Please post your team for Last Man Standing week 7. 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.
Spartak 3 Laytown 2
Spartak overcame a poor start to win despite being reduced to ten men on the hour mark.
The opening twenty minutes saw poor distribution and little in the way of aggression from the home side with touches and passes betraying the long lay off. A stray ball by Niall Hanratty put Laytown on the attack and from the resulting corner the Spartak defence was flat footed as Laytown hit the post and netted the rebound.
A good cross by Derek McGoldrick gave Jose Vargas a chance close in but he failed to beat the keeper, and when Chris Hogan’s attempted shot was deflected into Jose’s path, again the keeper came out on top.
It was Chris Hogan who displayed calmness on the ball to start the move for the equaliser by feeding Niall Lennon down the right. The cross was touched by Jose to Derek, and when Derek’s effort was half stopped by the keeper, Jose was on hand to finish to break his scoring duck.
Niall Lennon had a good header saved but Laytown showed their intent with a free header from a corner, just wide, and when Dillon Burke tried to play offside when twenty yards ahead of his fellow defenders, it was time for another near miss by the visitors.
The second half began with a poor Cathal Clancy clearance and then with Hanratty caught in possession from which the Sky Blues had a lucky escape. Shane McInerney had a snap shot just wide at the other end. Spartak settled and began to get on top and on 57 minues Martin Costello scored his first goal for the club, nodding home Hanratty’s looped free kick.
Laytown responded and immediately had a big miss, blazing over after a series of missed tackles by the sky blues.
Dillon Burke was then red carded, at the edge of the box, despite winning the ball, on the hour and Spartak faced an uphill battle, particularly as Derek McGoldrick’s first action as replacement left back was to divert a through ball past Robbie Hayes into the path of a Laytown forward to equalise.
Spartak then got a deserved but fortuitous winner when an attempted clearance rebounded to the net off a startled Niall Lennon.
A prolonged rearguard action by the ten men then ensued which saw some desperate defending and some determined attacks by Laytown, who fell just short of equalising. At times Spartak were reduced to nine by injuries. Keith Kelly relieved the pressure with a couple of blinding runs and missed a chance at the end of one run. Niall Lennon, unused to the pace, went down several times with cramp, as did Derek McGoldrick, while Dave O’Kelly failed to last the second period with groin trouble.
A great three points and a hard fought win, but fitness issues persist.
Form Report
Robbie Hayes 6 Dave O’Kelly 6 Dillon Burke 5 Martin Costello 7 Cathal Clancy 7 Shane McInerney 7 Niall Hanratty 6 Chris Hogan 5 Derek McGoldrick 5 Niall Lennon 6 Jose Vargas 6.
Subs Glen Burke 6 Keith Kelly 7 Jason Northey no show.
In a weekend where all would be expected to turn out for matches, a hardy few braved the astro at the postal club in two sessions over the weekend. Too few interested in trying for honours this year? A poor reflection on many, and an attitude which needs to be improved.
Spartak 1, Phoenix 1
A 93rd minute equaliser, created by Anto Doyle and finished by Seamus McCahill, spared Spartak’s blushes against the 9 men of bottom club Phoenix, in a contest ruined by inept refereeing.
An even later “goal” by Martin Costello was ruled out for a dubious offside decision to prevent Martin from breaking his scoring duck.
All that, however, is to obscure the poor performance by the Sky Blues, many of whom looked well off the pace.
Spartak were given a footballing lesson in the first half as Phoenix passed and moved, while the homesters wilfully wasted possession.
Spartak did manage to create a few chances in the first half, which all fell to Mick Costello, but he did not have his shooting boots on. Seamus McCahill, Derek McGoldrick, Anto Doyle and Chris Hogan all struggled in midfield, where Phoenix more or less did as they pleased. Spartak were grateful to Martin Costello for a few timely interceptions, and when Jason Northey parried, Mick Greene was on hand to complete the clearance.
Spartak were handicapped by the loss through injury of Mick Greene, in particular his expertise at set pieces, which Martin Costello could not replicate.
Phoenix hit the post, and also shot wide when Jason Northey’s kick was short.
The second period descended into something approaching farce as the ref lost control. Late on he dismissed two of the visitors, and failed to deal with a pitch incursion by about a dozen of the visitors camp.
Spartak relied on a few scrambled efforts, with Mick Costello forcing a save and Seamus McCahill unable to direct a header wide of the keeper. In one scramble Niall Lennon could not find the vital reaction to force the ball over the line.
Phoenix took the lead when a free was pulled back from the bye line and driven past Northey.
Spartak were grateful for a point in a game that should have yielded the full haul.
Form Report
Jason Northey 5 Dave O’Kelly 5 Mick Greene 6 Martin Costello 7 Cathal Clancy 6 Anto Doyle 6 Seamus McCahill 5 Chris Hogan 5 Derek McGoldrick 5 Ross Kelly 5 Mick Costello 5
Subs Dillon Burke 5 Jose Vargas 5 Niall Lennon 5 Shane McInerney Ryan Burke.
Spartak lost 2-3 to Over 35s Rory can write the match report, here are Sat lads ratings
Goalkeepers
Shane McInerney 6 clean sheet
Ross Kelly 6 no chance with goals conceded
Jason Northey 6 One good save one on one, conceded penalty
Ryan Burke 4 Never comfortable at the back or in midfield
Dillon Burke 5 good first half, but caught for touch and position second half
Martin Costello 5 Strange performance, scored a goal, but went missing too often at the back
Mick Greene 6 good for an hour, covered for Martin, then tired
Mick Costello 6 Good early passes, faded due to flu
Niall Hanratty 5 Did not hide, despite passing being off key
Niall Lennon 4 Some nice touches, but outsmarted by experienced players
Jose Vargas 5 Missed a great chance, too easily bundled off the ball
Jason Northey 4 Too slow to convert a chance, lacking pace.
Ross Kelly 5 Not one of Ross’s finest – a bit out of touch
Chris Hogan 4 played second half and made little impact
Niall Tilley 4 missed several good chances, too easily dispossessed
Shane McInerney 5 played last 20 mins, battled as usual
Dermot Dooley 5 Industrious without finding good forward passes
Derek McGoldrick 6 scored one, missed a couple, touch was a bit off.
Thanks to all who sold tickets for the raffle. A special thanks to Martin Costello , who raised €90, and to Mick Greene, Jason Doyle, Ross Kelly, Glen Burke, Fintan Grace, Jose Vargas and Derek Keane all of whom raised €50 or more. Sky blue heroes all.
Must be worth at least vote in Clubman of the year!
Overall leader Ryan Burke heads the posse so far for December but there are quite a number within 15 points of him for the December €50 prize. (You must have paid annuals in full to qualify!).
Chopper, Ger, Cathal, Frank, Breener(!), Deggsy, Hano and Father Ted Crilley are all in the mix.
Roll on the decisive Christmas fixtures…..
Pending someone getting the snow plough and undersoil heating I reckon we won’t be training tonight……
Thanks to all who supported the raffle, and to those who donated prizes and a big thanks to Frank , Derek and Andy (Lord Lucan is on day release, Frank paid the bail money!) for running the raffle itself.
On the night itself, many were wondering why Shane brought us to a gay club – will it be the George next year ? There was an early scare when Hano almost missed the platters.
Among the older denizens Rory came alive when they played a couple of early 80s tracks.
Condtions were treacherous (mainly when Ross produced the shots) and unfortunately there were a number of injuries picked up. Paul K pulled his hamstring and was carried off the field of play , while Keith appeared to suffer from concussion. The Bolgers limped in together. Good to see Mark after his accident, and Neill was suffering after Ross’s hatchet job at training.
We will draw a veil over events during the rest of the evening, suffice to say a good time was had by all, and Tony Kav is not going back till they replenish the Guinness supplies, severely depleted on the night.
And the lucky winners were…..
Winners (Seller)
1- Donal Breen (Fintan Grace)
2- Niamh Callan (Greg Callan)
3-Eamonn Boyle – (Derek McGoldrick)
4 Rachel Burke (Glen Burke)
5 Martin Costello
6 Mary Walsh (Peter O’Toole)
7 Jack and Jess (Dave Mohan)
8 Graham Breen
9 Colum O’Sullivan (RossKelly)
10 Colum O’Sullivan (Ross Kelly)
11 Aoife Breen (Graham Breen)
12 Ross Kelly
13 B Mulholland (Dave Browne)
14 Steve Grier
Congratulations to Ross Kelly for winning Last Man Standing just in time for the Christmas Party on Saturday night. Frank Mc Namee (not content with robbing goals from Mick Greene!) posted Bolton Wonders for a second time. As Bolton was the automatic pick in Week 3 Frank got the next team available to him alphabetically which was Everton.
Last Man Standing will restart in January 2011
