Spartak Dynamo FC

Some lads have enquired as to the cost of running the club and where do subs go.

Here is a summary.

Costs

Training – Astro/Indoor etc   €4800; League Fees and registrations €1500 Marlay €980 Footballs €300 Medical €200 Kit/training equip €500 Player of the year trophies €300

That’s a total cost of €8580 to run the club for a season.

Income:

Weekly subs (net of laundry and ref) for 3 teams for 20 games each should bring in around €4000 and annual subs around another €2000.

That leaves a shortfall of about €2580. This has to be met by sponsorship, Christmas draw, Quiz nights etc.

So we need a good attendance and effort for the quiz night on 8th October for a start……

A scintillating attacking display by Spartak secured a good away victory at Brickfields. An on form strike force, prompted by some sharp midfield movement cut through the Mourne defence and could have yielded even more goals.

Spartak fielded only 8 of the 20 man squad which won Division 3 last year due to a combination of holidays, injuries etc. The three new lads, Robert Mahon, Graham Breen and Dave Thomson all gave a good account of themselves.

The referee, James Keating, had a very good match and there were no bookings or any serious fouls as he controlled the game tightly.

After 15 minutes a long throw by Grier was cleared to the waiting Cibirka , who flashed the ball home from 20 metres.  A couple of minues later Breen was through and after his attempt came back off the keeper, laid off to McEnroe, who finished neatly.

The front two of Breen and McEnroe were causing Mourne endless trouble aided by the promptings of McGowan and Cibirka. The two goal lead looked comfortable and the rate at which chances were being created looked certain to lead to more goals.

At this point the concentration dropped completely. The ball sailed over Grier and Browne was unable to catch the local no 9, but Northey saved. Then Northey inexplicably failed to deal with a ball that was going harmlessly wide, and spilled it across the goal to a waiting Mourne player to easily reduce arrears. A further scare occurred when, following a clash of heads, the back four failed to get organised for the hop ball and the number 9 ran free to hit the post with a cross shot.  

Just two minutes into the second half, Spartak lost the influential Breen to injury, but not before his last act was to beat the pain barrier and collect a pass from Grier and cross for Thomson to open his Spartak account from close range. Will O Connell came on to good effect in a reshaped 4-5-1.  In the 48th minute a great surging run down the right by McEnroe and his cross was drilled in by Thomson. 

Spartak seemed to be comfortable until a Morne free kick from 25 yards was allowed to drift in for a soft goal to re energise Mourne. 4-5-1 gave way to 4-4-2 with Cibirka moving up front and O’Driscoll replaced the tiring Thomson and, follwoing a move by McGowan and Cibirka, sent in a tempting low cross which the stretching McEnroe converted with a text book finish.

A good win , but 5 goals, most of them easily preventable, conceded in two games is not very satisfactory.

Northey 4 D O Connell 7 Mahon 7 Grier 7 D Browne 7 Love 7 McGowan 8 Cibirka 8 McEnroe 9 Breen 8 Thomson 8 sub W OConnell 7 O’Driscoll 7.

From Tuedsay next, 1st September, training on tuesday and thursday at St Enda’s , Grange Road at 7pm.

Astro training will commence mid September.

Spartak 3, Portmarnock 3

From 0-3 down at half time, Spartak showed skill, class and fighting spirit so reminiscent of last season’s title run to claim a point, and nearly all 3 , against Portmarnock, who were in the AUL Premier C division last year.

Spartak were well on top and missed some opportunities with Byrne shooting over and McEnroe missing a couple of chances. The passes from midfield were often lofted and and Tom Kowal’s final ball often let down his hard work on the ball in getting into good positions.  Against the run of play Portmarnock, who had a lively forward line,  took the lead in spectacular fashion from 30 yards  when possession was lost from a Spartak throw in. They added a second soon after when Jason Northey allowed a harmless looking free kick to drift in over his head. Spartak’s concentration slipped badly and they conceded a third from a throw in when the opposition were allowed to skip down our left, where Dan O Connell was having a torrid time, and cross to an unmarked centre forward to head in just before half time.

Substitutes Breen and Cibirka came on to good effect early in the second half and Spartak began to dominate the play. Chance after chance was created and the vistors got a big let off when the ball crossed the line from a  pass back and the keeper was allowed clear it with his hands.

There was still some threat by the visitors and we had a let off when their winger shot wide with Browne appealing for offside.

McEnroe, normally a cool finisher,  did not have his shooting boots on and missed a number of chances. Breen came on and led the line with some aggressive running and his header began the comeback. Then with 15 minutes to go Spartak went three at the back with immediate impact. McGowan’s turn and pass set up released Cibirka on his right foot 25 yards out and the top corner of the net net duly bulged. The equaliser came from Kowal, racing down the right and slotting home off  the far post. Cibirka then had a goal disallowed and also set up McGowan at the edge of the box but the shot, while powerful,  was too high.

A truly exciting match, sportingly played by both sides, and with some really excellent football by Spartak in the second half.

Northey 4 Browne 6 D O Connell 5 McGowan 7 Grace 7 Flanagan 5 Love 5 Byrne 5 McEnroe 5 Kowal 6 Thomson 5 Cibirka 8 Breen 7 Mahon 6

Result

Commentary

Team, scorers etc