Spartak Dynamo FC

Training is OFF tonight and Saturday match is also OFF.

Training on Tuesday in Three Rock…..check back here for any updates.

Training tonight Tuesday 5th – OFF – Pitch Frozen

Thursday training in Kilians on at 9 – will text if off.

Saturday fixture away to Peamount.

Spartak 4 Balbriggan 2

A number of defections impacted on team selection, with the self styled Dynamo child and others partying or rehearsing rather than playing, led to Mick Costello swapping his goalkeeping gloves for a midfield role, performing well  and capping it with a goal.

James Finn slotted into central defence and along with Cathal Clancy was solid. 

Spartak started this match very brightly and took the lead on 15 minutes when Steve Browne slotted home taking full advantage of a bad back pass. Earlier he had blazed a free kick way over the bar from a good position, as captain and free taker Mick Greene stood by.

Wave upon wave of Spartak attacks rained down on the visitors goal with the Spartak back four and midfield in creative form. Adam Doran added number two with a smart turn and neat finish, before a Doran corner was bundled in by Mick Costello for number three. Browne’s tendency to shoot too early cost him the opportunity to further add to his tally as leading scorer. A warning from Balbriggan was delivered when Spartak’s lack of pressure on the ball  allowed a cross which drifted diagonally and was met on the right but pushed wide.

Colm O’Sullivan had a one on one chance in the first minute of the second half, but his shot was too close to the keeper. On 48 minutes Mick Costello won the ball close to  the edge of the box and slipped it to Steve Browne, who laid off perfectly into the path of Doran and he drilled home a powerful cross shot into the bottom corner.

Spartak  then dr0pped concentration somewhat and Balbiggan came to the fore. On the right flank both Dan O Connell and Dave O Kelly began to show signs of wear and tear and Balbriggan overlapped to good effect. Cathal Clancy, having been carded for a tackle, then made a tremendous goal saving tackle on the edge of the six yard box, winning a goal kick to boot. On 76 minutes, a long throw in caused confusion in the home defence and Balbriggan tapped home.

Spartak were effective on the break, but called back by some strange offside decisions, with Steve Browne getting booked for commenting, and also by missed chances by a tiring Browne and then by Rob Deering from close in while Adam Doran chose to shoot from the right when a pass to an unmarked team mate would have been more effective.

Overall an impressive performance.

Form Report

Northey 7 O’Kelly 7 Greene 7 Finn 8 Clancy 8 McInerney 8 D O Connell 8 Doran 9 S Browne 7 O’Sullivan 7 Mick Costello 8

subs N Bolger 6 Deering  6

Lads, please bring raffle tickets and cash to training this week- Thanks!

10 Confirmed for golf so far – 12 noon  Sat at Stepaside

Training Tues is Everton fans and sympathisers (captained by Mick Greene) v Liverpool fans and sympathisers (captain Neill Bolger)

Thursday is Leeds fans and sympathisers (Frank) v Chelsea (Dave Browne)

Saturday team HOME to Balbriggan – Won 4-2

Sunday team HOME to Meath Rangers – Won 6-2

Over 35’s HOME to Garden County – Won 7-5

This is the last weekend of league fixtures before Christmas

Allenton 1, Spartak 2

At a wet and windy Dodder Valley Spartak progressed courtesy of first half goals from Steve Browne and Dave O’Kelly.

Spartak took an early lead in the second minute when Dave Browne won possession and released Steve Browne who took full advantage to fire home.

Spartak huffed and puffed somewhat and could not really create many chances despite having wind advantage. Too many passes were driven down the middle and Colm O’Sullivan and Gavin Kearns failed to press on down the wings, generally cutting inside or opting for a long pass.  Martin Costello adopted a roaming policy in the first half which did not pay attacking dividends and indeed caused some defensive unrest. Just on half time a clever free kick released Dave O’Kelly in the box and he finished expertly.   

Spartak were  more creative in the second half with a good penalty claim denied and with sharper approach work leading to better chances. 

Having failed to put the game beyond reach, a goal from Allenton was always going to change the game and so it happened. 

Second half pressure by the hosts, who used the wings better,  was thwarted by some good saves by Northey, who was helpless however when Allenton reduced arrears with 7 minutes to go from a suspiciously offside position.

Allenton now threw everything into attack but the Spartak central defensive pairing of Bolger and Costello held strong, and a last minute block from Northey prevented a certain goal.

Form report

Northey 7  O’Kelly 7  Greene 6 M Bolger 7  Costello 7  D Browne 7  Hogan 6 Kearns 5 S Browne 7 O’Sullivan 5  Dooley 5  Hull 5.

Spartak 0, Drimnagh 3

A spirited comeback by Spartak in the second half failed to yield rewards as finishing let us down.

A poor start by the home side allowed Drimnagh to dominate the early exchanges, with a low level of energy and work rate making it easy for opponents, who started with speed and aggression,  to find time and space. A number of absentees and late defections forced changes and may have contributed to the sluggish opening.

Spartak were very quickly two goals down in the first half. Both goals came from set pieces, the first a free header from a corner and the second a well struck free kick which caught Peter O’Toole wrong footed.

Gradually Spartak fought their way back, with Shane McInerney , Alex Kenny and Steve Browne leading the way. From play the back four worked very hard and contained the opposition. However our undoing was from corners.

A 48th minute corner, this time low to the near post saw Colm O’Sullivan lose his man who scored and the game seemed well beyond Spartak.

Substitutions helped Spartak get into the game, but the loss of top scorer Steve Browne with hamstring trouble resulted in a reshuffled strike force of Mike Hull and Neill Bolger. As Spartak began to dominate the midfield, a flurry of chances was created  but neither striker was able to capitalise. Neill Bolger, normally reliable in the air, flashed a header wide from a good position. Mike Hull had a couple of efforts saved and was caught when through and Tom O’Driscoll, losing balance,  shot over when clean through.

Adam Doran and Neill Bolger were both chopped down when through, with a free and a red card resulting from one incident, but the innefectual referee seemed intimidated by Drimnagh and was extremely lenient on some dangerous tackling.

Form Report

Peter O’Toole 6 Dan O’Connell 7 Mick Greene 6 Alex Kenny 7 Dave O Kelly 7 Shane McInerney 7 Rob Deering 4 Tom O Driscoll 5 Steve Browne 7 Colm O Sullivan 5 Mike Hull 4.

Subs Neil McGowan 6 Adam Doran 5 Neill bolger 4

On Saturday 21st November the Saturday team are going for pints in the Barge Pub. Its an open invitation to ALL Saturday players (including over 35’s) In the words of Shane McInerney it’s a “team bondin session, so everyone must attend.” Sunday players cannot attend for obvious reasons…..they will have a match the following morning!!

Manortown 4 Spartak 4

A strange affair which Spartak should have won comfortably and could indeed have lost at the end – all going Spartak’s way until the weather changed to a furious rainstorm with thunder and lightning and Spartak found themselves battling the elements as well as the opposition.

In the first half the home side enjoyed the majority of possession but Spartak defended capably and were extremely effective on the break. Mike Hull might have scored with a header in the first minute but for a great save by the home keeper.  Steve Browne always looked dangerous while Alan Cummins had his most effective half so far this season. A first ever goal from Chris Hogan, albeit aided by a deflection,  was welcomed by all after good work by Cummins and Browne was followed by a firm header by Cummins from Hanratty’s corner and then Hanratty threaded a fine pass for Browne to round the keeper and slot number three; and Spartak held a slightly flattering half time lead.

Early in the second half a harshly awarded penalty (the foul by Martin Costello was 5 yards outside the box) gave the home side hope. That seemed to be extinguished when McInerney, who had earlier shot wide from a good position, released Browne with a delightful pass and Browne finished well on 66 minutes. That should have been that. 

In the words of the Manortown manager, divine intervention was required and arrived in the form of a sudden change in weather conditions. A balmy afternoon was transformed by torrential rain and wind.

Spartak’s work rate dropped and appetite for battling the conditions weakened and when a snap shot reduced arrears the home side’s tails were up. Spartak’s defensive resolve weakened. Martin Costello, previously imperious as defensive lynch pin, seemed unnerved after conceding the penalty and never recovered his composure. Hanratty , while contributing to first half goals, was never on his game defensively and tamely conceded a soft goal by failing to close down his man in the box.  Dave O Kelly at left back and Cathal Clancy, who  bravely carried on after a clash of heads, were exposed, along with their colleagues,  by a midfield which never got to grips with the match and Manortown equalised with a wind assisted long shot which skidded past a deceived Mick Costello.   ShaneMcInerney high work rate was unable to compensate for his midfield colleagues and possession was wasted and tackles missed. Chris Hogan and Rob Deering contributed only sporadically.   

Manortown then missed an open goal header before Spartak recovered some composure. Cummins might have  played Browne in rather than shoot weakly and a couple of set piece opportunities were wasted.

The home side celebrated a big coneback in what felt like a defeat for the sky blues. However overall there was plenty to work with especially in attacking terms, and with better defensive discipline rewards will come.

 Form Report

Mick Costello 6 Niall Hanratty 5 Dave O Kelly 6 Martin Costello 6 Cathal Clancy 6 Shane McInerney 7 Rob Deering 5 Alan Cummins 6 Steve Browne 8 Chris Hogan 5 Mike Hull 6

Mick Greene 5 Dave Agnew 5 .  Just two subs, as there were a number of no shows – Tom O’Driscoll, Dermot Dooley and Colm O Sullivan while both Neill and Mark Bolger cried off an hour before the match.

Spartak 1, Ballyoulster 2.

Another odd goal defeat for Spartak was mainly the result of two bizarrely conceded goals.

In a game of few chances, Spartak went ahead when Thomson finished neatly after combining with Browne.

Just before the break, a harmless cross, which could have been easily cleared,  was let go by Hanratty and Bolger and the visitors striker could not believe his luck from 5 yards.

The winner came in strange fashion. With Bolger off injured, Spartak dropped concentration from a throw in and the resulting cross was missed by Martin Costello before drifting across goal where Clancy’s attempted clearance only succeeded in driving the ball against the keeper and in to the net.

Just before this O’Driscoll released Browne for a one on one, but he went for the glory option and blazed high and wide.

A very disapponting result and performance.

Mick Costello 5 –  in terms of controlling the 6 yard boxwon’t be happy with goals conceded – good save on 1 on 1

Niall Hanratty – 5 worked hard, passing a bit iffy, let ball bounce for first goal

Dave O Kelly 4 distribution poor both from passes and throw ins.

Mark Bolger 4 – A good goal line clearance, but never got to the pace of the game ; inexplicable error for first goal.

Cathal Clancy 5 wholehearted and unlucky to panic for winning goal

Shane McInerney 6 – battling partership with Martin Costello at heart of midfield

Martin Costello 6 – most improved player pressed into service in midfield and did well

Dave Thomson 5 – took his goal well, but passing and touch will take a bit more work

Rob Deering 4 – did not reproduce form of last week and never troubled his opposite number

Steve Browne 4     Always does well in front of goal when the team is on top, but needs to score the goals that make the difference in tight contests. Combined well with Thomson for the goal, but composure let him down when he missed a great chance late on.

Alan Cummins 5 plenty of energy and some good hold up play but little end product

Tom O Driscoll – 6 brought some guile and made two goal chances when introduced.

Dave Williams 4 – never comfortable on the ball

Colm O Sullivan 4  made little impact overall and missed an opportunity to score or set up a goal after O’Driscoll’s cross.

Chris Hogan and Mick Greene not used.