Please post your team for LMS week 2. This weeks automatic pick is Chelsea. Full fixtures are available on the Last Man tab above.
SDFC 4 Rathcoole 1
After dethroning the champions Greenhills in the previous round Spartak received what could be perceived as a favourable draw in getting a home fixture against a team (albeit the leaders) from our own division. This match was played due to the goodwill of Wayside Celtic in their home ground after Marlay was declared unplayable.
Facing wet and blustery conditions, Spartak started very well and scored after 10 minutes with a well taken shot on the turn from Paddy Hughes. The home side continued to pile on the pressure but could not add to the tally with Ken Byrne, Liam Cullen and Matt Grimes all having having half chances. Rathcoole did come more into the game as the half wore on and it needed a very good save from Jimmy Browne low to his left to ensure that the home side went into the break one up.
The second half started with Rathcoole upping the tempo and with some neat passing they pressed the Spartak midfield back into defensive duty. They deservedly got back on level terms when a ball down the right caused some confusion that allowed the right winger to nip in ahead of the defensive cover and Jimmy Browne to slot home a decent goal.
With their tails up, the away side went looking for a lead goal and it required resolute defending from the back four of Dave Mohan, Greg Callan, Paul McGrath and Gerry Doran to keep the scores level. Having weathered the storm, the Spartak midfield trio of Stafford, McNamee and Grimes began to get on top again and mid way through the second half Paddy Hughes latched on to a through ball from Brendan Mooney to calmly slot his and Spartak’s second goal.
Spartak finished the remainder of the game very strong, Rory Campbell worked hard to create a goal scoring opportunity for the overlapping Ken Byrne from which he made no mistake. Shay McClafferty then set up Frank McNamee who dragged his shot badly wide but almost on full time McNamee did hit the target to score Spartak’s fourth goal and put some gloss on what was actually a hard earned victory.
A good performance with the home side showing the benefit of a sustained effort at training. The cup run continues but the big guns lie in wait.
SDFC squad was: Jimmy Browne, Dave Mohan, Greg Callan, Paul McGrath, Gerry Doran, Brian Stafford, Matt Grimes, Frank McNamee, Ken Byrne, Liam Cullen, Paddy Hughes, Brendan Mooney, Rory Campbell, Shay McClafferty. Subs not used – Leon David, Mark Byrne.
St Itas 0, Spartak 6
A scintillating first half performance overwhelmed the locals with top notch passing and impressive finishing.
The big pitch suited Spartak and the Sky Blues took full advantage of the space by completely outplaying the locals from the off.
Spartak did not have long to wait for the opener when Keith Kelly played Dermot Dooley in and when his initial effort was blocked he charged down the rebound and forced it over the line.
Spartak were moving the ball swiftly from player to player and any possession lost was quickly recovered, particularly by Dermot Dooley and Keith Kelly in midfield. Chris Hogan on the right, who had a poor game the previous week and was only selected in Ryan Burke’s absence, turned in his best ever display in a sky blue shirt, composed on the ball and neat in his passing.
Mick Greene robbed an Itas defender on the byline, and when he moved the ball to Mick Costello and he crossed to Dermot Dooley, the latter’s shot rebounded off the post for Neil Bolger to gleefully drive in from close range.
The best move of the match involved many passes and was rounded off when Neill Bolger’s cross was headed in by Derek McGoldrick. McGoldrick then played Mick Costello through to finish in style.
The fifth, just after the break was set up by Mcik Costello for Dooley to fire home from the edge of the box.
Late on the substitutes got in on the action when a good run and accurate cross by Jose Vargas allowed Niall Lennon to shoot home for his first of the season.
Itas never gave up and apart from one bad tackle never resorted to tactics used by some teams when taking a beating. They had a few opportunities, but good defensive work by Martin Costello, Peter O’Toole and Dave O’Kelly snuffed out the danger as Itas strove to gain some consolation. Peter O’Toole was swiftly out to act as sweeper when Martin made a rare error.
A performance to savour – and to build on.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 7 Dave O’Kelly 8 Mick Greene 7 Martin Costello 7 Cathal Clancy 7 Keith Kelly 8 Dermot Dooley 9 Chris Hogan 8 Derek McGoldrick 8 Neill Bolger 7 Mick Costello 8
Subs: Niall Lennon 6 Jose Vargas 6 Mark Bolger 5 Mick Cooney
Last Man Standing is re-starting next week. Entry to the game is €10 to be paid ASAP. All payments must be made by week 3 or you will automatically eliminated. For the first 3 weeks there will be an automatic pick given, if you do not provide a team. This weeks automatic pick will be Manchester United. Please post your team below otherwise you will be given Manchester United. As long as your team keeps winning you will be entered into next weeks draw. Like the last round everyone gets 2 chances. 1st prize will be 50% of the pot. This weeks fixtures are posted on the Last Man tab above.
Spartak 3, Liffey Valley 0
Spartak recorded a good win at the cost of injuries to Graham Breen and Steve Grier who were both vistims of fouls which attracted yellow cards. In Steve’s case a stricter ref might have reached for a red.
Liffey had their best chances before Spartak’s opener. Fintan’s clearing header under pressure flew wide of the post and Peter O’Toole made a fine stop in a one on one. Earlier Ger Byrne had forced the keeper into a save after good approach work by Will O’ Connell and Glen Burke. Neil McGowan’s free following the foul on Steve was tipped over by the keeper.
Spartak persisted with good passing from Burke, Love, McGowan and O’Driscoll and created some decent moves.
The breakthrough came on 35 minutes when a corner was cleared as far as Keith Kelly, who drove a great first time shot from 25 yards off the butt of the upright. Will O’Connell applied the finishing touch.
On 40 minutes Tom O’Driscoll released Ger Byrne with a tremendous pass and Ger rifled the ball across the keeper into the bottom corner. 2-0.
The job was complete in the second minute of the second half when Ger and Graham combined beautifully to release Ger down the wing. His cross was tucked home under the keeper by a grateful Breener!
That completed the scoring but the game did not lack for attacking incidents. and featured a few good efforts – both Tom and Ger hit the woodwork (as did Liffey, who never gave up) and Graham Breen was guilty of a bad miss as Liffey appealed for offside.
Substitute Dillon Burke had a great opportunity to lay on a goal fro Niall Tilley or Ger on the break but crossed to close too the keeper.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 7 Glen Burke 7 Fintan Grace 7 Steve Grier 7 Keith Kelly 8 Will O Connell 7 Neil McGowan 8 Tom O’Driscoll 8 Stuart Love 7 Graham Breen 7 Ger Byrne 8.
Subs Niall Tilley 5 Dillon Burke 5
Spartak 1 Tymon 0
It wasn’t a vintage performance by the home side but Derek McGoldrick’s strike was enough to bag the points in a game of few chances. First half efforts were restricted to a Mick Costello header tipped over by the keeper and a couple of tame efforts by Ross Kelly. Dave O’Kelly just failed to make contact with the ball when making a good run onto Mick Greene’s free.
Tymon struck a thunderous effort off the underside of the bar and when Chris Hogan lost his man he was relieved to see the shot go wide. Garret Quigley took off a couple of decent stops.
In the first period Spartak generally lacked cohesion and the pass completion rate hit a low as the midfield struggled, but the tempo picked up somewhat after the break.
Tymon were foiled by good defending by Martin Costello and Garrett’s save when Spartak over commiteed to a long free.
A super header back across goal by Cathal Clancy fell for Ross and Mick but they could not take advantage. Derek McGoldrick forced a save from the keeper and then on 72 minutes ran on to a Mick Costello flick to keep his composure under pressure and drive home via the crossbar.
Spartak had an extraordinary escape when Garrett misjudged the ball only for the Tymon No 9 to inadvertently clear the ball off the Spartak goal line.
Mick Greene, beaten by the number 7, was rescued by a great recovery tackle by Dave O’Kelly, who was strong in the air throughout.
Spartak had a chance to make it safe when Neill Bolger crossed for Ryan Burke but his shot was stopped short of the line by the full back.
Martin Costello then incurred a yellow card with an all too blatant foul much to the displeasure of the visitors, who began a schemozzle with their line invading the pitch in the last minute. The ref decided to blow for time.
Form Report
Garett Quigley 6 Dave O’Kelly 7 Mick Greene 5 Martin Costello 6 Cathal Clancy 6 Neill Bolger 6 Dermot Dooley 6 Chris Hogan 5 Derek McGoldrick 7 Ross Kelly 6 Mick Costello 6.
Subs : Niall Hanratty 5 Niall Lennon 5 Ryan Burke 5 Dillon Burke Kevin Mannion Jose Vargas
Spartak 5, Hillcrest 2
An old fashioned “proper” hat trick (3 consecutive goals with right foot, left foot and header) by Neil McGowan was the highlight of this game in which both sides were missing players. Spartak’s replacements filled the gap admirably with Will O’Connell completing 90 minutes for the first time this season.
Spartak dominated the early proceedings without producing the final cuting edge. Ger Byrne forced a good save from the keeper, Glen Burke had shots over and wide, and Graham Breen headed wide.
On 24 minutes a free for a foul on Glen produced the breakthrough when Neil McGowan’s free made it 1-0.
Hillcrest had their chances following errors by Glen and Keith Kelly and Neil made a good saving tackle after a free which he had conceded for talking.
On 39 minutes a deflected cross was met by Neil for a diving header to make it 2-0.
Nibbler, the most dangerous visiting forward, beat both Dave Browne and Fintan Grace but shot just wide.
Hillcrest reduced arrears right at the start of the second half when Will O Connell and Dave Browne were beaten down the Spartak left and Glen Burke could not clear the resultant cross at the far post.
Graham Breen volleyed over before Spartak added number three when his header was met first time by Neil for his hat trick.
Being Spartak , we could not resist giving away an goal from an attacking throw in. Dave Browne’s throw was short, defensive cover badly organised, and Spartak were once again (!) caught on the break. 3-2.
On 83 minutes nerves were calmed when Neil’s free was parried by the keeper to Ger Byrne who slotted home. Glen Burke scored number 5 with a long range deflected shot after a good move.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 7 Glen Burke 7 Dave Browne 6 Will O’Connell 7 Fintan Grace 7 Keith Kelly 8 Neil McGowan 9 Graham McEnroe 6 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Graham Breen 6 Ger Byrne 6
Subs Steve Grier 6 Niall Tilly 5 Dillon Burke 5 Derek McGoldrick Niall Hanratty
Whitechurch 1, Spartak 2
A battling Spartak side took all three points from the derby clash on Saturday. With Cathal Clancy suspended, Dave Browne stepped in and added a touch of composure to the Sky Blues defence. In midfield Dermot Dooley, and particularly Neill Bolger, were up for the battle and were instrumental in the solid overall performance.
Spartak went in front after 12 minutes when Dave O’Kelly’s cross cum shot floated over the keeper’s head. With their tails up, Spartak had two more chances in quick succession when Jose Vargas had a onoe on one opportunity saved and O’Kelly was just wide with a header.
On a narrow pitch there was plenty of defending to do from set pieces and throw ins and Whitechurch hit the bar with one effort.
Some of the Spartak players found it hard to maintain discipline and it was from a free kick awarded for talking out of turn that Whitechurch equalised. A simple free and header across the box found the Spartak defence in disarray and it was a simple tap in for the home forward on 51 minutes.
The response from the boys from Marlay was as effective as it was immediate. A great run and cross by Derek McGoldrick and Chis Hogan, aka Tubes, ghosted in at the near post to slot neatly home.
Spartak conceded a number of yellow cards mostly for inability to remain quiet as the game threatened to bubble over, and Mick Costello had what looked a perfectly good goal disallowed. at teh other end Mick Greene made a couple of snappy saves to keep the lead.
A rare defeat for the home side and a satisfying perfomance from Spartak.
Form Report
Mick Greene 7 Niall Hanratty 6 Dave O’Kelly 7 Martin Costello 6 Dave Browne 7 Neill Bolger 8 Dermot Dooley 7 Chris Hogan 6 Derek McGoldrick 7 Ross Kelly 6 Jose Vargas 5
Subs Mick Costello 6 Adam Doran 6 Ryan Burke 6 Mark Bolger Niall Lennon
No LMS this week as everyone was knocked out last week. We will restart in a week or 2
