Spartak Dynamo FC

4.4.2011
Spartak 2, Drimnagh 4

The visitors foul language and abusive behavior was not dealt with by the ref, who so lost control early, and to the extent that he mistimed the second half and blew up 5 minutes early.

Spartak were somewhat shell shocked to concede two goals in the final minutes of the first half after a battling performance. With Paul Kinsella and Kevin O’Toole forming a barrier at the back, Drimnagh were struggling to impose themselves. An unforunate lapse of marking by Jose Vargas at a corner kick allowed the visitors to snatch the lead, and shortly afterwards a looping shot beat Northey for number 2.

To add further to the problems, and upset any real possibility of a comeback, Shane McInerney conceded a soft penalty before a Paul Kinsella free was nodded in by a Drimnagh player to reduce arrears. Drimnagh again scored, from an offside position to make it 4-1, before Chris Hogan was bundled over in the box and Thom O’Driscoll made no mistake from the spot.

Spartak will need to up the performance levels as the semi final approaches.

Form Report: Jason Northey 5 Dave O’Kelly 5 Dillon Burke 5 Paul Kinsella 7 Kevin O’Toole 7 Shane McInerney 6 Mick Costello 6 Kevin Mannion 5 Jose Vargas 5 Ross Kelly 5 Steve Browne 5
Subs: Thom O’Driscoll 6 Steve Walsh 5 Chris Hogan 5

26.3.2011
Phoenix 2 Spartak 0.

The bare bones of this defeat was a toothless attacking performance coupled with two crucial errors in central defence.
Spartak were without a number of players through injury, and also without Kevin Mannion, who is still looking for the pitch as we speak!
Spartak had a good early opportunity when Jose Vargas’ close range effort was saved, and from the resulting corner Mick Costello headed against the bar.
From the off the Spartak defence was uncertain, with errors by Martin Costello, Paul Kinsella, Dillon Burke and Cathal Clancy all causing problems. Robbie Hayes parried a surprise shot from distance , which he then recovered well to claw away.
Will O’Connell and Niall Hanratty strove to get a foothold in midfield, but Chris Hogan and Jose Vargas were inneffective on the flanks, with little support from the full backs.
Paul Kinsella and Cathal Clancy were caught square by a long ball and the local no.10 lobbed the helpless Robbie Hayes.
The Sky Blues suffered a blow when Niall Hanratty limped off on 40 minutes, and was replaced by Steve Browne.
Spartak lived a bit dangerously in the second half, with Hayes taking off a good save. While his handling was ok, kicking was another matter and needs more work.
Mick Costello blazed wastefully wide from a free kick in a good position, and Steve Browne shot well wide from an angle, but Spartak lacked the patience, movement and passing accuracy to create clear chances against a deep lying defence.
When Clancy was caught napping well behind the rest of the defence, Phoenix were able to break and score number two. Their striker was sent off for a second yellow, but Spartak could not take advantage of the 10 men for the remainng 20 minutes.

Form Report
Robbie Hayes 6 Martin Costello 4 Dillon Burke 4 Paul Kinsella 5 Cathal Clancy 4 Will O Connell 6 Niall Hanratty 6 Chris Hogan 5 Jose Vargas 4 Niall Lennon 4 Mick Costello 4
Subs: Steve Browne 4 Derek McGoldrick 4 Colum O’Sullivan 4 Jason Northey, Kevin Mannion.

19.3.2011
Spartak 2 , Terenure College 1

Spartak secured their place in the Tom Watt cup semis – but it was certainly not plain sailing, having to recover from going a goal down to come back and win.

A nervy home team, a bumpy pitch and a referee even below his usual standard all conrtibuted to a fraught contest. Harsh treatment was meted out, on and off the ball by Terenure, who had the tonic of a 7th minute goal. The no.10 headed in unopposed from a free kick.

The Sky blues got lucky to equalise within a few minutes. A Niall Lennon hoof goalwards was dropped by the keeper and the onrushing Mick Costello finished the job.

Spartak pressed and a Steve Browne free from a good position was off target; Terenure scrambled one off the line and Browne’s follow up shot was deflected wide. Terenure had a chance when Jason Northey made a hash of a back pass, but they failed to capitalise, shooting weakly.

Terenure probably deserved a minumum of three red cards, and
a better referee might have added Niall Hanatty to the list when he got involved and raised his hands.

On 72 minutes Dermot Dooley made a vital interception deep in his own half. He switched the ball wide where substitutes Adam Doran and Chris Hogan made rapid progress up the wing before Doran swung in a great cross, met with his head by Dooley, who had made a 70 yard run to make the connection.

Terenure had a couple of chances when errors by Ken Buckley and Adam Doran let them in, but they could not capitalise.

Form Report
Jason Northey 6 Niall Hanratty 6 Mick Greene 5 Martin Costello 6 Dave O’Kelly 6 Derek McGoldrick 5 Dermot Dooley 6 Ken Buckley 5 Niall Lennon 5 Steve Browne 5 Mick Costello 5
Subs : Chris Hogan 6 Adam Doran 6 Dillon Burke 6 Ryan Burke Robbie Hayes Jose Vargas

We have a winner……Its the Gaffer. Spurs let everyone down and Ross never posted a team so he got Newcastle. The Gaffer wisely went for mighty Everton…..They never let anyone down except for Shane!

Please post your team for Last Man Standing week 8. THERE IS NO AUTOMATIC PICK. A full list of fixtures is on the Last Man tab above. If you give a team that you have already chosen (or automatically chosen) you will get the next team available to you alphabetically.

The 2011 SDFC AGM will be held in Taylors Three Rock on Monday 28th March at 9pm.

Order of business:

1. Ascertainment that quorum is present
2. Reading and approval of minutes of last AGM
3. Report of the Chairman
4. Financial Report
5. Nominations and balloting
6. Election results
7 Any other business.

12.3.2011
Leicester 3 Spartak 1

A late comeback from Spartak was insufficient to cause Leicester any undue worries in this pretty one sided encounter in Loreto Park. When Martin Costello gave away a foolish penalty midway through the second half to give Leicester their third goal it effectively extinguished any hopes of a meaningful comeback, despite a late show of energy and defiance from the Sky Blues.

Leicester’s strike force caused endless problems to the Spartak defence and when Martin Costello was too easily turned the striker crossed for a header neatly finished.

Indeed Leicester had two goals disallowed in mysterious circumstances by the eccentric referee and could have led by more than one at the break. The second disallowed goal came from slack marking by Dave O’Kelly and a dropped cross by Robbie Hayes. Martin Costello’s attempted clearance, in attempting to retrieve the situation, although hitting the back of the net , was adjudged not to have crossed the line!

In truth, the referee ruined the game for both sides, as he wanted to be the centre of attention at all times with some interesting interpretations of the rule book.

Some of Spartak’s most experienced players had serious off days. Dave O’Kelly was frequently caught out of position and slow to recover, and gave way a number of opportunities for the home side. Derek McGoldrick ,on the other flank, suffered a torrid time against a good winger, sometimes diving in too early and too often easily beaten by his man.

Further forward, Spartak failed to hold on to the ball or establish any real rythm or pattern. Jose Vargas was profligate with the ball, and while Ross Kelly worked hard, he lacked incisiveness, although going closest with a short range effort. Dermot Dooley was almost anonymous and Mick Costello well short of his best, shooting wide from decent effort in the first half, but fading later.

Leicester’s second after 52 minutes came from a move which looked well offside, and was finished despite Robbie Hayes initial block.

Spartak had chances, with Mick Costello shooting weakly and Jose Vargas having a close range effort saved.

The best move of the game by the Sky Blues saw Niall Lennon , one of the few Spartak players willing to pass the ball on the day, put Steve Browne away on the right; but his perfect cross was fluffed in turn by both Colum O’Sullivan and Martin Costello.

Having made a mess of an earlier free, Shane McInerney rolled an indirect free in the box to Browne, who roofed it to reduce arrears and put a reasonable gloss on an abysmal performance.

With seven goals conceded in two games, and it could have been more against Leicester, defensive frailties need to be remedied.

Form Report
Robbie Hayes 5 Dave O Kelly 4 Derek McGoldrick 4 Martin Costello 5 Paul Kinsella 6 Shane McInerney 5 Dermot Dooley 4 Niall Lennon 6 Jose Vargas 4 Ross Kelly 5 Mick Costello 4
Subs Steve Browne 6 Colum O’Sullivan 4 Dillon Burke 5 Ryan Burke Jason Northey

At the recent 40th celebration, John Delaney presented the club with complimentary tickets for the Macedonia game on 26th March. If you wish to join the lads for a good night at Lansdowne Road, and you have paid your annual sub, please reply to this post.
Applications close on 17th March.

Spartak 1 Whitechurch 4

Spartak suffered a heavy defeat and can have no complaints after a weak defensive display.

It was an unhappy return to the Spartak goalmouth for Jason Northey, who was beaten 4 times and looked well below peak form throughout. While he could not be faulted for the first two goals, he was beaten easily at is near post for number three after Cathal Clancy was bypassed, and was slow and cumbersome in dealing with back passes. The first two goals came in the 16th and 17th minutes , the first when Mick Costello allowed his man to get in a clear strike and the second from an angled drive.

With the exception of Paul Kinsella, who made some vital covering tackles and is gradually returning to early season form , the remainder of the defence had a torrid time, with Niall Hanratty lucky not to concede a penalty when the game was scoreless. Cathal Clancy was also lucky to escape the ultimate sanction when blatantly pulling back a forward and Martin Costello was well below his usual standard, both in covering and distribution.

Spartak were not without some spirit, and fought back from three down. Niall Lennon drove in from the edge of the box after Chris Hogan crossed, and Hogan himself narrowly missed reducing arrears further when he hit the side net after Mick Costello had put him clean through.

Spartak, 3-1 down at the break, huffed and puffed to try to get back in the game. It was the visitors who missed a great chance when lobbing wide after going through.

Mick Costello and Dan O’Connell had a couple of half chances, but it was the visitors who made the game safe with a fourth goal when the marking following a long throw was again abysmal.

Form Report
Jason Northey 4 Niall Hanratty 5 Paul Kinsella 6 Martin Costello 4 Cathal Clancy 5 Kevin Mannion 5 Dermot Dooley 5 Chris Hogan 5 Niall Lennon 5 Ross Kelly 4 Mick Costello 4
Subs: Steve Browne 4 Neil McGowan 5 Dan O Connell 5

Terenure College 1, Spartak 2

Two late goals prevented an embarrassing defeat against a poor Terenure College side, who managed virtually no attacks and only took the lead from a harshly awarded penalty.

The players in Sky Blue for the most part stubbornly refused to pass the ball in a timely fashion and, in the manner of the playground, ran with the ball until dispossessed. Neiher Derek MCGoldrick nor Dave O’Kelly could supply crosses and the front two of Niall Lennon and Niall Tilley found it hard going against the big home central defence.

The first half was of a poor standard, with the home side content to play kick and rush while the Spartak lads lost virtually all of the physical battles. Free kicks and throw ins were carelessly taken and frequently possession was lost cheaply. Spartak had a couple of half chances but nothing clear cut.

Terenure took the lead from the spot when Shane McInerney was penalised for handball.

Spartak raised their tempo, if not their guile, in the second period, but missed a glorious chance to equalise when a harshly awarded penalty was blazed over by Paul Kinsella.

The winning goal on 85 minutes was a thing of beauty and completely out of character from the rest of the game. A scintillating one touch move involving Dere McGoldrick, Steve Browne and Seamus McCahill was finished coolly by Dermot Dooley.
Earlier Seamus had equalised from close in after a scramble following a throw in, and Dooley had forced a fine save from a snap volley.
Spartak left Bushy Park breathing a collective sigh of relief.

Form Report
Robbie Hayes 5 Dave O’Kelly 5 Paul Kinsella 6 Martin Costello 6 Cathal Clancy 5 Shane McInerney 6 Dermot Dooley 6 Niall Hanratty 5 Derek McGoldrick 5 Niall Lennon 5 Niall Tilley 5
Subs Seamus McCahill 7 Steve Browne 6 Ken Buckley 6 Ross Kelly Jason Northey