Spartak Dynamo FC

27.3.2011
Portlaoise 6, Spartak 3

Spartak were a defensive shambles in what could have been an even worse humbling, Although conceding six goals was a humbling enough experience for one day. At the back Anto Doyle and Dave Browne had games they will not wish to recall, and when Glen Burke, who had been inneffective on the right, dropped back to replace the injured Keith Kelly, he was also implicated in a series of blunders which led to concession of goals. Although very much the junior partner in the back four, it was Keith who had shored up the defence when his mre experienced colleagues abdicated responsibility, and his loss with a groin strain was a blow.

Spartak always posed an attacking threat, and missed a couple of good chances in the first half. Going three down early in the second period, Spartak took advantage of some laxity in the home team and got back to 3-4 at one stage. But the leaking colander at the rear could not be plugged.

The big pitch and speedy home forwards befuddled the Spartak rearguard, with Browne guilty of both diving in and being slow to recover. Doyle simply did not possess the fitness to compete, while in central midfield, Seamus McCahill and Tom Flanagan were low on work rate and inept defensively.

Peter O’Toole kept the game alive, and either Graham Breen or Tom Flanagan could have given Spartak the lead against the run of play.
The opening goal was farcical, with Browne, running back towards O’Toole, attempting a clearance when the keeper had called. The ball ricocheted into the net

Early in the second half, Portloaise made it two from a good free, and three when Keith Kelly was isolated.

Tom Flanagan, set free by a good ball from Steve Walsh, crossed for Ger Byrne to reduce arrears, and Graham Breen added two more after good work by McCahill and Flanagan.

New signing Stephen Walsh, although clearly short of fitness, showed some good touches.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 6 Anto Doyle 4 Fintan Grace 5 Keith Kelly 6 Dave Browne 4 Tom Flanagan 5 Seamus McCahill 5 Glen Burke 4 Stuart Love 5 Graham Breen 7 Ger Byrne 7
Sub: Stephen Walsh 6 Kevin O’Toole no show. Thom O’Driscoll sick note.

20.3.2011
Orwell 2 Spartak 4

After a pleasing first half performance and a two goal lead, Spartak fell asleep to allow Orwell equalise; however late goals and a strong last quarter showed the resilience and determination to bag the three points.

The game was held up due to non appearance of the allocated ref, but a sub ref was located and the game started 30 mins behind schedule.

Spartak scored after 3 minutes following a flowing move involving Graham Breen, Ger Byrne and Tom Flanagan, with the latter’s fine cross finished by Neil McGowan.

The second arrived form Dave Browne’s throw, flicked on by Breen, and Stuart Love again made no mistake from 6 inches. They all count!
Spartak were playing some fine football and creating chances; Fintan Grace’s fine ball put Byrne away, but he shot over; McGowan had a free just over; and a great move by Flanagan, McGowan, Byrne and Keith Kelly saw Breen head wide.
One early scare at the other end saw Grace tidy up when Browne was beaten by the flight of the ball.
The start of the second half saw Tom O’Driscoll put in a teasing cross missed by Breen and Love; Spartak felt well in control, but Orwell had other ideas, and as Spartak relaxed, their number 10 was allowed to turn and shoot. Peter O’Toole could only parry into the path of another forward, who scored. Suddenly the whole complexion of the game changed , and when Browne was penalised for a foul, Orwell equalised from the spot kick. Game on in earnest.

With subs Anto Doyle and Seamus McCahill to the fore, Spartak began to recover composure. A great move by Kelly and Doyle put Breen in, but he shot over when well placed.

The Sky Blues re-established the lead when Browne’s long free was knocked in by Steve Grier and then a fine move again saw McCahill swing in a great cross to the back post, which Breen powered home with his head.

A good recovery from a potentially disastrous situation.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 6 Keith Kelly 7 Fintan Grace 5 Steve Grier 7 Dave Browne 7 Tom Flanagan 6 Neil McGowan 6 Tom O’Driscoll 5 Stuart Love 6 Graham Breen 7 Ger Byrne 6.
Subs Anto Doyle 7 Seamus McCahill 7 Paul Kinsella 6 Niall Tilley Will O’Connell Glen Burke

We have a winner……Its the Gaffer. Spurs let everyone down and Ross never posted a team so he got Newcastle. The Gaffer wisely went for mighty Everton…..They never let anyone down except for Shane!

Please post your team for Last Man Standing week 8. THERE IS NO AUTOMATIC PICK. A full list of fixtures is on the Last Man tab above. If you give a team that you have already chosen (or automatically chosen) you will get the next team available to you alphabetically.

The 2011 SDFC AGM will be held in Taylors Three Rock on Monday 28th March at 9pm.

Order of business:

1. Ascertainment that quorum is present
2. Reading and approval of minutes of last AGM
3. Report of the Chairman
4. Financial Report
5. Nominations and balloting
6. Election results
7 Any other business.

At the recent 40th celebration, John Delaney presented the club with complimentary tickets for the Macedonia game on 26th March. If you wish to join the lads for a good night at Lansdowne Road, and you have paid your annual sub, please reply to this post.
Applications close on 17th March.

Spartak 3 Seaford 0

Three goals in the first half hour killed off this game. In protesting at the third goal, the visiting keeper verbally abused the ref and got a red card for his trouble.
Stuart Love opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, steering home from Graam Breen’s cross after a slick move. Breen first and then Love flicked on Dave Browne’s throw for Neil McGowan to finish on 13 minutes, and Will O’Connell drove in after a scramble when Breen’s header hit the bar and McGowan’s back heel into the danger area. The keeper claimed offside, but his protests went way too far.
In truth Spartak should have added to the total in the second half, but a combination of poor finishing and a ref who whistled for offside anytime the ball was played forward didn’t help.
Keith Kelly and Glen Burke both had chances when clear though, but did not unduly trouble the keeper.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 7 Dave Browne 6 Fintan Grace 6 Steve Grier 6 Tom Flanagan 6 Keith Kelly 5 Neil McGowan 7 Will O Connell 5 Stuart Love 6 Graham Breen 6 Tom O Driscoll 5
Subs Kevin O Toole 6 Ken Buckley 5 Glen Burke 5

Hillcrest 1 Spartak 2

A late goal conceded by Spartak made for a nervous ending in a scrappy match on a bobbly pitch in Lucan.

A well flighted Neil McGowan free was firmly headed home by Seamus McCahill after just 3 minutes to give the Sky Blues a tonic start.

Spartak showed some sloppiness in defence and when Dave Browne gave away possession, Hillcrest drilled a cross along the six yard box which required only a touch.

A Hillcrest slip up gave Ger Byrne a clear opportunity but he shot weakly and the keeper gathered. The Spartak full backs, Glen and Fintan, were both staying at home and neither was using the ball well. On the single occasion that Glen made a burst, with plenty of support, he fired wastefully over and behind.

An error by the home centre half let Ger Byrne in on 50 minutes, and this time he made no mistake, beating the keeper neatly.

Seams McCahill had a shot tipped over following a Keith Kelly free, and then a great move by Kevin O’Toole and Tom O’Driscoll saw Neil’s volley blocked; the loose ball fell to Ger who could not adjust his body to force it home from close range.

As Hillcrest sought to get back in the game Glen cleared off the line and then when Dave Browne was beaten in the area, getting a bloody nose for his trouble, the home side fired a good chance wide.

Hillcrest finally scored when Spartak failed to clear and Paul Kinsella allowed the winger to cross to the back post for a bundled finish, with Glen and Seamus noticeably absent.

Spartak’s work rate throughout was decent, but the passing was off and the distribution from the back poor. Keith Kelly at centre half was a solid presence and covered well.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 6 Glen Burke 5 Fintan Grace 6 Keith Kelly 8 Dave Browne 5 Kevin O Toole 5 Neil McGowan 6 Seamus McCahill 6 Stuart Love 6 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Ger Byrne 6
Subs: Steve Browne 5 Paul Kinsella 5 Anto Doyle Ken Buckley Tom Flanagan

Please post your team for Last Man Standing week 7. THERE IS NO AUTOMATIC PICK. A full list of fixtures is on the Last Man tab above. If you give a team that you have already chosen (or automatically chosen) you will get the next team available to you alphabetically.

Iveagh Celtic 0, Spartak 1.

A spectacular long range volley from Ger Byrne after just 14 minutes settled this match. Fintan Grace’s header found Stuart Love , whose fine through ball was hit first time, right footed (!) by Ger to the top corner from outside the box.
Spartak, in truth, were well below par, and were reliant on some last ditch defending to stay in the cup. Peter O’Toole was equal to everything thrown at him, with one really great second half save. Steve Grier headed and tackled troughout to repel attacks and the rest of the back four worked hard , after a shaky start, with Fintan Grace pulling off a great goal line clearance on the stroke of half time, after a series of blocks and just when an Iveagh goal seemed inevitable.
Iveagh announced their intentions with a terrific shot just over in the early minutes, and Spartak replied when good work by Thom O’Driscoll, Anto Doyle and Glen Burke led to Steve Grier’s shot being well parried.
After Ger’s goal, Spartak had a poor half hour spell. The front men could not hold the ball up, with Thom off the pace and Ger’s touch erratic. In fairness the front men got less support than ex President Mubarak in Cairo. At the back, errors and sloppiness led to Iveagh lobbing wide and striking the inside of the post. A couple of free kicks in dangerous areas were conceded and some desperate defending was needed.
While the Sky Blues improved slightly in the second half, it was still mostly Iveagh who owned the ball.
Neither Neil McGowan nor Keith Kelly could impose themselves in the centre, and while Stu worked really hard up and down the flank, his distribution wasn’t of the best at times. Anto Doyle struggled to get to the pace of the game, and he and Glen were a weak link down the right flank in the first half. So mostly it was a case of trying to stem the tide of opposition possession.
Two chances were created by Spartak in the second half, when Neil McGowan’s shot was saved and then the chance to clinch the game was missed on 80 minutes when from Seamus McCahill’s flick on neither Thom O’Driscoll or Stuart Love could apply the finish in a scramble close to the line.
A much relieved Spartak heard the final whistle which announced entry to the semi finals. Plenty of fitness work required.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 8 Glen Burke 5 Fintan Grace 7 Steve Grier 8 Dave Browne 7 Keith Kelly 6 Neil McGowan 6 Anto Doyle 5 Stuart Love 7 Thom O’Driscoll 5 Ger Byrne 7.
Subs Seamus McCahill 6 Niall Tilley Paul Kinsella Martin Costello Will O Connell