Spartak 8, Portmarnock 2
Spartak ran riot as good approach play was regularly converted. Cian with 4 , Steve, Stuart, Mick and James got the goals in a big win.
One of those days when a lot went right. And a lot went wrong for the visitors.
Best for Spartak were Ciaran, Cian, James and Stuart.
6.10.24
Arklow Celtic 4, Spartak 5
Rain soaked Arklow was the venue for this Shield fixture; and never was a “game of two halves” mor appropriate.
Spartak were fast out of the blocks and played at a fast pace; the goals flowed – James, Keith (2) Neil and Cian before the visitors reduced the deficit.
The second half saw a very open contest with the conditions deteriorating; In turn, Arklow scored followed by a very scorable Spartak chance. Some chances missed were causing Paul Mohan some distress on the sideline as Arklow gradually got back to a one goal gap.
From having a very comfortable opening period, Spartak nerves were ragged by the end. a fine comeback attempt by Arklow, but the first half display by the Sky Blues proved enough.
Ian, Luke and Neil were best for the Sky Blues.
Palmerstown 1, Spartak 2
29.9.24
The Sky Blues turned the tables on Palmerstown in the reverse fixture; goals from Keith and Jack gave Spartak a tonic start and more goals could have followed, good approach play not matched by finishes.
The back four of Tubes, Steve, Ian and Luke were solid throughout and it was not until injury time that the locals reduced arrears.
A nice 3 points after last weeks disappointment.
Man of the match ; Steve
Spartak 2, Palmerstown 4
22.9.24
Spartak finally got started in the league after Comet delays were resolved.
However the Sky Blues were thwarted by their inability to take their chances , and were reduced to 10 late on when the unfortunate James Tomlin, newly on as substitute, suffered a broken arm; and the vistors took full advantage with late goals to seal the win.
When Spartak did score it was from a penalty from Neil and an own goal.
Best for Spartak were Luke, Ciaran and Keith.
8.10.23
Gorey Rangers 1, Spartak 0 (AET)
A depleted Spartak squad travelled to Wexford in the Leinster Junior Shield, only to fall to a goal scored with just four minutes of extra time remaining.
The pitch was in perfect condition for the afternoon kick off and the hosts looked dangerous in attack from the off.
Tackles by the home team were sharp and a less lenient referee might have brandished more cards.
Steve Grier stepped in as emergency keeper and handled well throughout. The home team tended to shot from distance and many of their efforts were off target. The remainder were competently dealt with by Steve, ably assisted by his defensive colleagues.
The Sky Blues put in a spirited performance against a speedy and spirited home team and worked hard right through the match and defended resolutely, with Rangers having the territorial advantage for most of the contest.
For Spartak, the best opportunities were when Stu Love looped an attempt on to the woodwork, Brian Long shot wide when Aaron put him through and then Mick Leslie’s powerful effort forced a good parry from the home keeper.
As energy faded and injuries kicked in, Spartak, with just one substitute, found themselves shorn of fit players and were holding out for the penalty contest; this was foiled by the late score. With just seconds remaining, and all Sky Blues in the box for a set piece, the ref blew for a handball infringement in the six yard box. Unfortunately it was against a Spartak player, and the final whistle blew immediately.
Form Report
Steve 9 Ollie 7 Andy 7 Ian 8 Niall 7 Stu 8 Neil 7 Aaron 8 Gary 7 Brian 7 Mick 7 Sub: Alex 6.
2.4.23
Spartak 5, Mountview 1
The Sky Blues overcame a combative Mountview team with a strong opening half in this quarter final of the Vere Deane Cup.
Spartak were in form and in the mood from the off with Owen Marron’s strong running causing problems for the visiting defence.
Fergus Flynn was on target from close range to make it 1-0 before a header from Owen Marron made it two. The pick of the scores came when Mick Leslie met a headed clearance with an unstoppable strike for number three.
Mountview had a couple of chances but fired the best of them over the bar. Dave Power then had a goal disallowed.
Owen Marron completed his hatrick in the second half with a second header and a cool finish from Niall Lennon’s pass.
A messy end to the game saw the visitors reduced to 9 men following two red cards, and despite this they managed to score against a sloppy Spartak defence after some slow and poor passing by the Sky Blues in midfield backfired.
Form Report
Craig Howard 8 Chris Hogan 7 Kevin Cunningham 7 Steve Grier 8 Ian Harmon 8 Stuart Love 6 Fergus Flynn 6 Owen Marron 9
Niall Lennon 6 Dave Power 8 Mick Leslie 8
Subs Dave Browne 6 Sean Nolan 5
Spartak 3, Wayside Celtic 3
A harsh penalty awarded to Wayside in the last moments deprived Spartak of the full points.
The Sky Blues seemed to have done enough to win, despite Wayside’s string second half pressure, and had built a three goal advantage.
Dave Power’s header gave the home side an early lead and Stev Grier added number two with a drilled shot to reach a century of goals for the club. Spartak did not have it all their own way were grateful to home custodian Craig Howard who pushed a goal bound shot onto the woodwork before retrieving the ball in the face of opposition forwards.
The second period saw Craig make another couple of fine saves and Neil McGowan cleared off the line as pressure built.
Against the run of play Mick Leslie’s magnificent pass sent Owen Marron clear to confidently make it three.
Wayside reduced arrears with a headed goal which looked suspiciously offside, and then a rather lucky deflected strike made it 3.2. Spartak were by now disrupted by now with some injuries and it was a case of seeing the game out.
Once again Craig Howard made a fabulous save to deny Wayside, and their centre back went close with a header.
The equaliser from the spot gave the visitors a share of the points.
Form Report
Craig Howard 9 Chris Hogan 7 Kevin Cunningham 7 Steve Grier 8 Ian Harmon 7 Stuart Love 7 Neil McGowan 7 Dave Power 7 Mick Leslie 7 Ciaran Brady 8 Owen Marron 7
Subs Fergus Flynn 5 Dave Browne 5 Carl Gaffney 5
5.3.23
Spartak 3, Garda FC 1
Garda, who were second in the table and had beaten Spartak comprehensively in the reverse fixture, were overcome by a very lively Sky Blues performance, particularly in the opening half.
Spartak, at least temporarily, have moved clear of the relegation zone.
A defensive slip in the opening minutes presented the visitors with a real opportunity, but Craig Howard saved well.
Owen Marron had a very bright first half, making a great run and then laying on a good chance which Mick Leslie fired over. A square ball by Spartk gave the visitors a scoring opportunity, but they shot wide.
Kevin Cunningham and Dave Power had chances but were just off target. At the other end Owen Marron made a goal saving tackle as the vistors threatened.
An all action first half looked like ending scoreless but the Sky Blues struck twice in two minutes before the break. Steve Grier’s header struck the post but Stuart Love nodded in the rebound for number one, and then Steve Grier blasted in a free kick. Owen Marron was then just off target in the last action of the half.
Spartak had a goal disallowed early in the second period before Garda reduced arrears with shot from the edge of the box. At this point the visitors were getting a strong grip on the game but with the home defence playing well , and Craig Howard making a couple of fine saves, they could not equalise.
A Steve Grier header from a Neil McGowan cross clinched the three points for Spartak.
Probably the best result of the season.
Form Report
Craig Howard 8 Chris Hogan 7 Kevin Cunningham 8 Steve Grier 8 Ian Harmon 8 Stuart Love 7 Neil McGowan 7 Mick Leslie 7
Niall Lennon 7 Dave Power 8 Owen Marron 8
Subs Fergus Flynn 7 Ciaran Brady 6 Dave Browne 6 Carl Gaffney Sean Nolan
Form Report
Craig Howard 8 Chris Hogan 6 Kevin Cunningham 7 Steve Grier 8 Ian Harmon 7 Stuart Love 7 Neil McGowan 7 Mick Leslie 6 Niall Lennon 7 Dave Power 7 Owen Marron 8
Subs: Fergus Flynn 7 Ciaran Brady 6 Dave Browne 6 Sean Nolan Carl Gaffney
26.2.23
Spartak 4, SVS fc 0
A shaky start saw a couple of errors in the Sky Blue defence which led to clear scoring opportunities for the visitors.
With the back four riding their luck , it was left to Craig Howard, the Spartak netminder, to make a couple of fine saves.
Fergus Flynn had a chance from close range, but could not get the ball out from his feet, and when he did the effort was blocked. A crashing header from Steve Grier saw Spartak go one up, and this was quickly followed by number two. Dave Power’s assist saw Owen Marron head home.
Encouraged by this, Spartak then had a fine spell of play but no further goals ensued. Neil McGowan’s effort from a narrow angle was cleared on the line, Owen Marron’s effort was clawed away by the visiting goalkeeper.
Just on half time Owen Marron sustained a head injury when through on goal which might have brought a sanction on the last defender.
Once again at the start of the second period an error gave SVS a fine chance which was fired wide.
Duly patched up, the mercurial Marron resumed in the second half long enough to have a hand in two more goals. The third was tapped in from close range by Fergus Flynn after a scramble, and the final score was started by Owen Marron who fed Dave Power. Dave’s cross was volleyed in by Neil McGowan .
Spartak’s midfield was a key element in the win, with skipper Stu Love leading the way in making many interceptions, blocks and tackles, aided and abetted in the engine room by Ciaran Brady.
SVS will reflect on the chances they had at key moments, but Spartak took a welcome three points.
Form Report
Craig Howard 8 Chris Hogan 7 Kevin Cunningham 7 Steve Grier 8 Niall Lennon 7 Stuart Love 8 Neil McGowan 8 Ciaran Brady 8 Fergus Flynn 7 Dave Power 8 Owen Marron 8
Subs: Mick Leslie 6 Ian Harmon 6 Denis Teeling 6
19.2.23
Edenderry Town 1, Spartak 3
A lengthy trip to Edenderry seemed not to appeal to some, while others had to cry off through injury and illness. Eventually Spartak mustered up eleven good men and true to register a memorable victory.
The Sky Blues in the opening period displayed cohesive passing and a determination that seemed to knock the home side out of their stride.
A neat passing movement saw Dave Power through; he opted to round the goalkeeper who brought him down. A yellow card for the keeper and a penalty, dispatched by Neil McGowan. Chris Hogan started the move which led to the second goal with a neat ball down the line. Fergus Flynn and Owen Marron continued the move completed by Dave Power who took his time before wrong footing the keeper and sliding the ball home.
Dave Power had a couple of other efforts including a header that was tipped over.
The second half was, for a while, a continuation of Spartak dominance; Fergus Flynn scored number three after running on to a Neil McGowan pass. Then Dave Power and Fergus Flynn broke clear without either managing a shot before the home side scrambled clear. Stuart Love went clean through and was taken down for a second spot kick. Neil McGowan somewhat unwisely passed the task to Dave Power whose effort was easily parried, with Fergus Flynn missing the follow up.
The home side pulled a goal back with a quarter of an hour left, but Spartak, as fitness levels fell, managed the game to the end.
Form Report
Craig Howard 7 Chris Hogan 7 Dave Browne 7 Steve Grier 8 Niall Lennon 8 Stuart Love 7 Neil McGowan 8 Ciaran Brady 8 Fergus Flynn 7 Dave Power 8 Owen Marron 7
