Spartak Dynamo FC

Orwell o Spartak 1

A scrappy match was decided by a Graham Breen header from a Glen Burke free kick in the 84th minute.  Justice was served as the free was awarded outside the box while the foul on Burke was very clearly inside.

Squad changes were forced due to absence of Tom Kowal (suspended) Steve Grier (hols) and Tom Flanagan who felt his hamstring in the warm up. Graham Breen pronounce himself fit to start. Dave Browne stepped in for Grier at the back and gave a solid performance.

Extra back up was provided by Tom O’Driscoll, Martin Costello with the ever reliable duo of Shane McInerney and Derek McGoldrick  present as additional cover.

On a dry and bumpy surface Orwell defended by the simple expedient of an offside trap which ensnared the Spartak strikers, Graham McEnroe and Breen on too many occasions. Breen was booked for protesting against one marginal decision. Both strikers struggled to link play in the first period.

The means to beat the trap, swift interpassing with runs from deep and also wide play were both beyond Spartak in the first half when many players overcarried the ball or were careless in distribution. It was rare that midfielders were able to get beyond the strikers and both full backs contributed little in the way of attacking play with Glen guilty of overcarrying and Rob Mahon making a number of  hurried clearances or playing the ball long.

An early scare, and probably Orwell’s best chance, came when Peter O’Toole called for a ball and was beaten to it but ended happily for the vistors in a frantic clearance by Alex Kenny. 

Stuart Love took a heavy knock in a 50/50 challenge wih the keeper and had to be replaced early in the second half. 

Substitutes O’Driscoll and Anto Doyle together with some positional switches gave Spartak a more offensive shape as they really began to chase the game in the second half and at last good chances began to be created with Breen’s effort saved, Gintaras Cibirka clipping a post and Burke’s effort saved, and Breen heading over.

There was considerable relief all round as the build up of pressure finally told and the winner was procured with minutes remaining.

 Kevin O’Toole came on as a late sub to provide extra defensive cover as Spartak saw out the game.

 A vital three points, but the performance, particularly first half, was unconvincing.

Form Report

Peter O’Toole 6 Glen Burke 6 Rob Mahon 6 Dave Browne 7 Alex Kenny 7 Stuart Love 6 Neil McGowan 7 Gintaras Cibirka 6 Graham McEnroe 6 Graham Breen 6 Will O Connell 6 

Subs : Tom O’Driscoll 6 Anto Doyle 7 Kevin O’Toole 6 Martin Costello Fintan Grace Shane McInerney Derek McGoldrick

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