15.9.11
Ratoath 5, Spartak 0
Spartak’s miserable run of results in Ratoath continued. There were few, if any, excuses. The pitch was perfect, the ref excellent, the weather balmy on this floodlit Thursday fixture.
The stark facts are that the locals ran harder and passed the ball quicker.
The first half saw Ratoath mainly in the ascendancy. Spartak found it difficult to keep the ball on the ground even when under no pressure. The local wingers gave the Sky Blues rearguard a tough time and Fintan Grace cleared off the line after one burst.
Spartak had their own chances with Ross Kelly hitting the bar, Mick Costello’s shot cleared off the line, and Ross Kelly lobbing just wide.
At 2-0 down Spartak were still in this game and very much alive, thanks in no small part to the fine form of Peter O’Toole. The introduction of 3 subs, who all added energy to the mix, indicated Spartak’s gamble to recover and close the two goal gap but unfortunately in throwing everything forward the Sky Blues were caught on the break for goal number 3. This effectively ended the game as a contest. To rub salt in the wound the locals added two more in the dying minutes, neither of which they had to work particularly hard for.
First defeat of the season, and the reaction will be important to regain ground in the league.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 8 Dave O’Kelly 5 Mick Greene 5 Fintan Grace 6 Cathal Clancy 6 Mick Costello 5 Seamus McCahill 5 Mick Young 5 Steve Walsh 6 Ross Kelly 6 Graham McEnroe 5
Substitutes: Martin Costello 5 Colum O’Sullivan 5 Anto Doyle 5 Chris Hogan Shane Corrigan Dillon Burke
