Spartak Dynamo FC

Date
Spartak 0, Walkinstown 2

Spartak played an effective low block which frustrated Walkinstown for most of the game. Enjoying the majority of possession, the visitors created few clear chances as the Sky Blues, forced on the defensive, put in a good shift.

The visitors frustration grew as their attacking moves were nullified by some excellent blocks, tackles and interceptions.

After Walkinstown took the lead on 76 minutes, Conor Brady had Spartak’s best chance; his low near post shot was parried away for a corner, which came to nothing.

A last minute effort put a gloss on the final scoreline for a relieved Walkinstown.

Form Report
John Luke Hayes 6 Barry Maguire 6 Chris Hogan 7 Liam Caffrey 7 Owen McCormack 7 Eric Barber 7 Leo Behan 6 Keith Kelly 6 Dale Mulllins 6 Conor Brady 6 Jason Fenlon 7.
Sub : Kevin Murphy 6

19.1.19

Spartak 3, Clondalkin Celtic 5

An eventful game which saw Spartak concede two penalties – one foolishly, and the other extremely harsh

A score from a harsh penalty after 5 minutes put the visitors ahead. This was quickly followed by a sloppily conceded goal at the back post.

Mick Leslie fired over from a good position and Conor Brady had a right footed effort which was too soft to trouble the keeper. Neil McGowan clipped the top of the bar with a header, and also forced a good save from the Celtic custodian, before scoring via a post after good work from Dale Mullins. A second penalty needlessly conceded gave the vistors a half time 3-1 advantage.

Spartak began the second half in strong fashion, and Jason Fenlon was unfortunate to see his effort strike the foot of the post and rebound into the keepers hands. Dale Mullins, stretching, pulled his shot across goal and wide, and Kevin Murphy will rue his close range effort, firing directly at the keeper.
The visitors then stretched their lead by two to make it 5-1.

The Sky Blues showed a never say die spirit and hopes were lifted when a Neil McGowan volley from 25 yards was followed quickly by a visiting defender putting through his own goal.
Spartak piled on the pressure, forced a number of corners and scrambles, had the ball in the net but given offside.
Clondalkin defended frantically as the course of the game swung in Spartak’s favour, and were the happier to hear the final whistle.

Form Report
Steve Grier 6 Ciaran Brady 6 Chris Hogan 6 Owen McCormack 7 Kevin Murphy 5 Neil McGowan 8 Dale Mullins 7 Mick Leslie 5 Seamus McCahill 5 Jason Fenlon 5 Conor Brady 5
Subs: Billy O’Neill 6 Conor Callis 5 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Liam Caffrey 6

2.3.19
Mt Merrion 2, Spartak 2

Spartak took a valuable point in a wind ruined game in Rosemount.

Played on a cold afternoon in near gale conditions, both teams had to battle against the elements and their opponents.
Spartak took an early lead when a wind assisted effort by Carl Fenlon flew into the net.

Mt Merrion struck back and prodded home following a cross.

Spartaks’ best chance of the second half fell to Carl Fenlon, but he fired just wide after a good move.

Liam Caffrey produced some excellent stops to keep the Sky Blues in the game, but was beaten by a free kick with just three minutes left.

It was well into injury time, with Spartak throwing caution to the (very strong) wind when Mo Sheleg picked up a loose clearance and crossed for Seamus McCahill to knock in a deserved equaliser.

Form Report
Liam Caffrey 7 Chris Hogan 7 Mick Leslie 7 Seamus McCahill 8 Kevin Murphy 6 Eric Barber 6 Conor Callis 6 Mo Sheleg 5 Jason Fenlon 7 Carl Fenlon 7 Niall Lennon 8.
Sub: Corey Coyle 5

9.2.19
Spartak 6, DCU 2

Spartak overcame a rugged DCU side in some style, leading by six until concentration lapsed to spoil the clean sheet.

A bad foul on Jeff Gamble necessitated an early change; the yellow card meted out to the culprit seemed hardly sufficient given the nature of the challenge.

DCU had claims for a goal when the ball was scrmbled off the line, but the ref ruled no goal. It wasnt until the 35th minute that the Sky Blues made the breakthrough. Mo Sheleg, on for Jeff, crossed; Neil McGowan and JAson Fenlon worked the opening for Conor Brady. Conor’s first effort skidded away wide of the posts, but Mo Sheleg retrieved the ball and crossed again. Conor fired high into the net. 1-0

Spartak quickly added a as second after good work by Kevin Cunningham and Carl Fenlon allowed Jason Fenlon to shoot home.

In the second half, confidence surged after Jason Fenlon scored from outside the box. Neil McGowan and Mo Sheleg combined to allow Carl Fenlon to make it 4; then when Neil McGowan was pulled down in the box, Spartak had the luxury of missing the resultant penalty, Carl Fenlon’s weak effort was easily saved, although the situation was retrieved Conor Brady slotted in the rebound.

Neil McGowan sent Conor Callis through to round the keeper and make it six, before late lapses gave the visitors a degree of consolation.

Form Report
Liam Caffrey 7 Kevin Cunningham 8 Chris Hogan 7 Seamus McCahill 7 Niall Lennon 8 Neil McGowan 8 Dale Mullins 7 Jeff Gamble 6 Carl Fenlon 8 Jason Fenlon 8 Conor Brady 7
Subs: Conor Callis 7 Mo Sheleg 7

20.10.18
Spartak 2, Rosemount 3

A spirited comeback looked certain to end happily for the Sky Blues, as they fought back from a two goal deficit. Spartak looked the more likely winners until an injury time breakaway gave the visitors a scarcely deserved victory.

The first half saw the visitors in control and comfortably ease into a two goal lead , without much from Spartak in the attacking sense.

A fine move instigated by Mick Leslie saw Ger Byrne volley in Jason Fenlon’s cross to bring new heart to the Sky Blue cause. Dale Mullins gave Owen Marron a good opportunity, but the shot was straight at the keeper.

With just a few minutes left, Owen Marron and Dale Mullins combined to allow Jason Fenlon to sweep in the equaliser.

But failure to prevent a cross, right at the death, proved fatal to the Sky Blues hopes and saw the visitors leave elated.

Form Report
Greg Byrne 6 Andy Timmons 7 Leo Behan 7 Steve Browne 7 Owen McCormack 7 Jason Kelly 7 Dale Mullins 7 Mick Leslie 6 Owen Marron 5 Ger Byrne 6 Jason Fenlon 7
Subs: Conor Callis 5 Shane McInerney 6 Conor Canavan 6

15.9.18
Spartak 3, Kilbarrack Utd 2

Man of the match Owen McCormack scored a header and an well taken opportunist goal to add to a fine performance at centre back.

The visitors were a good side, moved the ball well and could all play a bit, so the Sky Blues were under early pressure. However the defence played solidly throughout and kept the marauding forwards at bay with good tackle, blocks and interceptions.

A good move between Chris Hogan and Jason Fenlon saw the latter’s cross driven across goal, where a defender inadvertently deflected it in for the lead goal. Spartak had a flurry of chances following a corner, but snatched at each, before Kilbarrack broke at pace to secure an equaliser.

The Sky Blues’ response was instantaneous, with Owen McCormack nodding in Dale Mullins’ corner at the back post.

A solid second half performance saw the three points safe, after Owen McCormack took advantage of a goalkeeper’s misplaced pass to shoot in first time, left footed, from 25 yards. 3-1.

Kilbarrack got one back after Greg Byrne’s great save was followed in for the rebound by a forward.

But Spartak held firm and the points were secure.

Form Report
Greg Byrne 7 Chris Hogan 8 Leo Behan 5 Owen McCormack 9 Kevin Murphy 8 Shane McInerney 6 Dale Mullins 7 Mick Leslie 6 Jimmy Dawson 7 Jason Fenlon 6 Conor Callis 5
Subs: Conor Canavan 6 Conor Brady 5

8.9.18
Spartak 3, Broadford 0

A comprehensive victory over local rivals is always pleasant, and the manner of the win was pleasing.

A solid defensive performance, a clean sheet, and important contributions from the bench all helped.

Dale Mullins put the Sky Blues ahead , racing on to Steve Grier’s pass to neatly convert. Jason Fenlon and Tom O’Driscoll had opportunities to add to the score, Jason fired over and Tom just failed to connect when racing on to a long pass.

Tom then struck the crossbar with a thunderous effort from distance to lay down a marker at the start of the second period, but it was not till late on that Spartak added two more, Neil McGowan shooting in on 79 minutes after a Conor Callis corner was half cleared, and then Neil, Conor Callis and Niall Hanratty combined to put Jeff Gamble in for a third with just three minutes remaining.

Form Report
Greg Byrne 7 Chris Hogan 7 Dave Browne 7 Ian Harmon 7 Dave O’Kelly 6 Shane McInerney 6 Neil McGowan 7 Dale Mullins 7 Steve Grier 7 Jason Fenlon 7 Tom O’Driscoll 6
Subs: Kevin Murphy 7 Jeff Gamble 6 Conor Callis 6 Niall Hanratty 6 Conor Canavan 6

1.9.18
Walkinstown 3, Spartak 0

A tough start to the season at a venue where the Sky Blues have been successful in recent seasons. But not this time.

A powerful home team held the whip hand in terms of possession and territory, but Spartak created the clearer chances in the first half, with Jason Fenlon having a couple of efforts saved.

The game turned in a single second half minute. A good Spartak move saw Jason Fenlon through on goal ten yards out, but he dragged his effort wide, and almost immediately at the other end Owen McCormack was penalised for a rash tackle in the box. Greg Byrne got a good hand to the resultant penalty, but it was forcefully struck and so the home side took the lead.

Spurred on by this, Walkinstown scored two fine goals. Spartak’s best chance came at 2-0 down when Amin Afsar’s curler beat the keeper and hit the post, but Mick Leslie was unable to force in the rebound.

Disappointing.

From Report
Greg Byrne 7 Ian Harmon 6 Steve Grier 6 Owen McCormack 5 Owen Marron 5 Stuart Love 6 Mick Leslie 5 Amin Afsar 5 Jason Fenlon 6 Jimmy Dawson 6
Subs: Dale Mullins 6 Shane McInerney 5

Friday June 1st sees the annual awards night in the Eden House.

Three players have reached the 200 game milestone, namely Stuart Love, Niall Hanratty and Chris Hogan (That’s Tubes to the uninitiated).

Club Man of the Year has the usual batch of previous winners in Jason Doyle, Mick Greene, Paul McGowan and Barry Crowe, with Ger Byrne, Chris Hogan and Stuart Love and Shea McClafferty also nominated

For Sunday Player of the Year, Ger Byrne and Stuart Love (again) along with Steve Grier, Jeff Gamble Dave Kernan and Dave Browne comprise the list of candidates

Saturday Player of the Year nominations are Greg Byrne, Mick Leslie, Cian Stenson, Sean Doyle and Chris Hogan, and a wildcard nomination for Gerry McGuinness.

27.4.18
Spartak 2, Sallynoggin 2

An injection of experience and craft from some of the Spartak seniors saw Spartak dominate a game against Sallynoggin. Three big calls went against the Sky Blues. A Ciaran Keane goal was incorrectly disallowed for offside; Spartak had the ball over the line but the ref did not agree; and the first Sallynoggin goal was clearly offside.

All these factors aside, this was a most satisfactory performance. A stunning opening goal by Terry Fallon, who controlled, turned and fired over the keeper from 35 yards, was the highlight, while a late equaliser when Sean Doyle forced in Conor Callis’s blocked effort was well deserved.

The visitors took an undeserved lead when Spartak failed to deal with a long ball, but Spartak came back relentlessly to gain a point.

The Sky Blues can reflect on a fourth place finish, product of a late surge which saw just one defeat in the last half dozen matches.

Form Report:
Owen McCormack 8 Chris Hogan 7 Cian Stenson 6 Sean Doyle 8 Kevin Murphy 6 Shane McInerney 6 Darren Ritchie 5 Gerry McGuinness 7 Stephen Barr 6 Ciaran Keane 5 Terry Fallon 7
Subs: Conor Callis 6 Dave Slevin 6 Collie Dunne 6