Everton 5 Spartak 0.
Spartak suffered their worst defeat in years on the back of a terrible second half performance. A robust and rampant Everton side destroyed the visitors in a short spell after the interval. A local referee allowed a physical contest and Spartak were simply not up for it. Sometimes you can outplay opponents; sometimes you have to fight them. This occasion was the latter and Spartak did not have the will to resist.
An early chance for Spartak was created by Graham Breen who put Stuart Love through but he pulled his shot wide from 12 yards. Glen Burke shot over when a pass might have served better; a lead goal might have instilled more desire in the team but it was not to be. After that chances for Spartak were few. Breen had to go off injured on 25 minutes.
Peter O’Toole was working overtime at the other end and he made a number of good saves; Steve Grier headed clear time and again and Dan O Connell and Fintan Grace scrambled clearances as Everton took command.
Spartak nonetheless reached the interval without conceding.
The start of the second half saw Grier conceed a penalty for number one on 48 minutes; on 50 minutes mistakes by Grier and Rob Mahon preceded number 2; on 52 minutes Everton broke after a corner and O’Toole made a great save, but it was to be a temporary reprieve and the hosts scored from the resulting corner when the back post cover was abandoned. Three goals in just over 5 minutes conceded as Spartak wilted.
Neil McGowan was harried into an error that Alex Kenny could not cover and Everton were in for number 4. A poor free by Tom Flanagan was cleared and Everton broke the length of the pitch in a 4 v 1 breakout to complete the nap hand.
Goalkeepers mistakes are often harshly highlighted but on this occasion O’Toole was the only Spartak player who could derive any satisfaction from his performance. He was not at fault for any of the goals and his saves kept the scoreline from reaching even more embarrassing levels.
A truly miserable display.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 8 Dan O Connell 4 Rob Mahon 4 Steve Grier 4 Fintan Grace 4 Tom Flanagan 4 Neil McGowan 4 Will O Connell 4 Glen Burke 4 Graham Breen 5 Stuart Love 4
Subs Alex Kenny 4 Dave Thomson 5
