Spartak Dynamo FC

Clifden Celtic 4 Spartak 1

A useful work out for players returning from injury or holiday absences.
Spartak played quite well in the first half, without offering a huge threat to Clifden’s goal. Kevin Mannion tended to overplay and Niall Tilley and Jose Vargas were marshalled by the home defence. Mick Greene was impressive in goal in the first half, but less so as an outfield player after the interval.

Rob Flanagan and Dave Browne did well initially as a centre back partnership but were a great deal shakier as the game progressed.

The first home goal came when a long pass caught the defence square and Chris Hogan could not recover ground on the winger, who rounded Ross Kelly to score. Almost immediately Niall Lennon blocked a clearance from the keeper to allow Dermot Dooley to run the ball in. Naill Lennon then had a clear chance saved by the keeper.

The second Clifden goal caught the back four disorganised and flat footed from a corner and a simple header, unchallenged, was all it took from close in.
Rob Flanagan had a header cleared off the line as Spartak tried to equalise again.
The third and fourth goals came in the gathering gloom and near darkness as Clifden gained confidence from Spartak’s lapses.

Overall a worthwhile exercise on the wettest day of the year.

Form report

Mick Greene (7 in goal 4) out Chris Hogan 5 Eoin Grogan 6 Rob Flanagan 6 Dave Browne 6 Niall Lennon 6 Paul Ferguson 5 Jose Vargas 5 Niall Tilley 5 Kevin Mannion 5 Ross Kelly (6 in goal and out)
Subs Dermot Dooley 6 Will O’Connell 5.

Babriggan 1, Spartak 2

Three second half substitutes played a key role in getting Spartak all three points. Ryan Burke’s challenge allowed Tom O’Driscoll in to round the keeper neatly and walk the ball in for number one on 67 minutes. Ryan’s cross led to the foul on Niall Lennon which gave Mick Greene the opportunity to trundle forward and convert for number 2; and Shane Corrigan provided a couple of neat passes as well as being foiled on the line with an effort of his own.

Balbriggan had dominated the first half without scoring, mainly thanks to the sterling defensive work of Martin Costello, with good protection from Mick Costello and Shane McInerney as Spartak were forced to defend. Niall Hanratty, in an unaccustomed centre back role, was often profligate with his distribution and was caught in possession in an uncomfortable first half; he settled down better in the second period.
Spartak could make no forward progress , with wide men Rob Deerring and Rob Flanagan experiencing form they would rather forget. Ross Kelly was less effective than of late, and Tom O’Driscoll was often a lone forward threat.

Balbrggan reduced arrears on 85 minutes when the centre of the Spartak defence got their positioning wrong, and the home side then pressed hard but were denied an equaliser.

Overall a satisfactory three points.

Form Report
Mick Greene 7 Chris Hogan 6 Dillon Burke 5 Niall Hanratty 6 Martin Costello 8 Shane McInerney 7 Rob Flanagan 4 Rob Deering 4 Ross Kelly 5 Tom O’Driscoll 7 Mick Costello 7
Subs: Ryan Burke 7 Niall Lennon 7 Shane Corrigan 7 Jose Vargas

Saturday Team – AWAY to Tymon Bawn

Sunday Team – AWAY to Seaford Rock

Over 35s – AWAY to Larkview

A few old reports to bring back memories, good and bad….

29th Feb 2004
Spartak 3 Liffey Wanderers 2

O Toole7 P Kilroy7 Grace7 D Buckley7 I Kilroy7 K Buckley7 McGowan7 O Connell9 Dunne7 D Byrne7 G Byrne7 Sub McNamee 7

An outstanding display by O Connell and a stunning late winner by McNamee were the highlights of a rip roaring battle at Marlay. O Connell scored after his interception won possession ; he passed to Byrnsie and then tucked away the square pass. Spartak’s second arrived when O Connell’s headed knock down was coolly tucked past the static keeper by McGowan.

Sweetest of all in a robust contest was the winner when OConnell’s second attempt to cross found McNamee who gleefully thumped home left footed.

4th May 2003 Griffith 1 Spartak 2

K O’Connell pen , St Leger

O’Toole 7 A Doyle 8 D O’Connell 7 K O’Connell 9 D Mohan 7 K Buckley 8 F McNamee 8 B St Leger 7 A Dunne 7 W O’Connell 7 G Byrne 7. Sub M Cooney 6

Once again Spartak fielded a side depleted by injury and absentees. Once again the players rose to the challenge and fought grittily at DCU to carve out a good result, which keeps the hunt on for runners up spot.

Griffith started as if they meant business, and O’Toole had to save smartly with Buckley tidying up the rebound. O’Toole then had to advance to narrow the angle , forcing the forward to shoot wide. Slowly Spartak gained momentum , with Anto Doyle prominent down the right. Frank McNamee went close with a towering header and then in the next attack Ger Byrne was upended in the box .Kevin O’Connell, revelling in an unaccustomed sweeper role, drilled the resultant spot kick home. Spartak then went on an attacking spree with a flowing move from Mohan, Doyle Stleger finally setting Byrne up 15 yards out, but he blazed over, when a little more coolness was called for.

Griffith came at the visitors in the second half, but Spartak were dangerous on the break with buckley a powerhouse in the middle and Doyle raiding on the right, chances were created for St Leger, Byrne and Will O’Connell who all missed when well placed to score.

The all important second goal arrived when Byrne laid a ball back to Will O Connell out on the left. His cross was neatly laid off by Dunne and St Leger volleyed powerfully home.

A nervous final five minutes was assured when Dan O’Connell, attempting to intercept a cross, blasted the ball into his own net to mark his first team debut with a spectacular own goal. However the defence held firm and the three points were in the bag.
SPARTAK TRIUMPH IN CUP THRILLER

28th November 1999

Bluebell Utd 1, Spartak Dynamo 2

Following last season’s defeat (1-0) at the hands of Bluebell in the FAI Junior Cup, it did not bode well for Spartak when they had to concede home advantage in this Leinster Junior Cup fifth round tie.

However a sprightly start by the men in claret and blue soon put the game in a different light and in the seventh minute tenacity by Kevin O’Connell (when he blocked an attempted clearance) was rewarded with a favourable rebound which took the ball beyond the home keeper. Spartak added a second after 21 minutes when a sweeping move involving Doyle, O’Connell and Dunne was finished when the latter’s driven cross was thumped home first time from the edge of the box by McGowan.

The second half began with a determined Bluebell attempting to impose their game and misplaced Spartak passes were punished by long periods of Bluebell possesion. Spartak were only rarely able to mount a attacks in the increasingly cloying conditions and were hauled back by a goal in the 59th minute when the Spartak rearguard did not deal decisively with a cross. Spartak, although defending with all their might, were on the back foot and Alan Kilroy cleared off the line on a few occasions while Alan Kavanagh in goal resorted to the unorthodox to protect the lead. Gradually the pressure was eased by a late resurgence of inventive passing and movement and Spartak finished strongly for a memorable win.

Alan Kavanagh 7 – Held onto the ball well in difficult conditions.
Declan Buckley 7 – Quick in the tackle and good covering.
Alan Kilroy 8 – Great goal line clearances and a memorable last ditch tackle..
Brian Stafford 8 – Always able to get in front of his player.
Derek Keane 7 – Kept the troops well organised .
Ken Buckley 7 Strong in midfield . Booked for dissent.
Neil McGowan 7 Took his goal well and passed accurately.
Mick Harte 7 – his strength in possession gave Spartak some breathers.
Andy Dunne 7 Never stopped working and supplied a cracking cross for the second goal.
Cameron Doyle 7 Incisive first half passing.
Kevin O’Connell 7 Hard working with Dunne. Always available for the out ball.

Saturday Team – AWAY to Balbriggan

Sunday Team – HOME to Iveagh Celtic

Spartak 2 Terenure College 1

Early season disruption meant a change of fixture from that published and for Spartak it showed 8 changes from the team which dropped points to Swords. Only Mick Greene, Shane McInerney and Derek McGoldrick have started both games to date!

A tentative start again from Spartak, who went into arrears in 6 minutes, when a follow up shot was drilled in after Peter O’Toole blocked the first effort. In the build up, there had been a blatant push on Rob Flanagan, not penalised by a referee who then allowed a series of bad challenges in a physical contest to go unpunished and a dreadful challenge on Dillon Burke, which ended Dillon’s involvement, punished by a yellow only.

Spartak were living dangerously and Terenure came close when Chris Hogan hesitated with a clearance. A series of defensive errors by Spartak went unpunished: Derek McGoldrick lost his man at a corner, Mick Greene made a hames of a clearance, Peter had a poor goal kick.
Some respite at the other end came when following a good corner routine, Rob Flanagan’s header was cleared off the line, and Tom O’Driscoll’s effort hit the side netting.
Spartak got a great break at the start of the second half, when Kevin Mannion forced home the equaliser from close range from Rob Flanagan’s cross.
With Seamus McCahill on as sub and having a fine spell, it was not long before Spartak added number two, from Seamus, when again Rob provided the assist, and Rob then had a fine turn and shot which struck the post.

Having got into the lead, Spartak then relaxed and allowed the vistors back into the game. Terenure hit the bar, and also blazed over when it looked easier to score.
Chris Hogan made an interesting choice when he passed back to Peter from inside the six yard box, but Peter recovered his composure to clear.

On the break, Tom O’Driscoll had a one on one which he shot tamely at the keeper, and also a couple of good penalty shouts. Niall Lennon put Seamus through but he was too high with his effort.

Spartak were now under the cosh and Cathal Clancy and Mick Greene were manning the pumps with headers and clearances as pressure mounted. Derek McGoldrick made a few fine recovery tackles, and Chris Hogan gradually grew into the unfamiliar full back role.

Peter O’Toole spilled a shot and Terenure missed out, but he then redeemed himself with a brilliant save from a deflected effort in injury time.

Spartak were happy with the three points from a committed performance by a much changed side.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 7 Chris Hogan 6 Dillon Burke 6 Cathal Clancy 8 Mick Greene 7 Shane McInerney 7 Rob Flanagan 7 Kevin Mannion 7 Ross Kelly 6 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Derek McGoldrick 7 Subs Seamus McCahill 7 Niall Lennon 6 Dam O’Connell Ryan Burke

Spartak Over 35s 0, Spartak X1 2

A good work out for the over 35s, who were for the most part untroubled by the younger club members. Most of the youngsters took advantage of the extra space due to the slower pace of the match by holding onto the ball unneccesarily prior to launching it onto the willing heads of McGrath and Callan at the heart of the vets defence. Niall Hanratty was a particular culprit here, eschewing his recent good form, and in addition his set pieces were aimed carefully for Jimmy Browne’s gloves.

Both full backs, Rob Deering and Ryan Burke, regularly wasted possession and overlapped rarely.

Up front Ross Kelly made willing runs, but was largely ignored by his colleagues. In midfield, McInerney, Mannion and Hogan failed in general to get beyond the front men or supply sufficient attacking support or guile.

The older guys defence was well marshalled by Callan and McGrath, with Kavanagh and the spiky Crowe offering stout cover in midfield.
Ken Byrne faded after a bright start. Shay McClafferty covered and distributed neatly.

The downside for the over 35s was the lack of substitutes, so necessary at this level, and also that they were toothless in attack. The lack of hold up play meant that inevitably they would concede ground and be forced deep.

Mick Greene, swapping positions with Ross, opened the scoring from Dermot Dooley’s cross. Hesitancy from the referee caused the over 35 defence to stop, expecting a whistle for a throw in. The whistle never arrived.

A good cross by Rob Deering, on a rare overlap, was cleared back to him and he finished neatly for number 2.

Form Report
Over 35s: Jimmy Browne 6 Shay McClafferty 7 Lee Atkins 6 Paul McGrath 7 Greg Callan 7 Tony Kavanagh 6 Ken Byrne 6 Barry Crowe 6 Leon David 5 Jason Doyle 5 Mark Byrne 5 Rory Campbell5

SelectX1: Mick Greene 6 Rob Deering 5 Dillon Burke 5 Rob Flanagan 6 Niall Hanratty 4 Shane McInerney 5 Chris Hogan 5 Kevin Mannion 5 Ryan Burke 5 Ross Kelly 6 Derek McGoldrick 5 Dermot Dooley 6

Saturday Team – AWAY to Laytown

Sunday Team – HOME to Pioneers – AND – Tuesday 31st AWAY to Liffey Valley

Over 35’s – HOME to Portmarnock (Friendly)

Spartak 2 Swords 2

Spartak, having bossed the opening 15 minutes, suddenly found themselves 0-2 down when two long balls down the middle were defended poorly.
Early opportunities from Colum O’Sullivan Jose Vargas and Glen Burke were off target before a mix up between Mick Greene and Dave Browne gave Swords a surprise lead. The problem was compounded a minute later, on 17 minutes, when Dave Browne was caught under a long ball and could not recover in time to prevent number 2.
Spartak recovered from their shock and Shane McInerney struck the bar with a snapshot, O’Sullivan’s close range shot was saved and Vargas goal was disallowed for handball.
On 36 minutes a Dave Browne throw was flicked on by Mick Costello to Glen Burke who struck the bar from close range, but Mick Costello recovered to turn the ball in. Vargas had a good run but his efort was saved.
Spartak were all set up for a storming second half display but it never materialised. McInerney and Dooley faded in midfield and Spartak’s forward play lacked fire.
There was a good shout for a penalty before Dooley shot wide and Spartak had to wait until the 79th minute when a long free from Keith Kelly was powerfully headed home by Dave Browne for his first ever goal for the club.
Spartak failed to press on, with the enigmatic Glen Burke fading in and out of the game, the players in sky blue slow to the second ball. Both full backs failed to push on and the midfielders showed no desire to get on the end of crosses or passes.
Indeed Spartak were grateful to Mick Greene who pulled off a point saving stop when the visiting number 9 had eluded a couple of defenders.

Two really poorly conceded goals and a lack of desire from too many players to get on the scoresheet meant Spartak had to settle for a single point. There will be tougher opponents.

Form Report
Mick Greene 6 Tony Kavanagh 7 Derek McGoldrick 6 Keith Kelly 7 Dave Browne 6 Shane McInerney 5 Dermot Dooley 6 Jose Vargas 6 Colum O’Sullivan 6 Glen Burke 6 Mick Costello 7
Subs Mark Bolger 5 Dillon Burke 5 Ryan Burke 6 Mike Hull Chris Hogan Rob Flanagan.

Saturday Team – Home to Swords

Sunday Team – Home to Mourne – AND – Tuesday 24th Away to Esker