Spartak Dynamo FC

St Pats CY 3 Spartak 3

Spartak began the day 9 points behind the league leaders, whom they had eliminated from the cup a few weeks previously. A big opportunity to close the gap was missed as Pats equalised, with 10 men, late on and Spartak missed some gilt edged chances. Indeed Pats missed a glorious opportunity near the end to take all 3 points. A game we should have won and could have lost. Spartak were without Glen Burke (at rugby!) Tom Kowal on holidays and Graham McEnroe (man flu) – all strikers and as a result a partially fit Cibirka had to be pressed into action still nursing a groin strain.

In a game of fluctuating fortunes the pivotal moment came in the 76th minute when Gintaras Cibirka was through in a one on one from a lovely Stuart Love pass. He tried to round the keeper and was foiled, only for play to switch immediately to the other end where Pats were awarded a soft penalty when Grace pushed the winger.

The hangover from the previous game’s heavy defeat seemed to affect confidence, and Pats sailed into an early lead on 2 minutes when the ball was played behind Rob Mahon and crossed too far. The opposing winger retrieved the ball and eluded Fintan Grace and crossed where Stuart Love was easily beaten in the air for the opener.

Spartak struggled to get into the game and Dan O Connell and Stuart Love were being brushed off the ball. Gradually Tom Flanagan and Neil McGowan began to exert midfield control with Graham Breen a great target for hold up play and Pats had to resort to desperate tactics at times. On 22 minutes a long throw from Steve Grier was flicked on by Graham Breen and Rob Mahon’s persistence took advantage of a goalkeepeing error to give Cibirka the easiest of tap ins.

On 40 minutes Tom Flanagan’s free from a dangerous position sailed harmlessly over the bar but a minute later Grace’s foul gave a similar opportunity to the home side and they demonstrated how to keep a free on target. 1-2.

Cibirka and McGowan had headed efforts just over and Dan O Connell was just wide of an unguarded goal from 40 yards after Cibirka forced the keeper into an error. 

The ealy second half saw Spartak have their best spell. Dan O Connell was upended and McGowan sent the keeper the wrong way for a 47th minute equaliser.

A couple of errors by Tom Flanagan and Alex Kenny saw Pats have chances before another Grier long throw was flicked on by Breen for McGowan to head in from close range on 65 minutes.

Spartak now assumed control and Breen was through for a one on one. A heavy touch took him wide and when he crossed, Will O Connell was foiled at the back post.

Cibirka was taken down by the last man when through and a red card reduced the home side to 10.  A nice move by Love and Cibirka put Will O Connell into the box for a decent opportunity but his touch failed him as he was nudged by an opponent.

Spartak seemed to relax with the lead against ten men, and then came the miss by Cibirka followed by the penalty score for Pats. Instead of 4-2 it was 3-3.

Both sides tried to win the game with Pats failing to score after a mad scramble and McGowan’s cracking long range effort well saved in the last minute.

A better display than last time out but a missed opportunity. 

Form Report

Peter O’Toole 6 Fintan Grace 4 Rob Mahon 6 Steve Grier 7 Alex Kenny 7 Tom Flanagan 7 Neil McGowan 8 Gntaras Cibirka 7 Graham Breen 8 Dan O Connell 6 Stuart Love 6

Subs Will O Connell 6 Dave Browne 6 Niall Hanratty 4 Tom Gaynor no show.

Snow covered Marlay unplayable for fixture v Dunboyne

Entry fee €10.

Comment on this post withyour coice of team to win in the Premier league this weekend. If your team wins, you are through to next round. A draw or lose knocks you out.

Please pay your €10 with subs this week.

If you forget to comment on this post this week you will be allocated Arsenal as your LMS entry.

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

Everton 5 Spartak 0.

Spartak suffered their worst defeat in years on the back of a terrible second half performance. A robust and rampant Everton side destroyed the visitors in a short spell after the interval.  A local referee allowed a physical contest and Spartak were simply not up for it. Sometimes you can outplay opponents; sometimes you have to fight them. This occasion was the latter and Spartak did not have the will to resist.

An early chance for Spartak was created by Graham Breen who put Stuart Love through but he pulled his shot wide from 12 yards. Glen Burke shot over when a pass might have served better; a lead goal might have instilled more desire in the team but it was not to be. After that chances for Spartak were few. Breen had to go off injured on 25 minutes.

Peter O’Toole was working overtime at the other end and he made a number of good saves; Steve Grier headed clear time and again and Dan O Connell and Fintan Grace scrambled clearances as Everton took command.

Spartak nonetheless reached the interval without conceding.

The start of the second half saw Grier conceed a penalty for number one on 48 minutes; on 50 minutes mistakes by Grier and Rob Mahon preceded number 2; on 52 minutes Everton broke after a corner and O’Toole made a great save, but it was to be a temporary reprieve and the hosts scored from the resulting corner when the back post cover was abandoned. Three goals in just over 5 minutes conceded as Spartak wilted.

 Neil McGowan was harried into an error that Alex Kenny could not cover and Everton were in for number 4.  A poor free by Tom Flanagan was cleared and        Everton  broke the length of the pitch in a 4 v 1 breakout to complete the nap hand.

 Goalkeepers mistakes are often harshly highlighted  but on this occasion O’Toole was the only Spartak player who could derive any satisfaction from his performance. He was not at fault for any of the goals and his saves kept the scoreline from reaching even more embarrassing levels.

A truly miserable display.

 Form Report

Peter O’Toole 8 Dan O Connell 4 Rob Mahon 4 Steve Grier 4 Fintan Grace 4 Tom Flanagan 4 Neil McGowan 4 Will O Connell 4 Glen Burke 4 Graham Breen 5 Stuart Love 4

Subs Alex Kenny 4 Dave Thomson 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

Spartak 3 St Pats CY 2

After recent travails Spartak served up a sparkling display to outclass the league leaders and cup holders. Spartak created many more chances and in truth could have won by a handsome margin, despite the absence through injury of the talismanic Cibirka.

Spartak seized an early advantage on 9 minutes when Graham Breen slotted home after a mistake by the visiting keeper. The lead was doubled on 15 minutes when a superb Neil McGowan pass released Graham McEnroe. He still had plenty to do and did it with style outpacing the chasing defender and stylishly burying the ball with his right foot.

McEnroe and Breen were causing endless problems to the visitors, prompted by Tom Flanagan , McGowan and Glen Burke at right back who made a number of marauding runs.

Referee Denis Kavanagh served up a number of strange decisions, and in a rumbustious contest did not show any cards. Quite a number of players on both sides should be grateful for his forbearance.

Spartak had a number of opportunities to add to their total; Stuart Love’s shot lacked venom, Breen’s effort was saved and McEnroe was wide.

Pat’s pulled one back on 43 minutes when a long range free kick was deflected by the wall fortuitously into the path of the striker who made no mistake.

The second half began with Pats taking the intiative and some untidy handling from Peter O’Toole. Gradually Spartak beganto play intelligently on the break and McEnroe had many chances to add to his total after some fine approach work by Flanagan McGowan and Breen. On one occasion his shot was deflected onto the bar; he shot wide following a ong throw; and blazed over after a long run.

The clinching goal came on 85 minutes when Flanagan, strangely unmarked,  converted McGowan’s free kick.

Pats reduced arrears in the 91st minute when a stray McGowan pass was met by the full back who scored with a dipping shot from fully forty yards past a startled O’Toole.

However the home side had done more than enough to progress in what was a very satisfying performance.

 Form Report

Peter O’Toole 6 Glen Burke 8 Fintan Grace 6 Steve Grier 8 Alex Kenny 8 Tom Flanagan 8 Neil McGowan 8 Stuart Love 7 Graham McEnroe 8 Graham Breen 8 Tomasz Kowal 6 

Sub Dan O’Connell 6 Rob Mahon Dave Browne

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!

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