St Pats CY 3 Spartak 3
Spartak began the day 9 points behind the league leaders, whom they had eliminated from the cup a few weeks previously. A big opportunity to close the gap was missed as Pats equalised, with 10 men, late on and Spartak missed some gilt edged chances. Indeed Pats missed a glorious opportunity near the end to take all 3 points. A game we should have won and could have lost. Spartak were without Glen Burke (at rugby!) Tom Kowal on holidays and Graham McEnroe (man flu) – all strikers and as a result a partially fit Cibirka had to be pressed into action still nursing a groin strain.
In a game of fluctuating fortunes the pivotal moment came in the 76th minute when Gintaras Cibirka was through in a one on one from a lovely Stuart Love pass. He tried to round the keeper and was foiled, only for play to switch immediately to the other end where Pats were awarded a soft penalty when Grace pushed the winger.
The hangover from the previous game’s heavy defeat seemed to affect confidence, and Pats sailed into an early lead on 2 minutes when the ball was played behind Rob Mahon and crossed too far. The opposing winger retrieved the ball and eluded Fintan Grace and crossed where Stuart Love was easily beaten in the air for the opener.
Spartak struggled to get into the game and Dan O Connell and Stuart Love were being brushed off the ball. Gradually Tom Flanagan and Neil McGowan began to exert midfield control with Graham Breen a great target for hold up play and Pats had to resort to desperate tactics at times. On 22 minutes a long throw from Steve Grier was flicked on by Graham Breen and Rob Mahon’s persistence took advantage of a goalkeepeing error to give Cibirka the easiest of tap ins.
On 40 minutes Tom Flanagan’s free from a dangerous position sailed harmlessly over the bar but a minute later Grace’s foul gave a similar opportunity to the home side and they demonstrated how to keep a free on target. 1-2.
Cibirka and McGowan had headed efforts just over and Dan O Connell was just wide of an unguarded goal from 40 yards after Cibirka forced the keeper into an error.
The ealy second half saw Spartak have their best spell. Dan O Connell was upended and McGowan sent the keeper the wrong way for a 47th minute equaliser.
A couple of errors by Tom Flanagan and Alex Kenny saw Pats have chances before another Grier long throw was flicked on by Breen for McGowan to head in from close range on 65 minutes.
Spartak now assumed control and Breen was through for a one on one. A heavy touch took him wide and when he crossed, Will O Connell was foiled at the back post.
Cibirka was taken down by the last man when through and a red card reduced the home side to 10. A nice move by Love and Cibirka put Will O Connell into the box for a decent opportunity but his touch failed him as he was nudged by an opponent.
Spartak seemed to relax with the lead against ten men, and then came the miss by Cibirka followed by the penalty score for Pats. Instead of 4-2 it was 3-3.
Both sides tried to win the game with Pats failing to score after a mad scramble and McGowan’s cracking long range effort well saved in the last minute.
A better display than last time out but a missed opportunity.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 6 Fintan Grace 4 Rob Mahon 6 Steve Grier 7 Alex Kenny 7 Tom Flanagan 7 Neil McGowan 8 Gntaras Cibirka 7 Graham Breen 8 Dan O Connell 6 Stuart Love 6
Subs Will O Connell 6 Dave Browne 6 Niall Hanratty 4 Tom Gaynor no show.
