Spartak Dynamo FC

22.8.21
Spartak 0, Wayside Celtic 0.

A resolute defensive display by the Sky Blues kept the visitors at bay as they pressed strongly in the second half. Craig Howard took off several fine saves and the back four made their share of blocks and tackles. Spartak had few chance in the second period, the best one falling to Amin Afsar, but the goalkeeper smothered his attempt.

The first half was a more even contest, with chances more evenly spread, but few on either side on target. A bright period of football saw Spartak, without some regulars, play some excellent passing football.

Ronan Buckley grew into a good defensive foil for Stephen Grier, who also had a solid game. Luke Stenson caught the eye with some timely tackles and tidy passing, while Owen Marron, as usual, was energy itself.

The visitors will wonder what they had to do to beat Craig Howard in goal, and departed somewhat dissatisfied with a point. Spartak, on the other hand, were well pleased with their display.

Form Report
Craig Howard 9 Owen Marron 8 Luke Stenson 8 Steve Grier 8 Ronan Buckley 8 Martin Rolfs 7 Jason Gahan 7 Dave Power 6 Stuart Love 7 Cian Stenson 6
Sub Kevin Cunningham 7 Amin Afsar 6

15.8.21

Iveagh Celtic 2, Spartak 2

A bright first half performance saw Spartak lead early on when Cian Stenson finished from Owen Marron’s flicked header.

It seemed further goals were to follow, but two goal line clearances foiled the Sky Blues and a flowing move saw Owen Marron’s cross met by Stuart Love’s volley, but just wide.

Spartak continued to press without penetrating the home defence a second time and Iveagh equalised against the run of play following some loose defensive work by the visitors.

Iveagh’s aerial prowess proved useful again in the second half when they took the lead; a free kick was nodded in, allowed by poor Spartak positioning from the dead ball.

Spartak began to look dangerous in attack again and two good chances fell to Amin Afsar, but he was off target each time.

Cian Stenson converted a penalty to equalise, Spartak continued to try for a winner but to no avail.

The final chance fell to Liam Caffrey, but his effort form 18 yards was wide of target.

Form Report
Craig Howard 7 Ronan Buckley 6 Kevin Cunningham 7 Steve Grier 8 Niall Lennon 7 Stuart Love 7 Pedro Lopes 6 Mick Leslie 6 Neil McGowan 7 Cian Stenson 7 Owen Marron 7
Subs: Amain Afsar 6 Eric Barber 6 Liam Caffrey 6

11.7.21

Spartak 2, Loughshinny 2

After the long Covid break it was an unusual July start to the season for the men in Sky Blue, with the heat a factor for both sides

Spartak started brightly, but it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play after defensive hesitation by the home side. Spartak pushed back strongly and Dave Power headed home via the crossbar after a free awarded by a foul on Dave and taken by Neil McGowan. Owen Marron with a one on one chance which was saved, and Dave Power with a solo effort grazing the frame of the goal came close before the break.

The sky Blues pressed early in the second period and Stuart Love headed wide from close range, while Loughshinny missed a glorious chance at the other end, before taking the lead with a cracking shot.

Spartak fought back once more and a slick move between Cian Stenson and Dave Power saw the latter slot home the equaliser.

Dave Power then had a snap shot which struck the post as both teams pressed for a winner, but no joy for either, with just a point apiece for all the effort.

Form Report
Adam Halligan 6 Ronan Buckley 6 Kevin Cunningham 7 Steve Grier 6 Ian Harmon 8 Stuart Love 6 Neil McGowan 7 Owen Marron 6 Keith Kelly 6 Dave Power 8 Cian Stenson 6
Sub: Niall Lennon 6

2.2.20
Spartak 3, Edenderry Town 1

After a dull first half stalemate it came as no surprise that the visitors took the lead on the hour mark; just earlier they had missed a very presentable headed chance.

Spartak had created a couple of chances, none better than a very early one which Cian Stenson fired over.

It was only after going behind that the home side roused themselves and Cian Stenson twice went close before Owen Marron equalised from close range.

Spartak took the lead after a cute cross by Dave Browne was headed home at the second attempt by Cian Stenson, after Steve Grier’s first effort rebounding off the crossbar.

The clincher came as the visitors pushed out in search of an equaliser, when Cian Stenson beat the offside trap to run through from 40 yards out and coolly slot in the third.

Form Report
Dave Byrne 7 Niall Hanratty 6 Dave Browne 7 Steve Grier 6 Ian Harmon 8 Stuart Love 6 Neil McGowan 6 Niall Lennon 8 Dave Power 6 Owen Marron 7 Cian Stenson 8
Subs: Ciaran Brady 6 Kevin Murphy 6

29.12.19
Parkvale 0, Spartak 2

A calm dry day at Rockbrook saw two second half goals win the game for the Sky Blues in a good run out for both sides.

A brave save by Andy Hughes saw the ball cleared to Dave Browne whose first time pass sent Cian Stenson free. Cian drew a defender before releasing stuart Love aon the left, and his low cross was converted by Gerry McGuiness. A second goal by Cian Stenson clinched the result.

The Spartak defence was ably marshalled by Dave Byrne and Seamus McCahill.

Form Report:
Andy Hughes 7 Aidan Duignan 6 Dave Browne 6 Seamus McCahill 7 Dave Byrne 7 Stuart Love 6 Neil McGowan 5 Conor Canavan 5 Gerry McGuinness 6 Liam Caffrey 5 Cian Stenson 7.

17.11.19
Spartak 4, Tymon 1

The Sky Blues gained revenge for a earlier reverse by Tymon with a clear win.

Fielding a full strength squad, Spartak were good value for the three points.

Dave Power poked home his first Spartak goal after a scramble, and Cian Stenson doubled the lead with a neat finish. Tymon reduced arrears, but an extraordinarily confident volley from Owen Marron, after his long range effort returned to him via the crossbar, more or less clinched the point, while Amin Afsar added to Tymon’s pain with a looped effort.

Form Report
Jason Northey 6 Kev Cunningham 6 Ian Harmon 7 Steve Grier 6 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Niall Hanratty 6 Neil McGowan 6 Stu Love 6
Owen Marron 7 Dave Power 6 Cian Stenson 6
Subs: Dave Browne 6 Jeff Gamble 6 Amin Afsar 6 Dave Byrne 6 Jason Fenlon Lee Griffin

27.10.19
Edenderry Town 2, Spartak 2

With many of their teammates opting for a weekend away in various fleshpots, it was a bare 11 players in sky Blue who made the journey to the midlands.

The journey was well worthwhile as a battling performance secured a point.

When Edenderry regained the lead in the 90th minute, it seemed Spartak would leave empty handed despite a good display. But in the 94th minute Dave Browne powered in a header from a Niall Hanratty corner to secure the draw.

Spartak created a number of decent chances; Niall Lennon failed to connect at the far post, Jason Fenlon forced the keeper into conceding a corner, and Dave Browne had an earlier header wide.

Playing with composure, Spartak made light of the situation, with the midfield trio of Hanratty, Lennon and Stuart Love getting through a mountain of work.

The locals took the lead in the 62nd minute, and it was only in the 84th minute that Stuart Love knocked in the rebound when Ciaran Brady’s headed effort came back off the crossbar.

A most satisfying performance.

Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Chris Hogan 7 Cian Stenson 7 Dave Byrne 8 Dave Browne 8 Stuart Love 8 Niall Hanratty 8 Lee Griffin 7 Niall Lennon 8 Jason Fenlon 7 Ciaran Brady 8

29.9.19
Sallins Celtic 3, Spartak 4 (AET)

Spartak had to come from behind twice in normal time before Stuart Love nodded in the winner from Jason Fenlon’s cross in extra time.

Jason Fenlon had given Spartak an early lead, justified on the play, but the home team struck back with a powerfully driven free which evaded the grasp of Jason Northey, who had a fine game after recovering miraculously from grievous injury the previous week.

Poor marking from a free allowed Sallins to lead, until Kevin Cunningham drove in from close range. A good move by the home side with ten to go looked to have booked their passage to the next round, but a Steve Grier header in the 89th minute forced extra time.

Spartak sparkled in teh first period of extra time, making several chances before Love’s winner. The second period saw the home side throw caution to the winds; both sides had chances but none were converted.

Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Kevin Cunningham 7 Cian Stenson 7 Ian Harmon 8 Dave O’Kelly 7 Stuart Love 7 Neil McGowan 7
Amin Afsar 6 Steve Grier 7 Jason Fenlon 7 Keith Kelly 6
Subs: Owen McCormack 6 Dave Byrne 6

22.9.19
Tymon Bawn 2, Spartak 1

Spartak’s torrid start to the season continued as the Sky Blues went down to Tymon Bawn by the odd goal in three. A soft penalty award gave Spartak a chance to claim a point, but Steve Grier’s effort from the spot was easily saved by the home custodian. Neil McGowan’s effort from 20 yards gave the Sky Blues the lead, and good chances fell to Eric Barber, Jason Fenlon and Stuart Love, but to no avail.

A sloppy equaliser conceded on the stroke of half time was exacerbated by a goal conceded from a cornerjust after the break.

Jason Northey was fouled and had to depart, leaving the ten men to battle on, which they did. Guile was lacking however and apart form the penalty the best chance fell to Jason Fenlon who shot wide after a good Tom O’Driscoll pass.

Form Report
Jason Northey 6 Kev Cunningham 6 Dave Browne 5 Ian Harmon 7 Steve Grier 6 Stuart Love 5 Neil McGowan 6 Tom O’Driscoll 5 Eric Barber 6 Jason Fenlon 5 Cian Stenson 5

12.4.19
Wayside 1, Spartak 2

Spartak came away with three points from an entertaining Friday night astro clash.

Wayside edged possession in the first half, but Spartak smashed two off the bar and scored.

Owen Marron cut inside and fired off the crossbar, while Niall Hanratty had a good shot also shudder the frame of the goal. In between, Billy O’Neill volleyed in sweetly from Steve Grier’s flick on, midway through the first half. One of Spartak’s better moves saw Amin Afsar fire wide of the near post after good work from Niall Hanratty and Owen Marron.

Ian Harmon and Steve Grier had snuffed out most home attacks, and Wayside failed to overly trouble Jason Northey.

Stuart Love, stretching, was just over iwth a header form Amin Afsar’s cross, while Niall Hanratty fired over after exchanging passes with Owen Marron.

On 67 minutes a Neil McGowan cross was turned into his own net by a home defender to make it 2.0.

A harshly awarded penalty gave Jason Northey the chance to shine, making a triple save before Stuart Love completed the clearance. Wayside then fired one in from the edge of the box to set up a late flurry. With all subs used, Niall Hanratty had to limp out the final few minutes as Spartak held firm.

Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Jimmy Dawson 8 Ian Harmon 8 Steve Grier 8 Kevin Cunningham 7 Niall Hanratty 7 Neil McGowan 7 Stuart Love 7 Amin Afsar 6 Owen Marron 7 Billy O’Neill 7
Subs: Kamel Moussa 5 Tom O’Driscoll 5 Dave Browne 6.