Spartak 1, Phoenix 1
A 93rd minute equaliser, created by Anto Doyle and finished by Seamus McCahill, spared Spartak’s blushes against the 9 men of bottom club Phoenix, in a contest ruined by inept refereeing.
An even later “goal” by Martin Costello was ruled out for a dubious offside decision to prevent Martin from breaking his scoring duck.
All that, however, is to obscure the poor performance by the Sky Blues, many of whom looked well off the pace.
Spartak were given a footballing lesson in the first half as Phoenix passed and moved, while the homesters wilfully wasted possession.
Spartak did manage to create a few chances in the first half, which all fell to Mick Costello, but he did not have his shooting boots on. Seamus McCahill, Derek McGoldrick, Anto Doyle and Chris Hogan all struggled in midfield, where Phoenix more or less did as they pleased. Spartak were grateful to Martin Costello for a few timely interceptions, and when Jason Northey parried, Mick Greene was on hand to complete the clearance.
Spartak were handicapped by the loss through injury of Mick Greene, in particular his expertise at set pieces, which Martin Costello could not replicate.
Phoenix hit the post, and also shot wide when Jason Northey’s kick was short.
The second period descended into something approaching farce as the ref lost control. Late on he dismissed two of the visitors, and failed to deal with a pitch incursion by about a dozen of the visitors camp.
Spartak relied on a few scrambled efforts, with Mick Costello forcing a save and Seamus McCahill unable to direct a header wide of the keeper. In one scramble Niall Lennon could not find the vital reaction to force the ball over the line.
Phoenix took the lead when a free was pulled back from the bye line and driven past Northey.
Spartak were grateful for a point in a game that should have yielded the full haul.
Form Report
Jason Northey 5 Dave O’Kelly 5 Mick Greene 6 Martin Costello 7 Cathal Clancy 6 Anto Doyle 6 Seamus McCahill 5 Chris Hogan 5 Derek McGoldrick 5 Ross Kelly 5 Mick Costello 5
Subs Dillon Burke 5 Jose Vargas 5 Niall Lennon 5 Shane McInerney Ryan Burke.
