Spartak Dynamo FC

2.2.20
Spartak 3, Edenderry Town 1

After a dull first half stalemate it came as no surprise that the visitors took the lead on the hour mark; just earlier they had missed a very presentable headed chance.

Spartak had created a couple of chances, none better than a very early one which Cian Stenson fired over.

It was only after going behind that the home side roused themselves and Cian Stenson twice went close before Owen Marron equalised from close range.

Spartak took the lead after a cute cross by Dave Browne was headed home at the second attempt by Cian Stenson, after Steve Grier’s first effort rebounding off the crossbar.

The clincher came as the visitors pushed out in search of an equaliser, when Cian Stenson beat the offside trap to run through from 40 yards out and coolly slot in the third.

Form Report
Dave Byrne 7 Niall Hanratty 6 Dave Browne 7 Steve Grier 6 Ian Harmon 8 Stuart Love 6 Neil McGowan 6 Niall Lennon 8 Dave Power 6 Owen Marron 7 Cian Stenson 8
Subs: Ciaran Brady 6 Kevin Murphy 6

25.1.20

Spartak 2, Ashbourne 2

Spartak held on for a gritty point against a confident Ashbourne side, who had most of the play and possession.

The Sky Blues took an early lead when Ian Corcoran fired to the top corner from 20 yards for a cracking goal.

Ashbourne took over for a period and snatched an equaliser before the break. The Spartak forward players showed a lack of ability to hold the ball up to take pressure from the defence and Ashbourne benefited.

Once again that man Corcoran was on hand to give Spartak the lead early in the second half, but pressure told and Ashbourne headed in from a cross. The visting number 5 showed impressive dribbling skills but was well contained by an in form Darren Hughes.

A hard earned point.

Form Report
Andy Hughes 7 Chris Hogan 7 Darren Hughes 9 Seamus McCahill 8 Kevin Murphy 8 Dwayne Curry 7 Conor Brady 5 Pedro Lopes 6 Owen McCormack 5 Liam Caffrey 6 Ian Corcoran 8

Subs: Enda Grogan 6 Conor Callis 5 Conor Canavan 5

11.1.20

Hyde Park 6 Spartak 5

A rip roaring game in Balbriggan, where heavy rain before the game turned the pitch to a quagmire.

An extremely slow start by the Sky Blues saw them concede three goals in the opening quarter. However the response was truly dynamic.

Lee Griffin contrive to miss an open goal from six yards; then he headed home from Dwayne Curry’s cross, but the goal was disallowed for offside against Ciarn Brady.

It was all Spartak now. Aidan Duigan headed in Dwayne Curry’s corner. Then Aidan got a second with a fine left footed volley. The equaliser quickly followed as Ian Corcoran slotted in following a scramble.

The lead came less than a minute into the second period. A terrific move involving Jack Rogers, Darren Hughes, Pedro Lopes saw Ciaran Brady lay it off to Aidan Duignan, whose shot from 25 yards sailed over the keeper to complete a perfect hat trick; right foot, left foot, header.

Gradually the home side regained their composure, aided by a strong bench, and led as we entered the final minutes.

A surging Ciaran Brady run saw his cross converted by Ian Corcoran.

Injury time will not be fondly remembered by Spartak stalwart Kevin Murphy, who was unlucky enough to concede a penalty and then with the final kick of the game shot wide after a fine Darren Hughes cross.

Result no, but the performance continued recent improved trend.

Form Report
Liam Caffrey 7 Chris Hogan 7 Darren Hughes 7 Jack Rogers 8 Kevin Murphy 7 Dwayne Curry 7 Aidan Duignan 9 Pedro Lopes 7 Ciaran Brady 7 Lee Griffin 6 Ian Corcoran 7

27.10.19
Edenderry Town 2, Spartak 2

With many of their teammates opting for a weekend away in various fleshpots, it was a bare 11 players in sky Blue who made the journey to the midlands.

The journey was well worthwhile as a battling performance secured a point.

When Edenderry regained the lead in the 90th minute, it seemed Spartak would leave empty handed despite a good display. But in the 94th minute Dave Browne powered in a header from a Niall Hanratty corner to secure the draw.

Spartak created a number of decent chances; Niall Lennon failed to connect at the far post, Jason Fenlon forced the keeper into conceding a corner, and Dave Browne had an earlier header wide.

Playing with composure, Spartak made light of the situation, with the midfield trio of Hanratty, Lennon and Stuart Love getting through a mountain of work.

The locals took the lead in the 62nd minute, and it was only in the 84th minute that Stuart Love knocked in the rebound when Ciaran Brady’s headed effort came back off the crossbar.

A most satisfying performance.

Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Chris Hogan 7 Cian Stenson 7 Dave Byrne 8 Dave Browne 8 Stuart Love 8 Niall Hanratty 8 Lee Griffin 7 Niall Lennon 8 Jason Fenlon 7 Ciaran Brady 8

12.4.19
Wayside 1, Spartak 2

Spartak came away with three points from an entertaining Friday night astro clash.

Wayside edged possession in the first half, but Spartak smashed two off the bar and scored.

Owen Marron cut inside and fired off the crossbar, while Niall Hanratty had a good shot also shudder the frame of the goal. In between, Billy O’Neill volleyed in sweetly from Steve Grier’s flick on, midway through the first half. One of Spartak’s better moves saw Amin Afsar fire wide of the near post after good work from Niall Hanratty and Owen Marron.

Ian Harmon and Steve Grier had snuffed out most home attacks, and Wayside failed to overly trouble Jason Northey.

Stuart Love, stretching, was just over iwth a header form Amin Afsar’s cross, while Niall Hanratty fired over after exchanging passes with Owen Marron.

On 67 minutes a Neil McGowan cross was turned into his own net by a home defender to make it 2.0.

A harshly awarded penalty gave Jason Northey the chance to shine, making a triple save before Stuart Love completed the clearance. Wayside then fired one in from the edge of the box to set up a late flurry. With all subs used, Niall Hanratty had to limp out the final few minutes as Spartak held firm.

Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Jimmy Dawson 8 Ian Harmon 8 Steve Grier 8 Kevin Cunningham 7 Niall Hanratty 7 Neil McGowan 7 Stuart Love 7 Amin Afsar 6 Owen Marron 7 Billy O’Neill 7
Subs: Kamel Moussa 5 Tom O’Driscoll 5 Dave Browne 6.

7.4.19
Bohs SC 1, Spartak 2

An injury time penalty miss by the home side meant Spartak held on to the three points. It looked odds on a draw, but the spot kick was blazed over.

Indeed it was only in the last minute of normal time that Spartak took the lead. Steve Grier fired in a free from the edge of the box, having earlier seen a similar effort hit the woodwork.

Spartak took a first half lead when Owen Marron was first to touch in a long free kick from Kevin Cunningham. The hosts had created chnaces, struck the wood work themselves.

For a long spell it seemed that one goal would suffice, but confusion in the Spartak defence saw Bohs equalise with 15 minutes remaining. Substitutes made an impact, Billy O’Neill went close, while Jeff Gamble livened up the Spartak attack.

Then came the late late show.

Form Report
Jason Northey 5 Jimmy Dawson 7 Kevin Cunningham 7 Steve Grier 8 Ian Harmon 7 Stuart Love 6 Neil McGowan 7 Niall Hanratty 6 Owen Marron 6 Kamel Moussa 6 Cian Stenson 5
Subs: Mauro Segovia 5 Jeff Gamble 7 Billy O’Neill 7 Amin Afsar 5

31.3.19
Spartak 2, Tymon 0

A goal by substitute Kamel Moussa in the 83rd minute proved decisive, and finally broke Tymon’s resistance; Owen MAroon added number two in injury time.

Spartak began well, and Cian Stenson was just wide from Neil McGowan’s pass. Niall Hanratty’s snapshot was just wide; Tymon blocked an effort from Niall Lennon. Several more half chances came Spartak’s way, but it was not all one way traffic as the visitors number 10 was just wide with a good effort.

Frustration grew as Niall Lennon just failed to play Owen Marron clear, while Niall Hanratty unwisely attempted a chipped effort, easily saved, when Cian Stenson put him clear.

Tymon had a header from a corner just wide asthe tie threatened to drift away from the Sky Blues.

Finally, Cian Stenson’s cross travelled across goal for Kamel Moussa to drive it back inside the post, before Owen Marron added the second.

Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Kevin Cunningham 7 Ian Harmon 8 Steve Grier 8 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Niall Hanratty 7 Stuart Love 7 Neil McGowan 7 Owen Marron 6 Naill Lennon 6 Cian Stenson 6
Subs: Kamel Moussa 7 Dave Browne 6 Mauro Segovia 6

24.3.19
Spartak 1, Cabinteely 1

Injuries and absentees saw Spartak field the bare 11 against second place Cabinteely.

A fantastic display by Jason Northey, beaten only by a penalty, kept Cabo at bay. Jason made several excellent stops, not least when Billy O’Neill appeared to have been fouled, leaving the striker one on one.

The overworked Spartak back four played really well, and the visitors were shocked when Kamel Moussa smashed in from the edge of the box to equalise in a rare Spartak attack.

Mick Greene, in a free role, played a vital part of the resistance, while Neil McGowan and Stuart Love got through a mountain of work in centre midfield.

A satisfying result in the circumstances.

From Report
Jason Northey 9 Jimmy Dawson 8 Steve Grier 8 Billy O’Neill 7 Cian Stenson 8 Kamel Moussa 7 Neil McGowan 7 Mick Greene 6 Stuart Love 7 Mauro Segovia 6 Amin Afsar 6

Date
Spartak 0, Walkinstown 2

Spartak played an effective low block which frustrated Walkinstown for most of the game. Enjoying the majority of possession, the visitors created few clear chances as the Sky Blues, forced on the defensive, put in a good shift.

The visitors frustration grew as their attacking moves were nullified by some excellent blocks, tackles and interceptions.

After Walkinstown took the lead on 76 minutes, Conor Brady had Spartak’s best chance; his low near post shot was parried away for a corner, which came to nothing.

A last minute effort put a gloss on the final scoreline for a relieved Walkinstown.

Form Report
John Luke Hayes 6 Barry Maguire 6 Chris Hogan 7 Liam Caffrey 7 Owen McCormack 7 Eric Barber 7 Leo Behan 6 Keith Kelly 6 Dale Mulllins 6 Conor Brady 6 Jason Fenlon 7.
Sub : Kevin Murphy 6

10.3.19
Spartak 4, Liffey Athletic 4
Spartak win 5-4 on penalties.

An injury and suspension hit Spartak could field only 11 players on this occasion; Glen Burke was included despite a groin strain, and made a significant contribution in the first period, before being reduced to walking wounded status in the second half.

Conditions in Marlay were heavy, with an early snow storm threatening the game. The sleet and snow blew over after about ten minutes; any more and there would have been a postponement.

Liffey took an early lead against the run of play, but some sprightly attacking play saw Spartak lead 3-1 at the interval; Glen Burke knocked in twice from close range, and also pulled back an over hit cross for Neil McGowan to
smash in.

A long range effort saw Liffey reduce arrears and a header from a corner, poorly defended, forced extra time. Liffey made several subs; Spartak were in effect playing with ten. Liffey took the lead for the first time after a mix up, but Dave Browne joyously headed in Niall Hanratty’s corner kick at the back post to force the shootout.

Kevin Loftus saved twice from the first spot kick, the ref having ordered a retake; but was injured in the process, Niall Hanratty had to go between the sticks, having uneasily scored the Sky Blues first effort. Cian Stenson, Neil McGowan, Kevin Cunningham all converted before Tom O’Driscoll banged in a peach of a pen to put Spartak in the next round.

Form Report
Kevin Loftus 8 Jimmy Dawson 7 Tom O’Driscoll 7 Kevin Cunningham 8 Dave Browne 7 Stuart Love 7 Neil McGowan 8 Niall Hanratty 7
Owen Marron 7 Glen Burke 8 Cian Stenson 7