Spartak Dynamo FC

30.4.22
Ballyoulster 4, Spartak 3

Having beaten Dundrum 3-1 in the previous round, Spartak travelled to Celbridge to take on Ballyoulster.

Playing mostly on the back foot, the Sky Blues nevertheless were devastating on the break, with Djamel Djedaa having a goal disallowed before Cian Stenson (2) and Owen Marron goals rattled the home side.

With just 11 players travelling, Spartak tired in the second period and ceded control of the midfield as the home side brought on fresh legs to come out on top.

Form Report
Craig Howard 6 Owen Marron 8 Conor O’Sullivan 6 Chris Hogan 5 Seamus Battelle 7 Eric Barber 6 Adam Keane 5 Ciaran Brady 6 Liam Caffrey 6 Djamel Djedaa 7 Cian Stenson 9

2.10.21
Knockmitten 1, Spartak 6

A rip roaring first half by the Sky Blues effectively finished this contest before half time, against a strangely out of sorts home team. Goals by Cian Stenson, Luke Hyland, Aidan Duignan and Jeff Gamble endured a 4-0 interval lead. Although the home side had a few opportunities, the Spartak duo of Ciaran Brady and Aidan Duignan in midfield were the driving forces in the first half dominance.

The passing was crisp and the work rate impressive in a first half which maintained a high tempo throughout.

Cian Stenson and Brandon Lynch added second half goals, as the home side got a consolation score.

Best performance of the season….so far.

Form Report

Craig Howard 8 Seamus Ballette 7 Conor O’Sullivan 7 Chris Hogan 7 Kevin Murphy 7 Aidan Duignan 8 Brandon Lynch 7 Jeff Gamble 8 Ciaran Brady 9 Luke Hyland 7 Cian Stenson 8.
Subs Colm Ryan 6 Finn Healy 6

18.9.21
Spartak 6 Cherry Orchard 3

A hat trick by Cian Stenson, together with goals by Steve Grier, Neil McGowan and Jeff Gamble secured three points against a Cherry Orchard side that were reduced to 10 men in the first half.

Spartak played some fine football and yet the visitors fought back, reducing arrears and missing a penalty in the process which might have made for a closer finish.

Luke Hyland worked hard in the middle of the park and Neil McGowan fired in a free after Luke was hailed down. Cian Stenson drilled in the first goal and Steve Grier headed in from a corner. Jeff Gamble’s cross early in the second half capped a fine move, finished by Cian Stenson, who later rounded the keeper to complete his hattrick. Cian then laid on number six for Jeff Gamble.

A couple of late goals by the visitors, softly conceded, put a better gloss on the scoreline.

Form Report
Howard 6 McKeown 6 L Stenson 7 Hogan 7 Murphy 7 Grier 7 McGowan 7 Gamble 7 Hyland 8 Cashman 7 C Stenson 9
Toner 5 Crossan 6 Sharkey 5

14.8.21
Enniskerry 1, Spartak 1

As the game moved into injury time, Spartak won a free on the right hand side of the penalty area. A precise Ian Corcoran delivery was headed home by Brandon Lynch to secure a point that had seemed unlikely when the home side had taken the lead with just nine minutes left.

Enniskerry were fluent and dominant in a first half with the home number 9 as a focal point of their attacks.

Only a combination of last ditch defending, and some fine saves by Craig Howard, kept the scoreboard blank.

The game was played at a high tempo, and Spartak’s work rate was admirable in containing the hosts.

In the second period Enniskerry seemed to lose some rhythym and the Sky Blues hard work, allied to better use of the ball, brought them more into the game. Mick Leslie had a couple of chances and was foiled by the keeper and the crossbar; Cian Stenson was fouled at the edge of the box when through, but Eric Barber, usually reliable from the set piece, was profligate with the resulting free kick.

There were plenty of scares at the other end with plenty more defending required to foil the home attack.

One of those draws that felt like a point gained for Spartak, while the home side will feel hard done by after all their attacking endeavour.

Form Report
Craig Howard 8 Conor O’Sullivan 7 Ian Corcoran 7 Chris Hogan 8 Kevin Murphy 7 Pedro Lopes 8 Alex Conroy 7 Mick Leslie 7 Liam Caffrey 7 Eric Barber 7 Cian Stenson 7
Subs: Luke Hyland 7 Martin Rolfs 7 Brandon Lynch 7

7.8.21

Spartak 5, Peamount 4

Spartak began in fine style when Aidan Duignan nodded in Conor O’Sullivan’s free to open the scoring. However, soon the Sky Blues were being overcome in midfield and the home defence was exposed three times in quick succession, leading to two goals and a third being prevented by a Craig Howard save.

Gradually Spartak began to get a grip on the match.

On the half hour Mick Leslie and Alex Conroy combined to send Cian Stenson through and he made no mistake. 2-2. Minutes later the same trio worked the oracle again and Cian got number 3.

Peamount were having the lion’s share of possession and eventually, midway through the second half, equalised direct from a free kick.

A bench boost helped the home side when a Stuart Love flick on was netted by Jeff Gamble, and then Luke Stenson’s run and cross was met by his brother Cian, who completed his hattrick in fine style to make it 5.3.

Peamount were not finished and a second free kick goal caused ripples of anxiety in Sky Blue ranks, but the defence held out resolutely to see the game out.

Form Report
Craig Howard 6 Aidan Duignan 7 Conor O’Sullivan 6 Chris Hogan 6 Kevin Murphy 6 Pedro Lopes 7 Alex Conroy 7 Mick Leslie 7 Liam Caffrey 6 Eric Barber 6 Cian Stenson 8
Subs : Niall Lennon 7 Stuart Love 7 Jeff Gamble 7 Luke Stenson 7

25.1.20

Spartak 2, Ashbourne 2

Spartak held on for a gritty point against a confident Ashbourne side, who had most of the play and possession.

The Sky Blues took an early lead when Ian Corcoran fired to the top corner from 20 yards for a cracking goal.

Ashbourne took over for a period and snatched an equaliser before the break. The Spartak forward players showed a lack of ability to hold the ball up to take pressure from the defence and Ashbourne benefited.

Once again that man Corcoran was on hand to give Spartak the lead early in the second half, but pressure told and Ashbourne headed in from a cross. The visting number 5 showed impressive dribbling skills but was well contained by an in form Darren Hughes.

A hard earned point.

Form Report
Andy Hughes 7 Chris Hogan 7 Darren Hughes 9 Seamus McCahill 8 Kevin Murphy 8 Dwayne Curry 7 Conor Brady 5 Pedro Lopes 6 Owen McCormack 5 Liam Caffrey 6 Ian Corcoran 8

Subs: Enda Grogan 6 Conor Callis 5 Conor Canavan 5

11.1.20

Hyde Park 6 Spartak 5

A rip roaring game in Balbriggan, where heavy rain before the game turned the pitch to a quagmire.

An extremely slow start by the Sky Blues saw them concede three goals in the opening quarter. However the response was truly dynamic.

Lee Griffin contrive to miss an open goal from six yards; then he headed home from Dwayne Curry’s cross, but the goal was disallowed for offside against Ciarn Brady.

It was all Spartak now. Aidan Duigan headed in Dwayne Curry’s corner. Then Aidan got a second with a fine left footed volley. The equaliser quickly followed as Ian Corcoran slotted in following a scramble.

The lead came less than a minute into the second period. A terrific move involving Jack Rogers, Darren Hughes, Pedro Lopes saw Ciaran Brady lay it off to Aidan Duignan, whose shot from 25 yards sailed over the keeper to complete a perfect hat trick; right foot, left foot, header.

Gradually the home side regained their composure, aided by a strong bench, and led as we entered the final minutes.

A surging Ciaran Brady run saw his cross converted by Ian Corcoran.

Injury time will not be fondly remembered by Spartak stalwart Kevin Murphy, who was unlucky enough to concede a penalty and then with the final kick of the game shot wide after a fine Darren Hughes cross.

Result no, but the performance continued recent improved trend.

Form Report
Liam Caffrey 7 Chris Hogan 7 Darren Hughes 7 Jack Rogers 8 Kevin Murphy 7 Dwayne Curry 7 Aidan Duignan 9 Pedro Lopes 7 Ciaran Brady 7 Lee Griffin 6 Ian Corcoran 7

29.12.19
Parkvale 0, Spartak 2

A calm dry day at Rockbrook saw two second half goals win the game for the Sky Blues in a good run out for both sides.

A brave save by Andy Hughes saw the ball cleared to Dave Browne whose first time pass sent Cian Stenson free. Cian drew a defender before releasing stuart Love aon the left, and his low cross was converted by Gerry McGuiness. A second goal by Cian Stenson clinched the result.

The Spartak defence was ably marshalled by Dave Byrne and Seamus McCahill.

Form Report:
Andy Hughes 7 Aidan Duignan 6 Dave Browne 6 Seamus McCahill 7 Dave Byrne 7 Stuart Love 6 Neil McGowan 5 Conor Canavan 5 Gerry McGuinness 6 Liam Caffrey 5 Cian Stenson 7.

14.12.19
Leixlip 0 , Spartak 1

A vital away win secured with a fine goal by Conor Brady after Owen Marron’s persistence and speed had created the opportunity.

Spartak began the game strongly, and Dylan Scanlon had a very early chance which he screwed wide.

Leixlip then had a good chance after a free unnecessarily conceded gave them a shooting opportunity from a good position. Spartak got a slice of luck as the shot rebounded from the woodwork into the grateful arms of Andy Hughes.

After the Spartak breakthrough, Leixlip piled on the pressure, pushing men forward, and it took some brave defending from Spartak to prevent an equaliser. In particular a goalmouth scramble saw a series of great blocks to deny the hosts.

As pressure mounted, Spartak tried to break out, but were given offside ten yards inside their own half. Admittedly there was a lack of VAR to assist the ref.

Three points and a clean sheet.

Form Report
Andy Hughes 7 Chris Hogan 7 Darren Hughes 7 Jack Rogers 8 Kevin Murphy 7 Dwayne Curry 6 Ciaran Brady 5 Owen Marron 7 Owen McCormack 5 Dylan Scanlon 5 Pedro Lopes 6
Subs: Conor Brady 7 Liam Caffrey 6 Craig Hyland 5

7.12.19
Mount Merrion Youths 1, Spartak 4

On a muddy and windy Bearna Park, the Sky Blues battled their way to an excellent win, despite going a goal down early on.

Ian Corcoran soon headed home Neil McGowan’s corner kick to equalise, and then Ian’s cross was finished by Pedro Lopes. Ian almost completed a purple patch when his shot struck the foot of the post.

In a comfotable second half Spartak added goals from Jack Rogers and Conor Brady, while Ian Corcoran fired a good chance over and James Flynn’s header brought a fine save from the home keeper.

Form Report
Bobby Hayes 5 Chris Hogan 6 Darren Hughes 8 Jack Rogers 8 Kevin Cunningham 7 Dwayne Curry 6 Neil McGowan 7 Owen Marron 6 Pedro Lopes 6 Stuart Love 6 Ian Corcoran 7
Subs: James Flynn 6 Conor Brady 6