Spartak continue good run at League Leaders expense
Spartk 2 Everton FA 1
A thrilling victory in which nine man Spartak held out manfully against the odds to record a third successive win.
Spartak began well and were denied a clear penalty when Browne was fouled from behind in tha act of shooting. A corner from O’Driscoll caused panic in the vistors rearguard but the ball was cleared.
Everton took the lead on 26 minutes when their left winger, looking offside, crossed and the centre forward controlled and stepped past Greene to drill a shot past Northey from 18 yards.
Spartak turned the game on its head with a quick fire burst when free kicks from O’Driscoll were headed home by Hanratty and O’Kelly in successive minutes on 37 and 38 minutes.
O’Kelly, Browne and Clancy were booked for entering fruitless discussions with Ref, who surprisingly did not alter his decisions to concur with the Spartak lads’ observations. In fact the opposite was the case. Mick Costello and McInerney went into the book for tackles.
McInerney led the midfield offensive, sparing nothing in energy and aggression and lacked only a sharper touch going forward. Costello was imperious a te back and with Clancy formed a tough back two. Deering, having remembered most of his gear on this occasion, held concentration and both Niall Hanratty and Mick Costello worked tirelessly with the occasional good get out ball. Dave O Kelly weighed in with his second goal of the season and Mick Greene settled well after a dreamy start. O’Driscoll used the ball well and linked with colleagues; Browne, leaving aside the lapse in temperament, worked hard as a virtual solo attacker in the second half.
The second half was a story of the Spartak midfield and defence working flat out to contain the visitors. They succeeded to the extent that Northey was relatively untroubled, and he dealt safely with most that came his way, the occasional fumble apart. The occasional break out was led by Browne and a couple of snap shots kept the visitors keeper alert.
Clancy got his marching orders for a trip on 70 minutes, and Browne was let down once more by his fragile mentality and saw red again. He has yet to accept that the refs always have the final word. The suspensions may hit hard.
Overall it was the performance of the season to date.
Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Dave O’Kelly 8 Mick Greene 7 Martin Costello 9 Cathal Clancy 7 Shane McInerney 9 Niall Hanratty 7 Rob Deering 7 Steve Browne 5 Tom O Driscoll 7 Mick Costello 7 Sub Dermot Dooley 6 Mike Hull Ross Kelly
