane McInerney 7 Tom Gaynor 6 Chris Hogan 6 Steve Browne 6 Tom O Driscoll 6 Mick Costello 6

Subs Lee Malone 4 Dave Williams 5 Mike Hull 5Ross Kelly Neill Bolger

Saturday Team – AWAY to Drimnagh Celtic – Junior Shield – Won 1-0

Sunday Team – HOME to St. Pats – Tom Cullen Cup – Won 3-2

Over 35’s – HOME to Knockmitten – Clifford Cup – Won 5-4

Peamount 0, Spartak 1

Spartak continued their good run on the unnacustomed astro surface and despite 5 enforced changes from the win against leaders Everton FA last week.

The success was built upon the imperious defensive pairing of Finn and Costello  who restricted Peamount to a minimal number of chances and also the versatility of Mick Greene, who went in goal after 20 minutes when Peter O’Toole was injured following a clash where he bravely punched a cross clear under pressure.  McInerney and McEnroe formed a very effective central midfield combination, and protected the back four as well as setting  up a number of attacks.

The work rate was high throughout the side and in freezing conditions Spartak played the more composed football.

The winning goal was a marvellous affair on 15 minutes and a candidate for team goal of the season. The ball never left the deck after Graham McEnroe, picking up the ball from a Costello header, made a scintillating run from deep in his own half.  He played a slick one-two with Mark Bolger and supplied a cross to Tom O’Driscoll at the far post. Tom in turn laid it off beautifully into the path of Mark, who slotted home past the helpless Peamount keeper. A goal  and a move to savour.

A header from Martin Costello bounced off the top of the bar and Mark Bolger shot weakly as Spartak tried to add to their tally. Rob Deering, slotting in at left back,  made a number of strong runs and his delivery is improving by the week. Chris Hogan worked overtime on the right hand side to contain the Peamount attack and is becoming more composed on the ball.

The second half was tough going as Peamount sought to get back into the match, but were repelled by a resolute Spartak defence. Dave O Kelly, defensively solid but sometimes profligate with his distribution,  was caught in possession but the danger was averted.

Mark Bolger , playing up front in the absence of some regulars, was eventually let down by lack of fitness and had much less impact in the second half before going off with a strain. Mike Hull, working hard as an early sub at left mid, had the most spectacular effort when at the end of a good move he saw glory and shot first time from the edge of the boxbut his shot almost went into orbit.

 Late substitutes Malone and Williams got into the swing of things by getting in good tackles. The former was booked – initially it was thought for his haircut – but it transpired he had lectured the ref on the rules of the game. Williams arrived to a night match in freezing conditions attired in shorts. Rob Deering may be called upon to give his pal some advice on appropriate kit to bring!

 Form Report

Peter O’Toole 7 Dave O Kelly 7 Mick Greene 8 Martin Costello 8 James Finn 8 Shane McInerney 8 Graham McEnroe 8 Chris Hogan 7 Mark Bolger 7 Tim O Driscoll 8 Rob Deering 8.

Subs Mike Hull 6 Lee Malone 6 Dave Williams 6 Ross Kelly.

Spartk 2 Everton FA 1

A thrilling victory in which nine man Spartak held out manfully against the odds to record a third successive win.

Spartak began well and were denied a clear penalty when Browne was fouled from behind in tha act of shooting. A corner from O’Driscoll caused panic in the vistors rearguard but the ball was cleared.

Everton took the lead on 26 minutes when their left winger, looking offside, crossed and the centre forward controlled and stepped past Greene to drill a shot past Northey from 18 yards.

Spartak turned the game on its head with a quick fire burst when free kicks from O’Driscoll were headed home by Hanratty and O’Kelly in successive minutes on 37 and 38 minutes.

O’Kelly, Browne and Clancy were booked for entering fruitless discussions with Ref, who surprisingly did not alter his decisions to concur with the Spartak lads’ observations. In fact the opposite was the case. Mick Costello and McInerney went into the book for tackles.

McInerney led the midfield offensive, sparing nothing in energy and aggression  and lacked only a sharper touch going forward.  Costello was imperious a te back and with Clancy formed a tough back two. Deering, having remembered most of his gear on this occasion, held concentration and both Niall Hanratty and Mick Costello worked tirelessly with the occasional good get out ball. Dave O Kelly weighed in with his second goal of the season and Mick Greene settled well after a dreamy start.  O’Driscoll used the ball well and linked with colleagues; Browne, leaving aside the lapse in temperament, worked hard as a virtual solo attacker in the second half.

 The second half was a story of the Spartak midfield and defence working flat out to contain the visitors. They succeeded to the extent that Northey was relatively untroubled, and he dealt safely with most that came his way, the occasional fumble apart. The occasional break out was led by Browne and a couple of snap shots kept the visitors keeper alert. 

Clancy got his marching orders for a trip on 70 minutes, and Browne was let down once more by his fragile mentality and saw red again. He has yet to accept that the refs always have the final word. The suspensions may hit hard.

 Overall it was the performance of the season to date.

 Form Report

Jason Northey 7 Dave O’Kelly 8 Mick Greene 7 Martin Costello 9 Cathal Clancy 7 Shane McInerney 9 Niall Hanratty 7 Rob Deering 7 Steve Browne 5 Tom O Driscoll 7 Mick Costello 7 Sub Dermot Dooley 6 Mike Hull Ross Kelly