Dunboyne o, Spartak 1.
A single goal victory for Spartak, who dominated the first half with good football and struck the woodwork on several occasions as well as having a very good shout for a penalty turned down.
Spartak’s back four, after a slightly shaky start, had a quiet day and were in control for most of the game.
Without a number of players through injury, Spartak reshuffled the pack and with Tom Flanagan and Graham McEnroe to the fore, passed and moved in a manner that left the home side struggling. Steve Grier and Ger Byrne played up front but never really dovetailed in a way that troubled the home defence. Steve tended to overplay the ball and Ger was whistled for offside, much to his displeasure, on a number of occasions.
The Dunboyne team was much changed from the one which Spartak defeated a few weeks ago and the value of the game as a cup final reahearsal must be dubious. However Spartak went about the task in hand of getting the points in the promotion chase.
A fine move between Glen Burke and Stuart Love ended when Burke crashed his shot against an upright. Minutes later Ger Byrne was taken down from behind in the box but nothing was awarded.
Tom Flanagan clipped the bar after Byrne laid the ball neatly for him and McEnroe struck the bar after some neat approach work.
Dominating possesion, Spartak sometimes tended to slow the build up and allowed the home rearguard to regroup on several occasions.
Tom Flanagan made a fine run and cross but the ball was just too high for Fintan Grace at the back post.
The vital score came in first half injury time when Burke’s corner from the right was neatly touched on by Byrne and Love hit the net from close in.
In the second half Spartak went searching for the insurance goal but could not quite manage it. Towards the end a great run and cross by Will OConnell set up Ger Byrne who struck the post from only a few yards in what must go down as a big miss. McEnroe and Grier had efforts which went close and at the other end McEnroe made a great block when danger threatened.
As the tempo dropped Anto Doyle and Kevin O’Toole came on to give the extra energy to seal the victory.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 7 Glen Burke 7 Fintan Grace 7 Dave Browne 7 Alex Kenny 7 Tom Flanagan 7 Graham McEnroe 7 Stuart Love 7 Ger Byrne 6 Steve Grier 6 Will O’Connell 7
Subs Kevin O’Toole 6 Anto Doyle 6 Dan O’Connell.
