Spartak Dynamo FC

30.5.12
Spartak 4, Booth Road 5

This game was bookended by two fine strikes by Steve Grier and Steve Walsh. Grier’s effort from 30 yards went in via a post; Walsh’s expert free kick nestled in the top corner.

Unfortunately the Sky Blues did not pay sufficient attention to the darker defensive arts in this much delayed end of season fixture. Marlay’s strange cancellation policies meant the last few games were stretched over a long number of weeks and as a result quite a few players were missing for various reasons – injuries, exams, fatigue etc.

Its probably best to draw a veil over the defensive frailties which allowed Booth Road to fully capitalise on their chances. A lack of pace in the Spartak back four proved damaging.

Spartak took the lead, then came back from 1-2 down to lead 3-2 courtesy of two neatly taken Conor Maguire goals. Meantime Keith Kelly’s missed a spot kick, awarded after a foul on Graham McEnroe. Keith’s effort thudded against the post.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 6 Keith Kelly 6 Dave Browne 5 Steve Grier 6 Dave O’Kelly 5 Dermot Dooley 6 Steve Walsh 6 Graham McEnroe 6 Dave Thomson 5 Conor Maguire 6 Ger Byrne 5
subs: Shane McInerney 5 Niall Lennon Mick Greene Derek Ruxton

A vote of thanks Rob Smith, a real Sky Blue legend, who played his usual heroic role in the end of season Swindon escapade; arranging matches, marking the pitch; washing out dressing rooms; arranging accommodation and taxis for all. Nothing was too much trouble, and he paved the way for another very pleasant weekend. Spartak’s first visit to Swindon was in 1997 and this was the 5th trip in all.

Spartak’s travelling party was depleted on the day of departure as Dave Thomson was prevented by the authorities from leaving the country and Seamus McCahill became the latest victim of the recession, so there was a travelling party of just 10 players, augmented by local ex Sky Blues Alan Kavanagh and Rob Smith and also Rob’s nephew Daniel Smith.

The Bacchanalian excesses of the previous year were not repeated and to their credit the Spartak lads were in good shape for the Saturday game, and up bright and early for the Sunday morning start.

The Saturday game was competitive, far from a friendly with some meaty challenges. Ge rByrne and Mcik Plunkett, among others, took a few heavy knocks. The visitors took a two goal lead before Spartak asserted superiority for the second quarter and spurned a couple of good chances through Ross Kelly and Colum O’Sullivan. Glen Burke turned neatly to finish and there was also a good shout for a penalty. The Sky Blues were -1-2 down at half time.

Anto Doyle was caught in possession to concede again immediately after a blatantly offside goal to allow the home side open the gap to 4-1 and then close range goals by Ger Byrne and Colum O’Sullivan kept the visitors in touch; but fresh substitutes, and injuries to Alan Kavanagh and Thom O’Driscoll, saw the home side clinch it at 6-3.

The Sunday morning game against a fresh team was always going to be a challenge and wasn’t helped by a particularly inept display by a certain Anthony Doyle, who was turned inside and out by the winger who ran at him straight from the kick off and scored after just 22 seconds. Anto failed even to give the winger a stern look! Alan Kavanagh was ruled out by injury and Ross Kelly had to go in goal, where he took off two astonishing saves.

The visitors battled away and Colum O’Sullivan blazed over while Glen Burke also went close but the home side were good value for a 5-0 win with Spartak running on empty.

Such a thin squad was never enough to beat a team like Moredon Cheney, who had roll on roll off subs and in any case were an excellent side; if anything a lot stronger than last year, and with a fresh team on Sunday.

Nonetheless there was no lack of effort and, after two physical contests on successive days, the Spartak players were left with only the scars of battle to show for their strenuous efforts.

Form Report:
Alan Kavanagh 7 Anthony Doyle 4 Mick Plunkett 7 Steve Grier 8 Rob Smith 7 Thom O’Driscoll 7 Colum O’Sullivan 6 Edo Maino 5 Ross Kelly 6 Glen Burke 8 Daniel Smith 7 Jason Doyle 5

22.5 12
Spartak 4, Knockmitten 5

To concede 5 goals in any match is unfortunate; to concede 5 against a team battling relegation and against whom a clean sheet was maintained on their ground is truly careless.

Spartak scored 4 from about 20 good moves; the visitors only had a couple of attacks which did not result in goals.

Spartak played well, if a little anxiously, in attack, scored four and missed countless other chances.

In Peter O’Toole’s absence Dave Browne took his place between the sticks, and made one excellent save in the first half.

The Sky Blues were somewhat taken aback after dominating the first half hour, and missing many good chances, to find themselves two goals down; a situation from which they never quite recovered, despite some sparkling attacking play.

Dave O’Kelly headed over from close range, then Ger Byrne fired over on the turn. In the panic from the visitors there was a near og and then Keith Kelly had a drive saved.

Ger Byrne broke free and was clipped in the box, he regained his footing but fired a good opportunity wide.
Graham Breen, on an off night, then broke through but fired over closing in on goal.

Dave Browne made a good save, tipping on to the bar, but then a bad kick out on 26 minutes ceded possession; the Sky Blues defence was hesitant and the visitors took the lead. The back 4 again stood off on 36 minutes, allowing the visitors to play tikka takka in the 18 yard box and double their lead.

Ger Byrne pulled one back on 41 minutes with a looping header.

At the start of the second half Ger had another headed chance, but from 5 yards directed the ball into the keeper’s hands; Keith Kelly then struck the bar, with Neil McGowan knocking the rebound over, strangely given offside.

Knockmitten made it 3-1 with a ball down the middle as the Spartak defence, again hesitant, hoped for an offside call, but a magnificent move from Breen and Byrne saw Steve Grier meet the cross to reduce arrears.

But defensive woes continued when Keith Kelly was dispossessed and a rash Paul Kinsella challenge conceded a penalty, and goal number 4.

Again the Sky Blues reduced arrears; Grier won the ball and McGowan’s weighted pass put Stev Walsh through from half way – he kept his head and coolly slotted home.

What prove to be the winning goal came when Alex Kenny passed back and Dave Browne skied the ball; when Kmockmitten won the 50/50, the winger scored with a cross which drifted in at the back post.

Spartak laid siege to the Knockmiten goal and Alex Kenny headed home to make it 4-5. Thom ODriscoll volleyed over, and then in the last minute Paul Kinsella surged to the bye line his cross took the keeper out, but Breen headed against the post! A defender panicked and hacked Graham down, but the ref wasn’t convinced.

Form Report
Dave Browne 6 Keith Kelly 5 Conor Canavan 5 Paul Kinsella 5 Alex Kenny 7 Steve Grier 8 Neil McGowan 6 Dave O’Kelly 6 Steve Walsh 6 Graham Breen 6 Ger Byrne 6
Subs Steve O’Hara 5 Thom O’Driscoll 5 Mick Greene

17.5.12
Spartak 2, Shielton Ath 2

Graham Breen notched the fastest goal of the season in just 70 seconds, scoring when Dermot Dooley’s header fell to him at close range. Neil McGowan and Steve O’Hara had already missed chances by then in a whirlwind start by the Sky Blues.

But Shielton levelled on 8 minutes when Steve Grier failed to close down his man

Neil then missed a close range chance and Ger Byrne ran onto a great pass by Grier but his shot was too close to the keeper, who saved at the expense of a corner. McGowan’s corner was headed in at the near post by Alex Kenny.

As the game became a rough house due to weak refereeing, Grier was punched off the ball and tackles were flying in unpunished.

Spartak looked to have clinched the game when they broke sharply from defence; an astute pass by McGowan sent Keith Kelly on a trademark run and he played in Paul Kinsella, who rounded the keeper to score, only to be given offside.

A break by Shielton yielded an equaliser as Peter O’Toole was beaten at his near post, and then finally a red card was give to the visitors no.6.

Spartak kept attacking, and Breen had a couple of late chances, but no dice.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 6 Keith Kelly 6 Dave Browne 6 Paul Kinsella 6 Alex Kenny 7 Steve Grier 6 Neil McGowan 6
Steve O’Hara 6 Dermot Dooley 6 Graham Breen 6 Ger Byrne 6
Subs: Shane McInerney 6 Chris Hogan Mick Greene

Presentation Night is Friday 18th May in the Eden

Swindon trip is 25th May

6.5.12
Pioneers 3 Spartak 2

A deeply disappointing result against a home team struggling to avoid relegation; Pioneers started with ten men for a few minutes, held out and gradually strengthened as subs arrived.

Not so prompt were Spartak; many of whom become disoriented after leaving the front garden. In the worst case Alex Kenny crossed the east link at 10.15 and reached the pitch, in St Anne’s, at 11.40; he had reached the Phoenix Park before he noticed he wasn’t on the coast anymore. Lets hope his upcoming exams don’t have any questions on orientation, direction or geography!

Spartak created many chances, but defence was their achilles heel, and the goals conceded were very soft.

Spartak might have wrapped the game up in a bright start when a few good chances were created; with Dave Thomson an energetic mid field presence, the Sky Blues went forward and Ger Byrne and Graham Breen set up Conor Maguire for a straightforward chance 6 yards out but his attempt was a touch casual and allowed the keeper to save. Keith Kelly had a surging run and his cross-cum-shot was just ahead of Ger at the back post.

Having had things easy for the first ten minutes, the Sky Blues became complacent and listless as Pioneers showed a bit more bite; the central defensive partnership of Seamus McCahill and Dave Browne made for an uneasy combination; throw ins were frequently directed to opponents’ feet; Peter O’Toole’s kicking was off.

Peter O’Toole then made a couple of fine saves as the defence faltered; the early warning signs were ignored and from the second save Pioneers made the corner count as there was a lack of aerial power from Spartak and the ball was bundled in from a central position. On 35 minutes things got decidedly worse as a forward got a yard on Ken Buckley to fire in number 2.

Shaken, Spartak came close on the stroke of half time when Breen headed Ciaran Keogh’s header against the bar.

A much better display in the second half saw Spartak on the attack; there was an incredible miss by Neil McGowan after Breen headed Kelly’s throw against the bar. The ball dropped invitingly to Neil, a couple of yards out, but his volley was blocked on the line by the full back.

On 59 minutes Dave Thomson and Conor Maguire combined well for Conor to reduce arrears; and two minutes later the equaliser came from the same formula.

With the Sky Blues looking the most likely winners, Seamus McCahill had an aberration when in possession on the back line facing his goal; he could have conceded a corner or a throw; instead he dawdled, his pocket was picked and the home side nicked a gift winner on 72 minutes.

This was a game in which Spartak should have recorded a straightforward win, and the defeat marks five successive games without a win, after a good run which had lifted the team out of the relegation mire.

With three tougher home games to finish the season, a big improvement is required.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 6 Keith Kelly 5 Ciaran Keogh 6 Seamus McCahill 5 Dave Browne 5 Ken Buckley 6 Neil McGowan 6 Conor Maguire 6 Dave Thomson 7 Graham Breen 5 Ger Byrne 5
Subs: Alex Kenny 5 Graham McEnroe 5 Steve Walsh 5 Conor Canavan Thom O’Driscoll

Our Man in deepest Wiltshire has arranged the details of our games in Swindon: Rob Smith says –

One is a team called The Plough Inn. A good Sunday league team who have won their league last two years in a row. The other team is Moredon Cheney – the guys who whipped us on the Saturday last year. A revenge mission would be nice.

Acccomodation is in the luxurious Jurys Inn – at £25 per night its great value.

There is a good group going so far, always room for a couple of late entrants; flights are still at €59 to Bristol.

Player of the year trophies will be presented in the Eden on Friday 18th May.

A good night is anticipated, just a week before the Swindon trip.

The Chairman has arranged a bumper night, with hot and cold running women for the single lads, and a consolation drink for the married ones.

Can someone please bring a spare pair of shoes for Ross?

Text your Player of the Year for the Saturday team & Sunday team to Paul by Friday.

Over 35’s text Dave Mohan by Friday.

Also include your vote for the Club Man of the Year