Spartak claim top spot in group in VEC tourney
Spartak 0, Stedfast 0
Spartak 1, VEC 0
Spartak 1 Terenure 0
A determined Spartak squad fought their way through to Sunday’s semi final meeting with Leicester Celtic. An opening scoreless draw with Stedfast, where Peter O’Toole pulled off a last minute save to ensure a point left Spartak with plenty to do to qualify. Spartak might have nicked the game, but Ger Byrne’s excellent volley was ruled out, somewhat dubiously, for offside.
The Sky Blues got an early tonic in the second game, when Shane McInerney’s cross was turned past his own keeper by a VEC defender. That was enough to clinch the points . Glen Burke went close with a couple of efforts and Niall Lennon made a strong impact coming on as sub.
Game three was the decider, and Spartak were up for it. Ger Byrne gave notice of the intention with a volley just over, but it was left to Niall Lennon to emphatically volley home early in the second half after Anto Doyle’s cross had created confusion. Fidel Benson saved the day with a last gasp clearance tracking back, but overall the Spartak defence , well marshalled by Paul Kinsella, were in command.
A solid performance by the whole squad.
Form Report
Peter O Toole 8 Niall Hanatty 6 Conor Canavan 7 Steve Grier 8 Paul Kinsella 8 Dermot Dooley 7 Tom Flanagan 6 Thom O Driscoll 6 Ger Byrne 7 Graham Breen 7 Martin Costello 7 Glen Burke 7 Fidel Benson 6 Dave Browne 6 Shane McInerney 6 Niall Lennon 7 Bobby Hayes 6 Anto Doyle 6
