Spartak 4 Cabinteely 3
Spartak defeated a strong Cabinteely side thanks to a late winner from Graham Breen, which capped a fine comeback from a 1-3 deficit.
The dry and bumpy pitch had quite a bearing on preceedings, with control difficult.
Spartak took an early lead after a superb Will O’Conell run and pass set up Graham Breen who shot home from just inside the box.
Alarm bells clanged when Peter O’Toole allowed a through ball to slip from his grasp and Steve Grier had to tidy up. Breen had a half chance but was off target.
On 15 minutes an attempted clarance by Rob Mahon succeeded only in deflecting the ball to an offside visiting forward and he equalised. Worse was to follow on 25 minutes when O’Toole spilled a low cross and Cabinteely took the lead.
Spartak struck back and Stuart Love’s deflected effort brought a fine save from the visiting keeper.
On 37 minutes Cabinteely took full advantage when Mahon and O’Connell lost possession rather too easily and then Dave Browne failed to clear. 1-3.
The home side urgently needed a response before half time and following a long throw by Grier, Loves’ shot was parried but Breen headed in from close range.
Spartak took the game to the visitors in the early part of the second half. Breen was off target when trying to lob the out of position keeper; McGowan shot wide when teed up by Cibirka and there was a goal line scramble after a Grier shot was blocked. Burke was pushed in the box and McGowan also had a credible claim for a penaly when tackled. At the other end Browne made a tremendous tackle to avert danger.
A mistake by Grier allowed a visiting forward a clear run at goal and when Rob Mahon tripped the forward Spartak were very relieved when play was allowed to continue.
Burke, finding energy belatedly, went on a mazy run and when he squared the ball Cibirka found the net left footed with a first time effort.
With the game opening up as both sides sought to win some big chances were missed. McGowan’s free kick was touched on by Cibirka and McEnroe blazed over from six yards.
At the other end O’Toole spilled a shot on to the post and was thankful Love was on hand to clear. A cross shot also struck the butt of the Spartak upright. Grier made a last ditch intervention just as the opposing forward was about to pull the trigger from close range.
On 88 minutes, Love played the ball down the left and McEnroe’s cross was finished by Breen, with the aid of a deflection, to seal the three points.
Spartak’s delight will be matched by the vistors dismay at losing a game where they appeared in command at 3-1.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 4 Glen Burke 6 Dave Browne 6 Steve Grier 7 Alex Kenny 7 Stuart Love 7 Neil McGowan 6 Kevin O’Toole 6 Graham Breen 9 Will O’Connell 7 Rob Mahon 6.
Subs Gintaras Cibirka 7 Graham McEnroe 6 Fintan Grace 5 Thomas Gaynor no show.
