Fixtures Week 4 – Starting 13 March
Fixtures are posted for Last Man Standing week 3. Automatic choice this week is Everton. Only 2 elimanated so far….Cathal and Shane.
Please post your team or you automatically get Everton.
Saturday Team – AWAY to Everton in Leinster Junior Shield – Lost 4-0
Sunday Team – HOME to Cabinteely – Won 4-3
Over 35’s AWAY to Bacchus – Drew 2-2 (Lost on pens)
Spartak 2 Schalke 1
Spartak enjoyed a victory after a poor performance on the previous week, despite missing a few regulars and overcoming the drag of a few players clearly lacking fitness. However a few key men rolled back the years to claim victory.
The first half was dominated territorially by the home side initially but the strike force did not hold up play successfully and were also starved of support. The advantage of the possession was therefore wasted and few clear chances were created. Ray Grady and Paul Tormey fell foul of a simple offside ploy on a number of occasions.
Jimmy Browne was a virtual spectator for most of the half with Paul Burke and Gerry Doran in command at the back and on the one occasion Jimmy was beaten Leon David was able to lend a helping hand a la his Gallic cousin Thierry Henry. Luckily the ref did not spot the infringement.
Spartak had some opportunities when Shay McClafferty clipped the top of the bar and also when Ray Grady checked back when through with his shot comfortably saved.
On 54 minutes a slick move by the vistors outfoxed the home defence and a neat finish put Schalke one up.
The home side responded in positive fashion, showing good team work, and should have been awarded an equaliser when Rory Campbell’s header hit the underside of the bar and bounced over the line before being cleared. Rory, off form on the day, had earlier missed a one on one when running on to Gerry Doran’s through ball.
Paul Burke, moving to midfield to add his customary guile, then curled a shot against the bar.
Spartak’s equaliser came when Barry Crowe beat the offside trap from left back with a fine run and when the keeper parried his effort, Paul Tormey finished to the net.
Spartak then pressed on taking command in midfield with good work from Paul Tormey, Frank McNamee and Ken Byrne and the winner came after some fine work by McNamee when a neat move was finished in fine fashion by a galvanised Ray Grady showing his true ability with a strong burst and finish.
There was still time for McNamee to miss a one on one and Paul Tormey it the post after good work by Shay McClafferty.
A satisfactory turn around from a goal deficit and a confidence booster after recent results.
Form Report
Jimmy Browne 6 Leon David 6 Gerry Doran 7 Paul Burke 7 Dave Mohan 6 Shay McClafferty 6 Paul Tormey 7 Ken Byrne 6 Ray Grady 6 Frank McNamee 6 Barry Crowe 7 Rory Campbell 4 Mark Byrne 5 Jason Doyle 4.
The Saturday team are going for pints this Saturday night. We are going to start in the Barge about 8ish……Full Saturday attendance expected except for players called out to play Sunday! In that case you will have to be in bed by 3a.m.
Entry fee €10.
Comment on this post withyour coice of team to win in the Premier league this weekend. If your team wins, you are through to next round. A draw or lose knocks you out.
Please pay your €10 with subs this week.
If you forget to comment on this post this week you will be allocated Arsenal as your LMS entry.
Full fixtures list is available on the Last Man Standing tab on the top of this page
Training tonight as usual in Three Rock.
Training on Thursday is off as the school is on mid term. Instead we are training in St. Columbas College on WEDNESDAY at 9.30 just for this week.
Saturday Team AWAY to Balbriggan – Won 2-0
Sunday Team HOME to Dunboyne – OFF
Over 35’s AWAY to Garden County – Lost 4-1
Saturday Team HOME to Everton in the Cup – Lost 3-1
Sunday Team AWAY to Everton – Lost 5-0
Over 35’s are IDLE
SDFC 5, Knockmitten 4
Spartak over 35’s overcame the disappointment of last week to produce a good cup win over Knockmitten.
The omens did not look good however early on when the away side were well on top and deservedly took the lead through the now familiar sight of a ball looping over the head of Jimmy Browne. Spartak gradually came more into the game and Mark Byrne scored the equaliser with an excellent finish in the left corner following a good header on from Shay McCafferty. As the half wore on Knockmitten reasserted their superiority and it required two excellent saves from one-on-one situations from Jimmy Browne to keep Spartak in the game. The away side did however go 2-1 up just before the break with their striker taking advantage of some penalty box pinball to shoot home from close range.
Literally facing an uphill battle in the second half Spartak produced the best performance of the season so far to completely dominate the remainder of the game, apart that is from a bizarre final two minutes. Firstly Ken Byrne equalised having got on the end of a great move involving at least 5 Spartak players. Then Barry Crowe produced the goal of the season so far with a volley to the top right-hand corner from close to the left touchline. Dave Mohan and Greg Callan were dominant in the centre of the defence with Gerry Doran and Tony Kavanagh proving equally adept at defensive and offensive play. Paul Burke, Shay McCafferty and Paul bossed midfield and provided plenty of probing passes for Ken Byrne, Frank McNamee and Rory Campbell to threaten the opposing defense. Further goals from Ken Byrne and Rory Campbell deservedly pushed Spartak into what appeared to be an unassailable lead of 5-2.
With the game reaching its conclusion and the home side both tiring and taking the foot off the pedal, Knockmitten won two corners one after the other and somehow managed to score from both of them to make the score 5-4. Thankfully there was no further drama and the game finished with that score.
A somewhat inconsistent performance over the 90 minutes but a very satisfying cup win and one that certainly showed signs of what the team is capable of when the work rate and competitiveness levels are high.
The spartak panel was Jimmy Browne, Tony Kavanagh, Dave Mohan, Paul Burke, Shay McCafferty, Ken Byrne, Mark Byrne, Rory Campbell, Paul, Frank McNamee, Barry Crowe, Gerry Doran, Leon David, Greg Callan.
