Fettercairn 6 , Spartak 2
A facile win for the home side, who won very much as they liked against a Spartak side who put up very little resistance.
Spartak failed to get out of the blocks and were soon behind, when Burke gave away possession in a deep position and the home side, with a telling pass, cross and finish, went one up. The second goal was scored on 20 minutes when the left winger rounded Kevin O Toole and Fintan Grace to drill home from an angle. Goals numbers 3 and 4 came on 36 and 40 minutes. Burke seemed in control but allowed his opponent to spin and shoot home. A terrible mix up involving Tom O Driscoll and Peter O Toole epitomised the lack of communication evident throughout and allowed a home player to drift on to a long ball and score almost unnoposed. In truth, Fettercairn could have scored a few more. O Toole made a couple of good stops and some last ditch tackling averted danger on one or two occasions.
Spartak finally roused themselves and Flanagan and Cibirka created a chance for Breen, but he fluffed his one on one, gently shooting at the keeper.
In the second half, Spartak, although hampered by injuries, showed some degree of fight and got back a goal when Grier’s throw was flicked on by Breen and Cibirka finished at the back post. Burke then had a chance but shot too close to the keeper and his effort was tipped over. Any hopes of a revival were extinguished when Kowal was caught in possession and Fettercairn ran through to score from a decidedly offside looking position. Spartak’s second followed approach work by Burke and Cibirka and Breen finished from close range. However an unwise back heel by Mahon in the penalty area opened up a close range opportunity which was taken for number 6.
Just on time Spartak were awarded a penalty when Kowal was pulled back. Cibirka’s shot was too close to the keeper and he blocked the effort.
A tame exit from the national cup competition.
P O Toole 5 K O Toole 4 Mahon 4 Grier 5 Grace 4 T Flanagan 5 McEnroe 5 Cibirka 5 Burke 4 Breen 5 O Driscoll 4
Subs R Flanagan 4 Kowal 5 . Sub not used McGowan
Queen’s Park 1, Spartak 2.
Two fine headed goals won the day for Spartak, who recovered from going a goal down to win.
Following the poor display the previous week, Spartak showed seven changes to the starting line up, with only Browne, Cibirka, Grier and Grace retained.
Spartak started well and a number of gilt edged chances were created with Breen missing out on a couple of one on ones and then Doyle sidefooted straight at the keeper from a good position. The promptings of Flanagan, McGowan and Cibirka were creating openings aplenty and the home goal seemed to be leading a charmed life. Then, against the run of play, the home side went ahead on 42 minutes after a mix up between Browne and Bolger.
The response was impressive and resulted in the best move of the match just before the break with McGowan turning well in midfield before feeding Cibirka who played in Flanagan and his fine left footed cross was powerfully headed home by Breen.
The fine approach play continued throughout the second half. The only reward came on 50 minutes when Browne’s throw in was flicked on by Breen and Cibirka, stealing in, placed his header beyond the keeper for the winning goal.
A number of chances were created and either spurned or narrowly missed by Thomson, Breen, Cibirka and O’Connell and Spartak almost paid the price for not getting the insurance goal when an overhead effort from the home side just cleared the bar with minutes remaining.
A valuable win secured in Brickfields and a reduced goals against count, albeit that we remain the second worst team in the league in terms of goals conceded.
Mark Bolger 6 Dave Browne 6 Fintan Grace 6 Steve Grier 7 Alex Kenny 7 Tom Flanagan 7 Neil McGowan 8 Gintaras Cibirka 8 Anthony Doyle 6 Graham Breen 7 Tom O’Driscoll6.
Subs – Dave Thomson 6 Dan O connell 6 Stuart Love 6 Jason Northey Rob Flanagan not used; Steve Browne no show.
Saturday team at home to Manor Town 2.30pm
Sunday Team are away to Fetercairn in the Leinster Junior Cup
Over 35’s are at home to Ashbourne
Saturday Team – E.I.D F.C v Spartak Dynamo. Herbert Park 2.30pm
Sunday Team – Queens Park v Spartak Dynamo. Brickfields 11am
Spartak have been drawn at home to Glenview Athletic in the Saturday section of the Leinster Junior Shield.
First team play in FAI Junior cup away to Fettercairn, and in the Leinster Junior Cup, we are home to Aston Village.
Tuesday training in 3 Rock on the front astro pitch- be there for 9.45
Thursday astro training at new venue – St Kilian’s German School on Roebuck Road – be there for 8.45.
Cabinteely 3 Spartak 1
Spartak could not recover from a terrible start on a sunny afternoon in Cabinteely. Some of the visting players never got to grips with the pace of the game. In midfield Love and Mahon were inneffective and Will O Connell while working hard, was never able to set things up. After just 10 minutes Dan O Connell gave away possession cheaply and when the right back drilled the ball into the centre of the Spartak defence, neither Grier nor Browne could deal with it and the centre forward drilled home from 15 yards. Worse was to follow as Northey, hesitant throughout, called for and came for a cross but was left in no man’s land and the ball provided a simple finish for the home side. Burke, McEnroe and Cibirka foraged tirelessly and the latter shot over from Burke’s cross.
Spartak began to dominate the second half and had chances, Cibirka volleying just wide from Steve Browne’s cross . Finally the hard working Burke scrambled in after he had struck the post on 65 minutes . An equaliser seemed on the cards when Steve Browne went in for a one on one which the keeper saved with his feet. The ball came back to Browne but he hesitated fatally and the home side smothered the threat. Spartak attacked in waves and there were a few goalmouth scrambles which Cabinteely were fortunate to survive. With just 8 minutes remaining Cabinteely scored with one of their few second half attacks. A long ball from the Spartak right was met on the corner of the six yard box, and although there seemed little danger with both O’Connells in attendance the home player slotted past Northey at his near post.
Low work rate, particularly in the first half, and poor defending proved very costly.
Northey 4 Grace 5 D O Connell 4 Grier 5 D Browne 4 Mahon 4 Burke 7 Cibirka 7 McEnroe 6 Love 4 W O Connell 5
Subs S Browne 6 Costello 6 Doyle 6 O’Driscoll, Thomson and K O Toole not used. Hanratty no show ; Mark Bolger no show.
An exciting contest was decided by a late effort from Graham McEnroe, who gave Spartak the lead for the fourth and final time in the 88th minute.
The deadlock in an even contest was broken by Graham Breen, who fastened on to a neat Cibirka pass and then powered past a defender to drill his shot to the far corner.
At the other end the picture was not so good and only a great last ditch tackle by Grier averted danger. Some sloppy handling by Northey conceded a corner and there were other danger signs as Browne struggled to match the number 10 for pace and movement. The entire centre of the Spartak team parted like the Red sea to allow the visitors number 8 an unchallenged run and finish to equalise.
The visitors had a man sent off at half time after an altercation with the referee.
Burke came on for the injured Breen at half time and took just two minutes to open his account. After Mahon crossed and McEnroe battled for possession, Glen drilled home the loose ball from 8 yards.
Spartak appeared to be comfortable at this stage but then the number 10 was allowed time and space to nod a loose ball past Northey before strolling in to finish to the net. Dan O Connell then had to defend the goal line desperately after the visitors got the better of Northey on the bye line. Grier then forced home from a corner to almost immediately put the home side ahead again.
Spartak continued to attack fluently and created danger almost every time. However some of the finishing was hasty and off target.
Disaster struck when a cross from our left was not dealt with and on this occasion Dan O Connell missed with his attempted goal line clearance – 3-3.
Cibirka missed from close in following a sweeping move and Burke, McEnroe and McGowan all missed with half chances and snatched shots. However the patient and composed build up paid off in the end when McEnroe finished neatly at the back post.
Once again Spartak had to score four to compensate for below par defending.
Jason Northey 4 Dan O Connell 6 Robert Mahon 6 Steve Grier 6 Dave Browne 6 Stuart Love 5 Neil McGowan 7 Gintaras Cibirka 7 Graham McEnroe 7 Graham Breen 7 Dave Thomson 5
Subs Glen Burke 7 Will O Connell 6 Martin Costello 6 Fintan Grace Kevin O Toole
I hope you have had good practice to date on the Fantasy Football and I know the score predictions.
For the month of September, the club will be awarding a prize of €50 each for the winners for the month of both I Know the score and Fantasy Football.
To be eligible to win you must be up to date with weekly subs and have paid at least half annual sub (its all due by October). Best of luck!!!!
Links on the right
Fantasy football league code is 1062863-210098
I know the score league is FC7E5-BKQ
