Spartak Dynamo FC

Brookfield 2nds 4, Spartak 2

The uninspiring surroundings of Jobstown Park saw Spartak knocked out of the Leinster Junior Shield after a poor display.

Although Spartak went two up, taking advantage of the massive slope on the pitch, the sky blues never looked convincing and were always beaten to the second ball, and sometimes the first as well. On 10 minutes a good move by Martin Costello, Ross Kelly and Adam Doran panicked the home side into putting through their own goal. Brookfield gave warning by hitting the bar before, on 21 minutes, Niall Hanratty picked up a loose ball and drove in from 18 yards.
Errors by Adam Doran went unpunished as the home side pressed up the hill and Mick Greene conceded a free after being vociferous following a challenge.
On 32 minutes Dave O’Kelly missed his tackle and the home side reduced arrears.
Before the break Spartak missed two great opportunities in what was probably the key point at which could have clinched a decisive lead; Martin Costello drove wide from 12 yads after good work by Doran and Hanratty; and when Dillon Burke hit the bar from point blank range, the rebound fell to Ross Kelly who popped it into the keepers arms from a few yards out.
The second half was one of growing pressure from the home side, who introduced three strong subs, and they struck the bar and the post; additionally Dave O’Kelly cleared just over when under pressure and Dillon Burke made a last ditch tackle.
The last ten minutes proved decisive as Spartak ran out of energy in the middle with the front men unable to make any forward progress and a number of tackles were missed as Brookfield drew level. When Hanratty was slow to close down, a deflected shot gave the lead to Brookfield on 85 minutes and a fourth was added when Spartak pressed forward but lost the ball from Dave O’Kelly’s throw.

Form Report
Mick Greene 5 Chris Hogan 4 Dillon Burke 4 Cathal Clancy 5 Dave O Kelly 5 Martin Costello 4 Niall Hanratty 4 Kevin Mannion 4 Adam Doran 4 Ross Kelly 5 Niall Lennon 5
Subs Mark Bolger 4 Ryan burke 4 Killian Barnwell Jason Northey Rob Flanagan

Saturday team – AWAY to Laytown

Sunday team – TBA

Over 35’s – AWAY to Wicklow Town

Booth Road Celtic 4 Spartak 2

The wheels came off the Spartak bandwagon in Corkagh Park on Saturday.

A timid first half display allowed the home side to bully their way to superiority. Niall Hanratty, so influential the previous week, was caught in possession and guilty of careless use of the ball. He missed an early chance when , after good work by Mick Costello, he dragged his shot wide from a good position.
Booth attacked strongly and the sky blue back four stood off with disastrous results. Martin Costello cleared off the line but on 15 minutes Dillon Burke was brushed aside, and while Mick Greene parried the shot, Booth were sharper to the loose ball to take the lead.
A good move started by Chris Hogan led to Shane McInerney driving home for the equaliser after 26 minutes. But parity was short lived and a free conceded by Shane led to number two on 35 minutes when the free was converted. Dillon Burke, having an off day, was caught for goal number 3 on 38 minutes, leaving Spartak with a mountain to climb.
Booth started the second period well and their striker rounded Mick Greene, but over ran the ball.
Niall Lennon blazed over from 6 yards in a glorious oportunity to get Spartak back into the game, and Dave O’Kelly was wide with another effort.
In general Spartak were not passing the ball well enough and also losing all the 50/50s, preferring to moan at the ref instead of buckling down to the task of matching the aggression of the local side.
Indeed some of the unforced passing errors only served to increase the levels of frustration as Spartak ried to recover.
With just minutes left and Spartak pressing, Martin Costello struck the post, the ball fell to Dave O’Kelly who also struck the post before heading the rebound home.
With seconds left, Ross Kelly just failed to connect with Derek McGoldrick’s cross, but the ball was cleared and a slip by Cathal Clancy , bereft of cover at the back, led to number 4.

Form Report
Mick Greene 6 Chris Hogan 4 Dillon Burke 4 Martin Costello 5 Cathal Clancy 6 Shane McInerney 6 Niall Hanratty 4 Ryan Burke 4 Derek McGoldrick 6 Ross Kelly 6 Mick Costello 4
Subs Dave O’Kelly 4 Niall Lennon 4 Rob Flanagan 4 Jason Northey Eoin Grogan

Saturday Team – AWAY to Brookfield in the Cup

Sunday Team – AWAY to Pegasus

Over 35’s – AWAY to Graystones

The season of 1970-71 was memorable for an Arsenal double in England, an Ajax win in Europe and a surprise win for Cork Hibs in the League of Ireland. However the most important event of that season in football was undoubtedly the formation and first competitive appearance of Spartak Dynamo FC.

The club is holding a 40th anniversary celebration night on 19th February 2011 in the Irish Room of the 3 Rock Pub.

There will be food and music on the night.  It is hoped that as many current and former players (plus partners) as possible can attend.  It will be a memorable occasion.

We will create a page on the site dedicated to the event to keep you updated.

Spread the word to your Spartak colleagues of today and yesteryear.

Please post your team for week 2 of Last Man Standing. This weeks automatic pick is Arsenal. A full list of fixtures is on the Last Man tab above. Please pay your €10 ASAP.. The 1st prize is half the pot.

Saturday team – AWAY to Booth Road Celtic

Sunday team – Home to Courtown Hibernian in the cup

Over 35’s – HOME to Wicklow Town

Spartak 5, St Itas 2

A scintillating spell in the first half saw Spartak home and hosed in this contest in which the visitors had equal territorial possesion but could not match Spartak’s finishing skills.

Spartak fell behind after just 3 minutes when uncertain defending by Chris Hogan and Ryan Burke allowed a long range effort from Itas which struck the bar. A visiting forward reacted quickly to score as Mick Greene was caught by surprise.

Spartak settled down and began to play well and after Niall Hanratty’s free was headed over by Mick Costello. Mick’s flick on caused the confusion which led to the equaliser, an OG, as Shane McInerney and Ryan Burke applied pressure.

Spartak then spurned a golden opportunity when Hanratty’s pass released Ryan Burke into a two on one situation, but Ryan, faced with the options of passing to the unmarked Mick Costello or going alone, crossed wastefully wide.

On 18 minutes a peach of a pass from Hanratty released Ross Kelly, who drilled home first time from 18 yards. And the goal of the match followed minutes later when Hogan fed Hanratty and his pass was smashed into the bottom corner by Derek McGoldrick.

Spartak, and Hanratty in particular, were now rampant and Hanratty smashed a long range effort off the crossbar, before Mick Costello supplied Ross Kelly to slip his second beyond the advancing keeper.

Chris Hogan , who supplied some good forward passes, was at times careless defensively, and when his attempted pass across field was intercepted, Mick Greene had to scramble the ball away for a corner. Indeed Itas had a few decent efforts off target before Mick Costello, with Hanratty again the supplier, scored number 5 on 44 minutes after a good run.

The second half was a more prosaic affair after the heady stuff of the opening period. Hanratty, who tired noticeably after a blistering opening half, blazed wide from a good position and Hanratty and Hogan combined well for the latter to cross well, but just out of reach of McGoldrick.

As Ita’s strove to get back in the game, Cathal Clancy had to clear off the line and Ita’s reduced arrears from a corner on 65 minutes. The defensive line became somewhat erratic and Spartak were fortunate that the visitors’ efforts were either off target or within the clutches of Mick Greene.

Form Report
Mick Greene 6 Chris Hogan 6 Dillon Burke 6 Martin Costello 7 Cathal Clancy 7 Shane McInerney 7 Niall Hanratty 9 Ryan Burke 6 Derek McGoldrick 7 Ross Kelly 8 Mick Costello 7
Subs Mike Hull 5 Kevin Mannion 6 Niall Lennon 6 Eoin Grogan

Saturday Team – HOME to St. Ita’s

Sunday Team – HOME to St. Colmcilles

Over 35’s – HOME to Esker Celtic