Spartak Dynamo FC

Phoenix 2, Spartak 1

Early and late errors gifted goals to the home side and negated the hard work done by a Spartak side that battled well if never producing anything approaching fluent football. 

 Within two minutes Phoenix were ahead when Shane McInerney’s pass back was intercepted by a home forward who poked the ball past the advancing Northey.

Spartak responded and Derek McGoldrick had an effort blocked and when the home keeper fumbled a scramble ensued but Tom O’Driscoll or Mike Hull could not force the ball home.

On 26 minutes Spartak equalised, Mick Greene achieving the feat of scoring from 70 yards with a punt when the bounce on the rock hard pitch eluded the home keeper. 

Cathal Clancy was fortunate when caught wrong side of the attacker and fouled him that the ref issued only a yellow card.

A nice move involving TomO’Driscoll and Mick Costello saw Ross Kelly shoot over and Mick Costello also shot wide. At the other end Jason Northey flapped at a cross but the resultant effort was well off target.

Mark Bolger replaced the injured TomO’Driscoll up front at half time, but apart from one or two moments, did not display the energy required to trouble the home defence, and Spartak’s goal chances diminished. 

The second half saw Phoenix enjoy almost total possession, however their shooting efforts were mostly of the barn door variey, and Northey dealt fairly comfortably with those which were on target.

On 93 minutes Spartak had their best chance of the half when Bolgers’ long ball was won by McGoldrick who set up Chris Hogan 15 yards out. His shot was well struck but inches over. Phoenix got the breakthrough a minute later when hesitancy by Martin Costello allowed their no 10 to score from close in.

Spartak worked hard but there were few with the ability to calmly pass and move. Hanratty got forward regularly but found little support. Greene played very deep and was content to thump the ball out. The wide midfielders, Hull and Kelly , could not prompt moves or get to the bye line. In central midfield Mick Costello’s passing at times was perceptive  but he faded as the game went on. Shane McInerney put in a shift in closing men down but never featured as a creative force. Neither central defender was comfortable carrying the ball out.Up front both O’Driscoll and McGoldrick started despite hamstring injuries and gave their best. 

Overall a below par performance by Spartak which will need to be greatly improved upon for Monday’s visit to Everton.

Form report

Jason Northey 6 Niall Hanratty 7 Mick Greene 5 Martin Costello 5 Cathal Clancy 5 Shane McInerney 5 Mike Hull 5 Derek McGoldrick 6 Ross Kelly 5 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Mick Costello 6

Subs: Mark Bolger 5 Chris Hogan 6 Dermot Dooley 6

Saturday Team- AWAY to Phoenix – Monday 26 April AWAY to Everton

Sunday Team – AWAY to Meath Rangers in the Cup Semi-Final

Over 35’s – AWAY to Greenhills

Ratoath 6 Spartak 1

A leg weary Spartak side, playing their third game in six days against fresh opponents, capitulated early in the second half to a heavy defeat. The LSL fixture secretary, having messed up all season, predictably set 3 games for six days and then no game on this coming Saturday or in midweek. It takes a special type of talent to make such lop sided arrangements, and perhaps Spartak need to be more vocal in response. For example this game could have been played the following week when neither team had a mid week game.

As well as tiredness, Jason Northey, beaten from a 30 yard free kick in the first minute, had his worst game of the season and conceded six without making a save. In conceding so many,  he was culpable in respect of poor judgment or decisiveness in leaving his line. When Jason was injured in conceding number six, Mick Costello took over between the sticks as Spartak finished with ten.

Martin Costello and Shane McInerney carried knocks into the game with hamstring and groin problems respectively, out of necessity, as Spartak’s large panel dwindled at the prospect of a distant mid week game.  Mick Greene was forced off before half time after blocking a pile driver with his head. Tom O’Driscoll, also injured going into the match, had to be substituted just after half time. 

Spartak never functioned as an attacking force, with players opting to thump the ball down the middle or run with the ball until dispossessed rather than take the option of a pass. Both full backs wasted possession and the midfield never got a foot on the ball. The strikers were restricted to battling for aerial possesion. As a result Ratoath enjoyed the majority of possession and threatened to overwhelm the visitors in the first half.

One nil down from the first minute, Spartak held out till half time by dint of some dogged defending, but without putting a move together or testing the home keeper.

The first ten minutes of the second half saw Ratoath score three times, the first when Rob Deering and Martin Costello were beaten, the  second when Northey came for and missed a cross; the next a penalty after a mix up between Northey and Mark Bolger. Then on 68 minutes Martin Costello was caught in possession and was unable to prevent number 5.  

Spartak’s lone goal came at 0-5 down from an optimistic long range shot by Neill Bolger which the home keeper allowed pass under his diving body. 

The sixth and final goal on 75 minutes saw Northey again slow off his line and beaten; however in the clash with the forward he took a knock and Mick Costello went in goal.

An extremely  poor performance even allowing for the mitigating factors of tiredness against a fresh team who had not played Monday.

Form Report

Jason Northey 4 Dave O’Kelly 5 Mick Greene 5 Martin Costello 5 Cathal Clancy 5 Shane McInerney 4 Anto Doyle 4 Rob Deering 4 Colm O’Sullivan 4 Tom O’Driscoll 4  Neill Bolger 4

Subs: Mark Bolger 5 Ross Kelly4 Mick Costello 6

Spartak 7, Dun Laoghaire 2

A splendid performance by Ger Byrne who scored four times as well as earning a penalty and generally being a total nuisance to the visiing defence, was the key ingredient to this win.

Ger won the penaly after four minutes when he was impeded running onto a ball by Niall Hanratty. Mick Greene converted.

Hanratty then missed a simple chance when James Finn flicked on Dave O’Kelly’s throw, and Martin Costello was wide after Tom O’Driscoll’s clever corner found him free ten yards out.

Spartak’s defence was uneasy and after Hanratty lost possession had to scamble the ball out for a corner. Mark Bolger and Dave OKelly were too easily beaten in one attack which fizzled out.  There were legitinate claims for a penalty when Bolger handled. The visitors had a free header from a corner. Jason Northey was then penalised for carrying the ball outside his area and Dun Laoghaire equalised after some sloppy defensive efforts by Spartak.

Byrne was again impeded in the area but the ref chose not  to award a second spot kick and then Hanratty was wide with his cross after a good move. On 26 minutes O’Driscoll set Byrne free and he scored with a measured lob from an angle as the keeper advanced.

While the work rate of Finn and Shane McInerney kept the midfield busy, full backs  Dave O’Kelly and Mick Greene struggled to move the ball constructively and the wide men, Hanratty and Chris Hogan, were unable to deliver telling crosses. Byrne added number 3 on 29 minutes when his intended cross floated in.

The second half began withe the visitors enjoying a considerable amount of possesion as Spartak, perhaps showing weariness from Saturday’s match, stood off. Chris Hogan was pulled back when clear but the offence was not penalised.

Spartak became more fragmented and McInerney picked up a yellow card in an altercation, while Hanratty was lucky when he let his man run into the 6 yard box but missed contact with the cross. Dave O’Kelly had to make a great saving tackle to prevent a clear chance.

On 62 minutes Hanratty thundered a shot off the bar, but on 64 minutes the visitors were right back as they scored after a run from an offside position. Martin Costello, running back, missed the tackle. 3-2.

Substitutes Steve Browne and Colm O’Sullivan brought an immediate injection of much needed energy and when the keeper spilled Browne’s shot, Byrne had a simple task to finish.

Hanratty, doing better when switched to full back, put Browne through to finish on 75 minutes, and also crossed for Byrnes 85th minute goal.

In between Browne had a remarkable cameo. When Tom O’Driscoll was taken doen in the box, and the offender red carded, Steve was nominated to take the penalty, as Mick Greene was off the pitch at this stage. His weak effort was blocked by the keeper but the rebound sat up invitingly 5 yards out. With the choice of walking the ball in or blasting to the net, his overly  casual approach led to him somehow managing to scuff it back into the prostrate keeper’s arms, for the miss of this, or any other, season.

Just a minute later he scored from play when Martin Costello put him through

For 70 minutes this was a close game, and the gap widened only as the visitiors lost composure and shape, with Spartak’s substitutes making a telling contribution.  Nonetheless, three good points and a boost to the goal difference.

Form Report

Jason Northey 6 Dave O’Kelly 6 Mick Greene 5 Mark Bolger 6 Martin Costello 6 Shane McInerney 7 Niall Hanratty 6 Chris Hogan 5 Ger Byrne 9 Tom O’Driscoll 6 James Finn 7

Subs Colm O’Sullivan 7 Steve Browne 7 Cathal Clancy 7 Ross Kelly Mike Hull Rob Deering Neill Bolger

Because of glut of midweek games the next training session will be Thursday 22nd April at 9 in Kilians

Saturday team – AWAY to Rathoath THURSDAY night.

Sunday team – HOME to Mourne Celtic – TUESDAY 20th – AWAY to Liffey Valley in 1/4 final of the cup.

Over 35’s – AWAY to Lusk in the Cup

I know this is months early but if anyone is interested in paintball please post a reply here. Shane got an offer on the tickets of €7 per person and €8.50 for additional 100 paint balls. The date is Saturday 12th June and it down near Bray. He has to confirm by the weekend, so please post by Saturday night.

Training is OFF tonight as pitches are waterlogged. Training in St.Endas on Thursday at 7

Saturday Team AWAY to Ballyoulster on Saturday – MONDAY 12th- HOME to Dun Laoghaire

Sunday Team – HOME to Dunboyne on Sunday – TUESDAY 13th – HOME to St Pats

Over 35’s – Home to Rialto on Saturday – WEDNESDAY 14th – HOME to Greenhills

Please post your team for last man standing week 9. Remember there is no automatic pick so if you dont give a team you are out. Full fixture list is on the last man standing tab above. Fixtures take place from 10-14 April.