Spartak Dynamo FC

Portmarnock 0 Spartak 0

Spartak relied on a strong defensive performance, including a first clean sheet this term, to plunder a worthwhile point from hosts who have lost just once this season and who had a big win over Spartak in Marlay.

Portmarnock enjoyed the bulk of possession and Spartak had to work diligently in midfield to track and close down. Fintan Grace did a lot of the donkey work and Seanan O’Duchain showed some nice touches, but Paul Burke and Shay McClafferty were not on their game. Paul had a free kick from the edge of the box easily saved.  

Jimmy Browne pulled off a marvellous save after his weak kick out had let in the home striker.

At the back Tony Kavanagh cleaned up virtually everything while Liam Cullen and Greg Callan attacked the first ball with ferocity. Dave Mohan never looked comfortable at right back where his distribution in particular let him down.

Up front both strikers lacked support and toiled without reward. Frank McNamee’s touch deserted him at the crucial moment when through for Spartak’s best chance of the game. Ken found himself, like Frank , running towards several defenders with few options around and too little support.

Portmarnock missed an unbelievable chance at the end of a good move when the striker , going for power, blasted the ball at an open goal but struck the underside of the bar, from whence the ball rebounded into the grateful arms of Jimmy Browne.

Spartak’s second half chaces were limited to long range efforts, while a couple of breakaways fizzled out through poor passing. 

Dave Mohan can count himself fortunate in the last few minutes that his blatant handball in the box, under no pressure,  was not seen by the referee.

With so many players injured Spartak can count themselves well satisfied with the point.

Form Report

Jimmy Browne 7 Dave Mohan 5 Liam Cullen 7 Tony Kavanagh 8 Greg Callan 7 Fintan Grace 6 Shay McClafferty 5 Paul Burke 5 Frank McNamee 6 Ken Byrne 6 Seanan O’Duchan 7 Mick Cooney 5 Barry Crowe 5.

Peamount Utd 1 SDFC 1

Spartak over 35’s produced a spirited and good quality performance to secure an away draw against a strong table topping Peamount side.

Starting well,  early chances fell to Paul Tormey with a good run and shot and Shay McClafferty with an excellent long range effort just over. Mark Byrne made a good break along the end line and provided a good cross which was well cleared.

On 10 minutes Spartak took a deserved lead when a free kick into the box by Greg Callen popped up nicely on the edge of the box for Frank McNamee to shoot a left foot volley into the net. Shortly after, Barry Crowe had a good effort just wide. As the half wore on Peamount came more into the game and eventually equalised just before half time with a break that was borderline offside.

Early in the second half a neat one two between Frank McNamee and Cameron Doyle put the latter through on goal but his shot went narrowly wide of the right hand post. Jimmy Browne then produced a series of excellent saves following a period of sustained Peamount pressure to keep the score intact.  Ken Byrne  made a trademark break from inside his own half, beat a couple of defenders for pace only for the final shot to go just over. A good break down the right by Peamount was thwarted by a timely intervention from Leon David.

In their desperation to win the match Peamount then introduced a midfielder and a striker that were so obviously underage it was ridiculous. This was the cue for Dave Mohan, Greg Callan, Gerry Doran, Tony Kavanagh and Fintan Grace to produce some defensive heroics for the remaining 20 minutes to ensure that no goal was conceded and that justice was done.

In fact Spartak had two excellent chances to win it on the break when firstly Mark Byrne made a great break down the right and crossed for an unmarked Jason Doyle who couldn’t connect and then Ken Byrne saw his effort from a tight angle strike the post with the goalkeeper beaten.

Overall a very good performance from Spartak on an excellent pitch where the home side were surprised at how well the oldies could pass the ball.

The spartak panel was Jimmy Browne, Tony Kavanagh, Dave Mohan, Shay McClafferty,  Mark Byrne, Paul Tormey, Frank McNamee, Barry Crowe,  Leon David,  Jason Doyle, Cameron Doyle, Fintan Grace, Ken Byrne, Greg Callan.

Footnote: For the record, a serious assault took place after the match on a Spartak player. All appropriate authorities have been notified.

Saturday Team – AWAY to Phoenix

Sunday Team – AWAY to Orwell (2pm kick off)

Over 35’s fixture TBA

Please post your team for this weekends matches. REMEMBER there is no automatic pick. If you dont give a team you are out. Full list of fixtures are available on the Last Man Standing tab above.

After Villa and Chelsea both drew, just 9 survive this round. Aston Villa’s failure saw off quite a few contenders. No automatic picks from now on.

SDFC 2 Knockmitten 2

Starting with a much changed side from the previous week’s cup encounter Spartak over 35’s earned a deserved draw against Knockmitten at home on Saturday.  Injuries, exams, and other unexplained events meant 5 personnel changes and numerous positional switches were required for this game.

The early part of the game saw the home team having to soak up a lot of pressure and deal with a strong running Knockmitten side.  Despite resolute defending by the Spartak unfamiliar back four of Shay McClafferty, Tom Maher, Tony Kavanagh and Leon David, their dangerous striker managed to squeeze a shot away into the bottom left hand corner to put them one up on 15 minutes.

As the first half wore on Spartak rallied  and managed to create a few openings. Frank McNamee set up Barry Crowe for a good effort on goal, both Ray Grady and Rory Campbell had half chances. Just before half time Spartak got back in the game when from a corner the ball broke to Ken Byrne who finished well to leave the score 1-1 at the break.

The second half mirrored the first with Spartak having to battle hard to stay in the game. Knockmitten went ahead midway through the half when the same striker again managed to get a shot away into the corner. For the remainder of the game Spartak pushed for an equaliser and created further chances. Rory Campell was unlucky on two occasions with a header just wide and a  good save from the keeper. With 5 minutes to go the equaliser came when a clever free kick from Ray Grady reached Matt who struck a powerful shot that hit the back of the net with the aid of a slight deflection from the centre half.

Spartak could actually have won the game in the last few minutes when Ken Byrne was put through by Frank McNamee but shot over. A good shot from Matt that was well held by their keeper was the final action of the game.

Overall a spirited performance from the home side that produced a deserved draw against the odds.

The spartak panel was Jimmy Browne, Tony Kavanagh, Tom Maher, Shay McCafferty,  Mark Byrne, Rory Campbell, Frank McNamee, Barry Crowe,  Leon David,  Jason Doyle, Matt, Ray Grady.

We are down to 18 survivors, the forgetful or passive entrants falling with Hull’s loss to Arsenal. Of the 18,  a very nervous 8 are relying on Rafa’s low scoring Reds to overcome Portsmouth tonight.

Pot is €260, half to club and half to winner.

No more automatic choices made; failure to select a team means you are out, so get your choices in early from now on!

Saturday Team – AWAY to Dun Laoghaire
Sunday Team – HOME to Everton
Over 35’s – AWAY to Peamount

Bacchus beat Spartak 7-6 on penalties (Final score 2-2)

Spartak’s over 35’s hopes of a cup run this season came to an end in the second round after a penalty shoot out defeat away to Bacchus in St Anne’s Park.

The first 30 minutes were very poor for Spartak with poor passing and a lack of urgency througout the team giving the impetus to the home side. Bacchus took the lead in this period after defensive hesidency allowed a harmless cross to be turned in by the opposing striker. Towards the end of the first half Spartak came more into the game and half chances fell to Mark Byrne and Rory Campbell who were both just beaten in a race to the ball by the home keeper on two separate occasions.

The second half also started badly for Spartak when no challenge was made to prevent a long range effort on goal which was well struck giving Jimmy Browne no chance  to put the home side two up.

As the half wore on Spartak began to dominate in defence and midfield and as a result create numerous chances. A Frank McNamee shot following a corner was well saved by the away keeper. In the next attack Barry Crowe showed great technique to latch on to a McNamee header and strike home a volley from distance to put Spartak back in the game.

The final 20 minutes saw Spartak go all out to try and win the game.  With Dave Mohan and Greg Callan in control at the back Tony Kavanagh and Gerry Doran pushed forward and provided wide options for Shay McClafferty and Paul Burke in midfield.  From another corner the equalizer arrived when a Greg Callan header was expertly volleyed to the roof of the net by Rory Campbell. At least 4 other clear cut chances were created and unfortunately not taken. Three of them fell to Frank McNamee who failed to take advantage on each occasion. The best of these chances came following a one two with the excellent Paul Burke where a poor shot was easily parried for a corner. A final chance fell to Rory Campbell who volleyed over.  On a rare foray forward a Bacchus shot required Jimmy Browne to make a good save.  John Hallihan also made an excellent clearance to prevent a chance on goal.

The game finished 2 all. The penalties went to sudden death with Spartak unfortunately loosing out 7-6 . Their keeper’s save of Shay McClafferty’s penalty being the first miss of the shoot out. For the record the Spartak penalty scorers in order were Paul Burke, Barry Crowe, Frank McNamee, Gerry Doran, Rory Campbell and John Hallihan.

The spartak panel was Jimmy Browne, Tony Kavanagh, Dave Mohan, Paul Burke, Shay McCafferty,  Mark Byrne, Rory Campbell, Frank McNamee, Barry Crowe, Gerry Doran, Leon David, Greg Callan, John Hallihan, Jason Doyle.

Saturday Team – AWAY to Swords

Sunday Team – AWAY to Knocklyon (2pm kick off)

Over 35’s fixture TBA