Spartak Dynamo FC

13.11.16
Edenderry Town 1, Spartak 1

An injury time goal, well taken from a narrow angle by Geoff Gamble, earned a point on the Sky Blues trip deep into darkest Offaly. The goal resulted from a cohesive move by Stu Love, Owen Marron and Mick Leslie. Such moves were difficult on a very heavy pitch, which cut up badly as the game progressed. Clear chances were few and far between for both sides in a tight contest in poor conditions.

The locals took the lead on 12 minutes, after a bad defensive pass allowed the striker in for a shot. Peter O’Toole saved the first effort, but could nothing about the rebound. Scarce resources were further stretched as Neil McGowan limped off to be replaced by Gary Bridges, who worked hard in the middle of the park. Darragh Logue slotted in at the back, and gave an assured display.

Edenderry, boosted by the early lead, then beat a poorly set offside trap by a reorganised back four, but chipped wide.

Gradually Spartak found their feet and the best first half opportunity came when a Mick Leslie’s fine header found Stuart Love 8 yards out, but his shot was smothered at the expense of a corner. Mick “Hatchet” Leslie had earlier been booked for a studs up challenge, with Geoff Gamble following him into the book for retaliation after a foul which wasn’t given.

It seemed Spartak had equalised early in the second period when Gamble’s pass was deflected to Mick Leslie , who fed Stuart Love, but the “goal” was disallowed for offside, the second for Stu in a week. On this occasion the ref had more justification than the Valeview game where there were two defenders on the line.

Geoff Gamble’s free was just over, but even as the home side fell back they still carried a threat. Peter O’Toole made a fine save in a 1 on 1 situation to keep the Sky Blues’ hopes alive. Darragh Logue headed a free from Gary Bridges wide in the best opportunity to date, as Spartak sought a way through.

Frustration increased as Spartak were denied a clear corner. Barry Crowe was noted in the book for giving the ref his forthright opinion on the matter. Additionally the ditch running along one side of the pitch ensnared any football which went more than a few yards over the touchline, with the breaks providing welcome time wasted for Edenderry.

Finally, and not a moment too soon, the breakthrough came.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 8 Dave Kernan 7 Darragh Logue 7 Neil McGowan 5 Dave Browne 7 Stuart Love 7 Sean Molloy 6 Geoff Gamble 7 Owen Marron 7 Mick Leslie 7 Caoltan Strain 7
Subs: Gary Bridges 7 Ken Buckley 6

6.11.16
Valeview Shankill 4, Spartak 1

Despite taking an early lead, Spartak succumbed in the end, in controversial circumstances. Stuart Love had a goal disallowed, and Steve Walsh had a valid penalty claim, but was awarded a free outside the box.

Steve Walsh gave Spartak the lead from the spot after Neil McGowan was fouled. Owen Marron and Mick Young then had chances to increase the lead, the latter not realising he had time from close in. Dave Kernan, not on form, conceded a penalty to hand the home side parity.

The home side took control of the game with two early second half goals, the first a decent long range effort, the second following a poor Spartak throw in.

Spartak fought back, Steve Walsh firing a decent chance over when through, and the disallowed goal and penalty claim came to nothing, with a few decen efforts being blocked by home defenders.

A fourth for the home side wrapped up the points.

Form Report
Eric Barber 7 David Kernan 4 Aodhan McCahill 5 Dave Browne 5 Dave O’Kelly 5 Stuart Love 5 Neil McGowan 7 Mick Young 6 Owen Marron 5 Ger Byrne 5 Steve Walsh 6
Subs: Cormac O’Connor 5 Neil Lennon 5

23.10.16
Spartak 2, Dublin Central 2

After defensive errors had allowed the visitors a second minute advantage, Spartak regrouped and pressed hard. Ger Byrne missed from close range, Owen Marron had an effort saved, but then cracked home the equaliser on five minutes.
Possession squandered easily allowed the visitors the chance and they made it 2-1. Just seven minutes goe, many chances and three goals!
Strangely the scoring was completed on 19 minutes. Darragh Logue hit a long cross field pass from left to right. The ball looked to be going out of play, but Dave Kernan not only caught it, but effected a marvellous cross on the run. Steve Grier popped up in the box to head home the second equaliser.

The second half could not live up to the excitement of the first period, and both teams tightened up at the back, reducing opportunities. Steve Grier had a good long range effort saved.

Form Report
Daniel Galvin 7 Cian Donohoe 6 Darragh Logue 7 Dave Browne 6 Steve Grier 7 Stuart Love 6 Neil McGowan 5 Dave Kernan 7 Owen Marron 7 Ger Byrne 5 Steve Walsh 5
Subs: Eric Barber 5 Aodhan McCahill 6 Cormac O’Connor 6

16.10.16
Spartak 1, Balbriggan 2

Spartak paid the price for failing to press home their advantage after Balbriggan were reduced to ten men.
When Ger Byrne rounded the keeper, just outside the box, the keeper took him down. Red card and free on the edge of the box. Steve Grier converted the free against the deputy keeper with a low drive.

With the visitors struggling to adjust, Spartak created chances. Darragh Logue’s effort was cleared off the line, Ger Byrne shot over, Niall Lennon’s effort was saved, as were efforts from Stuart Love and Steve Grier.

Balbriggan , beaten only once , came out more aggressively in the second half, with the Sky Blues tending to sit back, and accordingly ceded midfield control

Steve Grier and Ger Byrne had efforts foiled to increase the lead, but the Sky Blues paid the full price when the visitors struck with two late goals.

Form Report
Eric Barber 7 Cian Donohoe 5 Darragh Logue 5 Dave Browne 5 Steve Grier 8 Stuart Love 5 Neil McGowan 5 Dave Kernan 5 Niall Lennon 5 Ger Byrne 5 Thom O’Driscoll 6
Sub Steve Walsh 6

2.10.16
Liffey Vally Rangers 5, Spartak 2

After a pleasing win over Edenderry, Spartak flopped against one if the leading sides.

The seeds of defeat were sown in a fairly even first half, with Geoff Gamble lost to injury and Steve Walsh’s penalty saved, while Neil McGowan’s header came back off the bar. To compound matters, Liffey took the lead in the 44th minute.

When Steve Grier went forward from the back and possession was surrendered, the cover was insufficient to prevent number 2 early in the second half, and on 55 minutes Spartak again folded and went three down.

A brief revival saw Stu Love convert Dave Kernan’s cross, and then Ger Byrne and Steve Walsh missed close in chances emanating from Steve Grier’s long throw.

As play swung from end to end, it was Liffey who made it 4-1, before Dave Kernan reduced arrears from Neil McGowan’s through ball. A further defensive error saw Liffey add the fifth.

Decent first half, but fairly abysmal second period.

Form Report
Jason Northey 4 Cian Donohoe 4 Aodhan McCahill 5 Dave Browne 4 Steve Grier 6 Geoff Gamble 6 Neil McGowan 5 Niall Lennon 5 Ger Byrne 4 Dave Kernan 5 Steve Walsh 4
Subs: Stu Love 5 Darragh Logue 5 Paul Kinsella 4

18.9.16
Spartak 3, Edenderry Town 0

Spartak began this game brightly, with Dave Kernan and Geoff Gamble going close. Alarm bells rang for the visitors when the irrepressible Gamble beat the keeper but was adjudged to have fouled the covering defender when following up.

Edenderry regrouped and began to take control of the midfield exchanges and Spartak relied on breaks, and then an error by the visitors’ keeper saw Steve Walsh with a big chance, which he pulled wide from a narrow angle.

On 40 minutes, Spartak struck in devastating fashion with a sweeping move. Cian Donohoe’s clearing header was moved on by Dave Kernan and Niall Lennon to Geoff Gamble, who raced goalwards. A clever run by Steve Walsh took the cover away and Gamble drove on to fire home.

Worse was to follow for Edenderry as Walsh and Ger Byrne cmbined for the latter to fire in a cross which Gamble headed forcefully home for number two.

Spartak played the second half in solid but unspectacular fashion, retaining possession and working hard out of possession. Dan Galvin made a good save early on after Cian Donohoe was beaten. Neil McGowan sent Steve Walsh away and when the cross arrived perfectly, a goal seemed inevitable; but McGowan took a second too long and the shot was blocked.

As Edenderry pressed a handball decision against Aodhan McCahill gave them a close in free, but they fired wide. Then Keith Kelly got his feet mixed up at the back post and was relieved when he only conceded a corner. Kelly’s header gave Gamble a chance of a first time shot on the volley, excellently saved by the Edenderry stopper.

With six minutes remaining Spartak put the game beyond doubt when Neil McGowan’s head and Geoff Gamble’s touch put Steve Walsh through for number three.

A sporting game, well refereed, and a pleasing three points.

Form Report
Daniel Galvin 8 Cian Donohoe 7 Aodhan McCahill 7 Dave Browne 7 Steve Grier 8 Geoff Gamble 9 Neil McGowan 7 Dave Kernan 7 Niall Lennon 7 Ger Byrne 7 Steve Walsh 7
Sub: Keith Kelly 6

11.9.16
Pioneers 2, Spartak 1

two injuries in he opening twenty minutes disrupted the Sky Blues, who were unlucky to lose, conceding the winner with just three minutes remaining.

Dan Galvin, who had excelled all game with some fine catches and saves, dropped a ball under severe pressure to allow a soft equaliser and bring a frustrated home side into the game on the hour mark. Spartak led when Neil McGowan’s inswinging free from the right was forced home by Stuart Love after just 13 minutes play.

Pioneers, enjoying more possession, made few clear chances, and when a Dave Kernan slip allowed the striker through, Galvin saved well.

Following the equaliser, Pioneers threw everything forward; in itself this allowed Spartak a few opportunities, with Steve Walsh firing wide, as did Stuart Love. A great saving tackle by Steve Grier prevented a certain score, but the winner came when Spartak broke out; Darragh Logue’s cross was played in front of the defence, and a long ball allowed the striker to pick Dave Browne’s pocket to set up the winner.

Form Report
Daniel Galvin 8 Dave Browne 7 Aodhan McCahill 8 Steve Grier 8 Paul Kinsella 6 Stuart Love 5 Neil McGowan 6 Geoff Gamble 6 Niall Lennon 6 Ger Byrne 6 Steve Walsh 5
Subs: Dave Kernan 7 Darragh Logue 5

30.8.16
Sallynoggin Pearse 2, Spartak 3

Spartak recovered from conceding an early goal to win a hard fought game.

Only a few minutes had elapsed when the Sky Blues back four made a hames of several clearanaces, with Paul Kinsella’s header proving the perfect through ball for the home striker to score.
In attempting to recoup the deficit, Niall Lennon’s header gave Steve Grier a chance to shoot, and he scraped the top of the crossbar.

Spartak scored a route one equaliser when Grier flicked on Jason Northey’s kick to put Ger Byrne in, and he held off the covering defender to finish neatly. Emboldened, Spartak then had two great chances from good positions, with Geoff Gamble firing wide, and Stuart Love hitting the ball straight to the keeper.

Steve Walsh gave Spartak the lead with a simple finish after a goalkeeping error before the home side striker smartly turned Paul Kinsella but struck the bar with his effort.

Just after half time Dave Browne conceded a penalty to permit the home side to level matters.

Spartak strove to get back in the lead, but Stuart Love missed from close range after Karl McCullagh’s effort came off the crossbar.

With six minutes remaining Geoff Gamble won a header and chased the ball himself to outpace the defender, who took him down as he shot. Steve Walsh dispatched the spot kick for the winner.

The home side then mounted a barrage of attacks which a resilient defence managed to repel to secure the victory.

Form Report
Jason Northey 8 Cian Donohoe 6 Dave Browne 6 Paul Kinsella 6 Karl McCullagh 6 Stuart Love 6 Niall Lennon 8 Geoff Gamble 7 Steve Grier 8 Ger Byrne 7 Steve Walsh 6
Subs: Keith Kelly 6 Darragh Logue 6 Mick Young 6

28.8.16
Spartak 2, Bray 6

A disastrous start defined this game. A decent second half could not compensate for the errors of the first period.
Almost immediately, Bray scored following a simple short corner move which caught the Spartak back four dozing, unable to cut out the cross or mark the scorer at the back post. Aodhan McCahill the proceeded to obtain two yellow cards, the second of which also resulted in a penalty. 0-2.
Bray continued to hand out harsh lessons during the first half, and by the interval had scored four goals.

The introduction of some fresh blood in the second half saw Spartak mount something of a fightback, with Ger Byrne and Steve Walsh pen after Bray made it 5-0. Darragh Logue had a chance to make the last 15 minutes interesting, but he headed over. Bray then added number 6 to rub it in.

Form Report
Daniel Galvin 5 Cian Donohoe 6 Dave Browne 5 Paul Kinsella 4 Aodhan McCahill 4 Stu Love 5 Niall Lennon 5 Keith Kelly 5 David Kernan 4 Ger Byrne 5 Steve Walsh 6
Subs: Steve Grier 6 Geoff Gamble 6 Darragh Logue 6

21/8/16
Spartak 3, Transport 2

A very welcome victory on the opening day of the season, courtesy of a Geoff Gamble goal with (according to the referee) five seconds remaining!

There were some notable highlights in a lack lustre display, with Stuart Love made a scoring comeback on his return from serious injury and gave an overall energetic display, while Aodhan McCahill headed in for his second of the season, and is now joint top scorer!

The Love and McCahill goals were both headers from corners by Steve Walsh.

Transport caused problems with a striker who caused the home defence problems and fired in a great second goal to give the visitors a 2-1 lead on the hour mark, having taken the lead initially on the quarter hour mark.

Niall Lennon missed a big chance after good work by Ger Byrne and Cian Donohoe, while Ger Byrne fired wide from a decent position. Transport were guilty of a big miss just minutes before Spartak secured the win, and will fell hard done by overall.

Niall Lennon was the provider for Geoff Gamble to poke in the winner under pressure from defender and keeper to secure a fine win from a slightly substandard performance.

Form Report
Dan Galvin 7 Cian Donohoe 7 Aodhan McCahill 8 Paul Kinsella 7 Karl McCullagh 7 Kevin O Toole 7 Stuart Love 7 David Kernan 6 Ger Byrne 6 Steve Walsh 6 Niall Lennon 7 Neil McGowan 5 Steve Grier 5 Jeff Gamble 7