After Villa and Chelsea both drew, just 9 survive this round. Aston Villa’s failure saw off quite a few contenders. No automatic picks from now on.
Please post your team for week 5. There is NO automatic pick. If you dont give a team you are out. Fixtures take place 20/21 March. Full fixtures are available on the Last Man Standing tab above
SDFC 2 Knockmitten 2
Starting with a much changed side from the previous week’s cup encounter Spartak over 35’s earned a deserved draw against Knockmitten at home on Saturday. Injuries, exams, and other unexplained events meant 5 personnel changes and numerous positional switches were required for this game.
The early part of the game saw the home team having to soak up a lot of pressure and deal with a strong running Knockmitten side. Despite resolute defending by the Spartak unfamiliar back four of Shay McClafferty, Tom Maher, Tony Kavanagh and Leon David, their dangerous striker managed to squeeze a shot away into the bottom left hand corner to put them one up on 15 minutes.
As the first half wore on Spartak rallied and managed to create a few openings. Frank McNamee set up Barry Crowe for a good effort on goal, both Ray Grady and Rory Campbell had half chances. Just before half time Spartak got back in the game when from a corner the ball broke to Ken Byrne who finished well to leave the score 1-1 at the break.
The second half mirrored the first with Spartak having to battle hard to stay in the game. Knockmitten went ahead midway through the half when the same striker again managed to get a shot away into the corner. For the remainder of the game Spartak pushed for an equaliser and created further chances. Rory Campell was unlucky on two occasions with a header just wide and a good save from the keeper. With 5 minutes to go the equaliser came when a clever free kick from Ray Grady reached Matt who struck a powerful shot that hit the back of the net with the aid of a slight deflection from the centre half.
Spartak could actually have won the game in the last few minutes when Ken Byrne was put through by Frank McNamee but shot over. A good shot from Matt that was well held by their keeper was the final action of the game.
Overall a spirited performance from the home side that produced a deserved draw against the odds.
The spartak panel was Jimmy Browne, Tony Kavanagh, Tom Maher, Shay McCafferty, Mark Byrne, Rory Campbell, Frank McNamee, Barry Crowe, Leon David, Jason Doyle, Matt, Ray Grady.
Swords Celtic 2, Spartak 0.
Following their recent good run, Spartak viewed this fixture as a springboard towards the top of the table. However numerous absentees from the regular squad caused disruption and Spartak could only field 11 with the aid of Steve Mongey’s seasonal debut and with Anto Doyle, Fintan Grace and Neil McGowan volunteering to double up. So Spartak were forced to reshape and while the effort was spirited, guile and finishing power were lacking.
The 2-0 scoreline somewhat flattered the home side, as the second goal came in injury time as Spartak searched in vain for an equaliser.
The home side threatened from a corner early on which Jason Northey got a touch and Fintan Grace tidied up at the back post.
Spartak’s set pieces were foiled by pushing by attackers which repeatedly let the home side off the hook.
On 32 minutes Swords put a flowing move together down the Spartak left flank and a fine shot put them one up. Jason Northey then had a couple of lucky escapes when he puched and missed, and also when he raced outside his box but instead of finding touch he cleared straight to an opposition player who could not convert with the goal open.
Spartak began the second half in determined fashion. Martin Costello went close with headers from Neil McGowan’s frees. One of the best opportunities came to Niall Hanratty who blazed over from seven yards. At the other end Grace and Martin Costello put in saving tackles and then when Northey mispunched the home side shot over. Mark Bolger, moved into atack, was wide with ahalf chance from a Hanratty cross. The second fine opportunity arose when Doyle and Hanratty combined to send Bolger down the right. He pulled back his cross to McGowan who shot wide. Swords were happy to scramble clear on occasion and Mick Greene, normally reliable, put a couple of corners wide to add to the frustration and Neil McGowan also put one wide. McGowan’s header from Hanratty’s cross was well saved.
In injury time Swords broke and while Northey got a hand to the chipped effort, he could not prevent it crossing the line.
Form Report
Jason Northey 5 Anto Doyle 6 Mark Bolger 5 Martin Costello 6 Fintan Grace 6 Neil McGowan 6 Niall Hanratty 6 Chris Hogan 5 Ross Kelly 5 Steve Mongey 5 Mick Costello 5. Sub Mick Greene 5 Thomas Gaynor no show.
We are down to 18 survivors, the forgetful or passive entrants falling with Hull’s loss to Arsenal. Of the 18, a very nervous 8 are relying on Rafa’s low scoring Reds to overcome Portsmouth tonight.
Pot is €260, half to club and half to winner.
No more automatic choices made; failure to select a team means you are out, so get your choices in early from now on!
Knocklyon1, Spartak 2.
A memorable win for a battling Spartak side closed the gap at the top of Division 2 Sunday.
The victory was the fruit of fine defending and hard work all around as Knocklyon had the lion’s share of possession. Spartak made the most of their few chances and defended bravely and vigorously.
The final ten minutes when the home side threw everything into the onslaught for an equaliser featured great tackling, blocks, headers, clearances and saves from the sky blues to thwart all attempts.
Knocklyon had much the best of the first half with Spartak struggling to string passes together. They hit the bar from a corner and Alex Kenny had to clear off he line with Peter O’Toole beaten. On several ocaasions Spartak were hapy to clear at the expense of corners and throws. On one Spartak break Neil McGowan and Gintaras Cibirka combined but Stuart Love’s pass was intercepted.
On 41 minutes, Spartak got the break through against the run of play and just as Knocklyon were starting to dominate possession. A throw in was flicked on and Cibirka showed strength and composure to hold off a defender, draw the keeper and lay on a simple tap in for Will O’Connell.
Steve Grier made a fine saving tackle early in the second half as Knocklyon tried to get level. Spartak broke well at times and when Tom Flanagan was clear and fouled it was surprising that no card was produced. Spartak had opportunities from corners when first WillO’Connell mistimed his run and then when Steve Grier shot tamely wide.
Kenny and Grier were dominant in the aerial duels and the Spartak defence tackled and blocked like fury while O’Toole made a couple of fine saves as the siege started to build again.
On 71 minutes Spartak got number two direct from a Steve Grier long throw which Graham Breen’s header adroitly guided past the keeper.
The two goal lead did not last long as the home number six powered home a header from a corner at the post abandoned by Burke.
Spartak’s best breakout should have yielded a penalty when Burke was fouled; instead the ref, a long way behind the play, chose the easier option of a free on the edge of the box. Cibirka’s effort was deflected over.
Overall a resolute performance which continues Spartak’s resurgence.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 7 Glen Burke 7 Rob Mahon 7 Steve Grier 9 Alex Kenny 9 Tom Flanagan 7 Neil McGowan 7 Gintaras Cibirka 7 Will O’Connell 8 Graham Breen 7 Stuart Love 7
Subs Tom Kowal 6 Tom O’Driscoll 5 Dave Browne Fintan Grace Kevin O’Toole Mick Greene.
Saturday Team – AWAY to Dun Laoghaire
Sunday Team – HOME to Everton
Over 35’s – AWAY to Peamount
Bacchus beat Spartak 7-6 on penalties (Final score 2-2)
Spartak’s over 35’s hopes of a cup run this season came to an end in the second round after a penalty shoot out defeat away to Bacchus in St Anne’s Park.
The first 30 minutes were very poor for Spartak with poor passing and a lack of urgency througout the team giving the impetus to the home side. Bacchus took the lead in this period after defensive hesidency allowed a harmless cross to be turned in by the opposing striker. Towards the end of the first half Spartak came more into the game and half chances fell to Mark Byrne and Rory Campbell who were both just beaten in a race to the ball by the home keeper on two separate occasions.
The second half also started badly for Spartak when no challenge was made to prevent a long range effort on goal which was well struck giving Jimmy Browne no chance to put the home side two up.
As the half wore on Spartak began to dominate in defence and midfield and as a result create numerous chances. A Frank McNamee shot following a corner was well saved by the away keeper. In the next attack Barry Crowe showed great technique to latch on to a McNamee header and strike home a volley from distance to put Spartak back in the game.
The final 20 minutes saw Spartak go all out to try and win the game. With Dave Mohan and Greg Callan in control at the back Tony Kavanagh and Gerry Doran pushed forward and provided wide options for Shay McClafferty and Paul Burke in midfield. From another corner the equalizer arrived when a Greg Callan header was expertly volleyed to the roof of the net by Rory Campbell. At least 4 other clear cut chances were created and unfortunately not taken. Three of them fell to Frank McNamee who failed to take advantage on each occasion. The best of these chances came following a one two with the excellent Paul Burke where a poor shot was easily parried for a corner. A final chance fell to Rory Campbell who volleyed over. On a rare foray forward a Bacchus shot required Jimmy Browne to make a good save. John Hallihan also made an excellent clearance to prevent a chance on goal.
The game finished 2 all. The penalties went to sudden death with Spartak unfortunately loosing out 7-6 . Their keeper’s save of Shay McClafferty’s penalty being the first miss of the shoot out. For the record the Spartak penalty scorers in order were Paul Burke, Barry Crowe, Frank McNamee, Gerry Doran, Rory Campbell and John Hallihan.
The spartak panel was Jimmy Browne, Tony Kavanagh, Dave Mohan, Paul Burke, Shay McCafferty, Mark Byrne, Rory Campbell, Frank McNamee, Barry Crowe, Gerry Doran, Leon David, Greg Callan, John Hallihan, Jason Doyle.
Saturday Team – AWAY to Swords
Sunday Team – AWAY to Knocklyon (2pm kick off)
Over 35’s fixture TBA
Fixtures Week 4 – Starting 13 March
