Spartak 1 Whitechurch 4
Spartak suffered a heavy defeat and can have no complaints after a weak defensive display.
It was an unhappy return to the Spartak goalmouth for Jason Northey, who was beaten 4 times and looked well below peak form throughout. While he could not be faulted for the first two goals, he was beaten easily at is near post for number three after Cathal Clancy was bypassed, and was slow and cumbersome in dealing with back passes. The first two goals came in the 16th and 17th minutes , the first when Mick Costello allowed his man to get in a clear strike and the second from an angled drive.
With the exception of Paul Kinsella, who made some vital covering tackles and is gradually returning to early season form , the remainder of the defence had a torrid time, with Niall Hanratty lucky not to concede a penalty when the game was scoreless. Cathal Clancy was also lucky to escape the ultimate sanction when blatantly pulling back a forward and Martin Costello was well below his usual standard, both in covering and distribution.
Spartak were not without some spirit, and fought back from three down. Niall Lennon drove in from the edge of the box after Chris Hogan crossed, and Hogan himself narrowly missed reducing arrears further when he hit the side net after Mick Costello had put him clean through.
Spartak, 3-1 down at the break, huffed and puffed to try to get back in the game. It was the visitors who missed a great chance when lobbing wide after going through.
Mick Costello and Dan O’Connell had a couple of half chances, but it was the visitors who made the game safe with a fourth goal when the marking following a long throw was again abysmal.
Form Report
Jason Northey 4 Niall Hanratty 5 Paul Kinsella 6 Martin Costello 4 Cathal Clancy 5 Kevin Mannion 5 Dermot Dooley 5 Chris Hogan 5 Niall Lennon 5 Ross Kelly 4 Mick Costello 4
Subs: Steve Browne 4 Neil McGowan 5 Dan O Connell 5
