Spartak Dynamo FC

Orwell o Spartak 1

A scrappy match was decided by a Graham Breen header from a Glen Burke free kick in the 84th minute.  Justice was served as the free was awarded outside the box while the foul on Burke was very clearly inside.

Squad changes were forced due to absence of Tom Kowal (suspended) Steve Grier (hols) and Tom Flanagan who felt his hamstring in the warm up. Graham Breen pronounce himself fit to start. Dave Browne stepped in for Grier at the back and gave a solid performance.

Extra back up was provided by Tom O’Driscoll, Martin Costello with the ever reliable duo of Shane McInerney and Derek McGoldrick  present as additional cover.

On a dry and bumpy surface Orwell defended by the simple expedient of an offside trap which ensnared the Spartak strikers, Graham McEnroe and Breen on too many occasions. Breen was booked for protesting against one marginal decision. Both strikers struggled to link play in the first period.

The means to beat the trap, swift interpassing with runs from deep and also wide play were both beyond Spartak in the first half when many players overcarried the ball or were careless in distribution. It was rare that midfielders were able to get beyond the strikers and both full backs contributed little in the way of attacking play with Glen guilty of overcarrying and Rob Mahon making a number of  hurried clearances or playing the ball long.

An early scare, and probably Orwell’s best chance, came when Peter O’Toole called for a ball and was beaten to it but ended happily for the vistors in a frantic clearance by Alex Kenny. 

Stuart Love took a heavy knock in a 50/50 challenge wih the keeper and had to be replaced early in the second half. 

Substitutes O’Driscoll and Anto Doyle together with some positional switches gave Spartak a more offensive shape as they really began to chase the game in the second half and at last good chances began to be created with Breen’s effort saved, Gintaras Cibirka clipping a post and Burke’s effort saved, and Breen heading over.

There was considerable relief all round as the build up of pressure finally told and the winner was procured with minutes remaining.

 Kevin O’Toole came on as a late sub to provide extra defensive cover as Spartak saw out the game.

 A vital three points, but the performance, particularly first half, was unconvincing.

Form Report

Peter O’Toole 6 Glen Burke 6 Rob Mahon 6 Dave Browne 7 Alex Kenny 7 Stuart Love 6 Neil McGowan 7 Gintaras Cibirka 6 Graham McEnroe 6 Graham Breen 6 Will O Connell 6 

Subs : Tom O’Driscoll 6 Anto Doyle 7 Kevin O’Toole 6 Martin Costello Fintan Grace Shane McInerney Derek McGoldrick

With no one knocked out this week the competition is hotting up. Please post your team for this week. Games are on 3/4 April. Remember there is no automatic pick, if you dont give a team you are out. A full list of the fixtures are on the Tab above.

Portmarnock 0 Spartak 0

Spartak relied on a strong defensive performance, including a first clean sheet this term, to plunder a worthwhile point from hosts who have lost just once this season and who had a big win over Spartak in Marlay.

Portmarnock enjoyed the bulk of possession and Spartak had to work diligently in midfield to track and close down. Fintan Grace did a lot of the donkey work and Seanan O’Duchain showed some nice touches, but Paul Burke and Shay McClafferty were not on their game. Paul had a free kick from the edge of the box easily saved.  

Jimmy Browne pulled off a marvellous save after his weak kick out had let in the home striker.

At the back Tony Kavanagh cleaned up virtually everything while Liam Cullen and Greg Callan attacked the first ball with ferocity. Dave Mohan never looked comfortable at right back where his distribution in particular let him down.

Up front both strikers lacked support and toiled without reward. Frank McNamee’s touch deserted him at the crucial moment when through for Spartak’s best chance of the game. Ken found himself, like Frank , running towards several defenders with few options around and too little support.

Portmarnock missed an unbelievable chance at the end of a good move when the striker , going for power, blasted the ball at an open goal but struck the underside of the bar, from whence the ball rebounded into the grateful arms of Jimmy Browne.

Spartak’s second half chaces were limited to long range efforts, while a couple of breakaways fizzled out through poor passing. 

Dave Mohan can count himself fortunate in the last few minutes that his blatant handball in the box, under no pressure,  was not seen by the referee.

With so many players injured Spartak can count themselves well satisfied with the point.

Form Report

Jimmy Browne 7 Dave Mohan 5 Liam Cullen 7 Tony Kavanagh 8 Greg Callan 7 Fintan Grace 6 Shay McClafferty 5 Paul Burke 5 Frank McNamee 6 Ken Byrne 6 Seanan O’Duchan 7 Mick Cooney 5 Barry Crowe 5.

Match is off due to some dark rain clouds hanging over the Phoenix pitch, which if they burst the council deemed the pitch might get too wet to play on!

Peamount Utd 1 SDFC 1

Spartak over 35’s produced a spirited and good quality performance to secure an away draw against a strong table topping Peamount side.

Starting well,  early chances fell to Paul Tormey with a good run and shot and Shay McClafferty with an excellent long range effort just over. Mark Byrne made a good break along the end line and provided a good cross which was well cleared.

On 10 minutes Spartak took a deserved lead when a free kick into the box by Greg Callen popped up nicely on the edge of the box for Frank McNamee to shoot a left foot volley into the net. Shortly after, Barry Crowe had a good effort just wide. As the half wore on Peamount came more into the game and eventually equalised just before half time with a break that was borderline offside.

Early in the second half a neat one two between Frank McNamee and Cameron Doyle put the latter through on goal but his shot went narrowly wide of the right hand post. Jimmy Browne then produced a series of excellent saves following a period of sustained Peamount pressure to keep the score intact.  Ken Byrne  made a trademark break from inside his own half, beat a couple of defenders for pace only for the final shot to go just over. A good break down the right by Peamount was thwarted by a timely intervention from Leon David.

In their desperation to win the match Peamount then introduced a midfielder and a striker that were so obviously underage it was ridiculous. This was the cue for Dave Mohan, Greg Callan, Gerry Doran, Tony Kavanagh and Fintan Grace to produce some defensive heroics for the remaining 20 minutes to ensure that no goal was conceded and that justice was done.

In fact Spartak had two excellent chances to win it on the break when firstly Mark Byrne made a great break down the right and crossed for an unmarked Jason Doyle who couldn’t connect and then Ken Byrne saw his effort from a tight angle strike the post with the goalkeeper beaten.

Overall a very good performance from Spartak on an excellent pitch where the home side were surprised at how well the oldies could pass the ball.

The spartak panel was Jimmy Browne, Tony Kavanagh, Dave Mohan, Shay McClafferty,  Mark Byrne, Paul Tormey, Frank McNamee, Barry Crowe,  Leon David,  Jason Doyle, Cameron Doyle, Fintan Grace, Ken Byrne, Greg Callan.

Footnote: For the record, a serious assault took place after the match on a Spartak player. All appropriate authorities have been notified.

Dun Laoghaire 1, Spartak 3.

 Tom O’Driscoll capped a man of the match performance with two goals, the second of which, a right footed volley from 22 yards, is a contender for goal of the season.

While Spartak got a tonic start when O’Driscoll headed in Anto Doyle’s long throw, they quickly lapsed into a torpor which handed the initiative to the home side. This might refect the loss of continuity derived from the  fact that only 6 of the staring eleven started last weeks game.

 Sloppy defensive play after Martin Costello dallied on the ball allowed Dun Laoghaire to stroll unchallenged through a static Spartak defence to equalise on 16 minutes.

While Spartak threatened sporadically in the remainder of the half, they could not string moves together.

The second half produced a much better performance, exemplified by Dave O’Kelly, producing a contrastingly strong effort after an insipid opening half. O’Driscoll’s second restored the advantage.

However at the other end Hanratty was beaten all too easily and the cross eluded Northey before being cleared at the expense of a corner. Northey then pulled off a fine save in a one on one situation.

Mark Bolger was finding the going tough at the back while in midfield Mick Costello  Rob Deering and Hanratty were struggling to impose their will on the game and were grateful for the steadying influence of captain Shane McInerney.

Spartak got a break on 68 minutes when a catastrophic mix up in the home defence gave the hitherto off form Steve Browne the chance to extend the lead, and he tapped in from close range for his 15th goal of the season.

Hanratty then cleared off the line when Northey’s punched clearance  was fired back in. Mark Bolger found the strength for a long run but could only produce a weak finish.

Spartak had to rely on key contributions to overcome an untidy performance and may rue the Swords result, when so many of the players were missing.

Form Report

Jason Northey 7 Anto Doyle 7 Dave O’Kelly 7 Martin Costello 6 Mark Bolger 5 Shane McInerney 7 Niall Hanratty 5 Rob Deering 5 Steve Browne 5 Tom O’Driscoll 8 Mick Costello 5.

Subs Derek McGoldrick 6 Mike Hull 6 Cathal Clancy 6 Chris Hogan Dave Williams Mick Greene

Spartak 2, Everton1.

Spartak forced their way back into contention for promotion with a fine display in Marlay, coming back from a goal down to win, and avenging a five goal defeat by the same opponents some weeks ago.

 The back four, after a somewhat shaky start, settled down well and denied Everton any score from play. Peter O’Toole commanded his area well and his handling was good, as well as making a couple of good saves.

A great long pass from Tom Flanagan found Neil McGowan who transferred to Gintaras Cibirka whose shot was defelected for a corner. Graham McEnroe had a shot from close in blocked by a defender.

Two penalty decisions were awarded in close succession. Spartak were unlucky to go behind when Neil McGowan was adjudged to have handled, and Everton converted the softly awarded penalty. Just 8 minutes later Will O’Connell burst into the box, was impeded, and the ref again pointed to the spot. Again a soft award.  McGowan converted the spot kick to level matters.

As Spartak gained momentum, a move by O’Connell and McEnroe set Cibirka free; rounding the keeper he was forced wide and laid off to Rob Mahon, whose shot was blocked. 

Just on half time an intricate close passing move by McEnroe and McGowan put Cibirka in but he pulled wide from a tight angle. 

On 48 minutes, a free kick from 30 yards out on the left was cunningly flighted by McGowan. Glen Burke timed his run to beat the attempted offside trap and squared to Graham McEnroe who drilled in from close range.

In response Everton clipped the top of the bar with a header.

Spartak were playing well on he break. McEnroe glanced a header wide from McGowan’s cross and then McEnroe’s perfect pass put Cibirka through only for the Everton custodian to block with his feet.

At the other end as Everton poured forward Steve Grier made a superb challenge on the bye line and Glen Burke covered another dangerous situation. Alex Kenny and Rob Mahon played their part in repelling the onslaught, with the midfield hard work of Love and O’Connell tracking down danger.

Hearts stopped when Stuart Love’s attempted header clear looped behind him to the far post and Grier had to intervene decisively when an equaliser seemed imminent.  Alex Kenny and Steve Grier were on overtime repulsing the aerieal assault. 

Tom Kowal, booked earlier for kicking the ball away, got a second yellow card for alleged diving. He made a little too much of a foul, and a crowd scene ensued when the Everton manager tried to lift Tom back to his feet.

A great result and a solid display which brings us closer to the leaders, albeit we are still 5th in a 5 horse race.

Form Report

Peter O’Toole 8 Glen Burke 7 Robert Mahon 7 Steve Grier 8 Alex Kenny 8 Tom Flanagan 7 Neil McGowan 8 Gintaras Cibirka 7 Will O’Connell 7 Graham McEnroe 8 Stuart Love 7

Subs Tom Kowal 5 Dave Browne Fintan Grace Kevin O’Toole Graham Breen.

The club AGM will be held in the Three Rock pub. Tuesday 30th March at 8pm. All members welcome.

Saturday Team – AWAY to Phoenix

Sunday Team – AWAY to Orwell (2pm kick off)

Over 35’s fixture TBA

Please post your team for this weekends matches. REMEMBER there is no automatic pick. If you dont give a team you are out. Full list of fixtures are available on the Last Man Standing tab above.