Spartak 2 Leicester 4
A disappointing and disjointed first half laid the foundations for this defeat. A second half revival could not yield enough to get a share of the points.
In sticky conditions a number of players did not play to their potential. Robbie Hayes had a shaky return to action after injury; Neill Bolger lacked his usual energy; Mick Greene and Niall Hanratty looked short of sharpness; Chris Hogan was unable to reproduce the form of the Ita’s match.
Most of all the passing, so much in evidence last week, was replaced by a desire to launch the ball in the general direction of the opposition goal, when a more considered approach paid off so handsomely in the previous match.
The Leicester defence were able to move the ball through to midfield all too easily, with both Hanratty and Seamus McCahill losing the midfield battle in the first half. Leicester took the lead when Robbie Hayes came for a corner kick but only succeeded in knocking the ball into the path of a grateful visiting player who scored.
Neill Bolger had two chances to get the Sky Blues back in the game but in the first instance was caught for pace when clear and then from Mick Costello’s header on he could only flick into the keeper’s hands.
Niall Hanratty had a perfectly good goal ruled out by the eccentric ref when he finished neatly after a one two. Some consolation arrived when a Leicester player, clearly onside, was called back. On 41 minutes Spartak were exposed on the left side and the cross was finshed. 0-2.
The second half had only started when a good run and cross by Derek McGoldrick led to Mick Costello scoring. But Leicester restored their two goal lead almost straight away when a 20 yard shot eluded Hayes after some sloppy defensive cover.
Spartak then had a series of chances to take control of the match, in their best 20 minute period of the game as Graham McEnroe had a good spell in the middle of the park. Arrears were reduced when a superb interception by Dave Browne allowed Hanratty to cross. Harassed by McCahill, the keeper lost possession and McCahill had time to look up before crossing for Ross Kelly to nod home.
A chance for an equaliser beckoned; Hanratty had two great opportnities, once when through on the right he shot tamely at the keeper; and then volleyed over from 8 yards when unmarked.
Derek McGoldrick was through twice but on each occasion he took the ball too wide before crossing to the keeper’s grateful gloves.
Leicester weathered the storm and Spartak were relying on long balls with players pushing forward and abandoning the midfield area.
A last minute assault on goal by Spartak was halted by a poor Browne cross and Leicester broke to beat Greene for pace and slot past Hayes for number four.
Form Report
Hayes 4 Browne 6 Greene 5 Costello 6 Clancy 6 Hanratty 5 McCahill 6 Hogan 5 McGoldrick 5 N Bolger 5 Mick Costello 6
Subs: McEnroe 7 R Kelly 6 R Burke 5 D Burke McInerney Northey
