22.10.11
Greenhills/Green Park 2, Spartak 3
A late Conor Maguire score gave the Sky Blues the vital extra points in a wind ruined encounter.
In virtually the first move of the game a third minute free kick from Niall Hanratty was powerfully headed in by Fintan Grace for a fine opener. Instead of galvanising the visitors, the opposite was the case for a while at least. Almost immediately Bobby Hayes saved at point blank range from a blasted effort after the local forward was clean through. The home side came close from a free conceded by Cathal Clancy at the edge of the box, but Hayes saved again. A bizarre goal almost came the home side’s way when Hayes slipped as the ball looped goalwards in the wind; luckily Chris Hogan was on hand to clear. Chris had a series of first half run ins with the official and was finally booked.
Niall Lennon, subdued on the day, just failed to connect with a Hanratty free, and when Hanratty ran beyond the home rearguard he snatched at his effort and sent it wide when a second touch seemed the better option. (To his credit he repeated the run in the second period but missed the chance.) When the home keeper was penalised for carrying outside the box, Mick Greene fired well over from the free. Hayes was again called into action to save a free conceded by Martin Costello for handball.
The home side came out for the second half determined to make their mark, but were shocked on 55 minutes when Grace’s header was touched on by Ross Kelly to Ryan Burke, who cleverly lobbed the advancing keeper for his second goal in successive games. 2-0.
Then in the following minute a comprehensive defensive lapse allowed Greenhills back into the game . The Sky Blues defence failed to defend a long ball. A long punt by the keeper saw the Sky Blues back four trying to play a high line, whilst Bobby Hayes was back on his goal line. The ball was allowed to bounce and the local forward nipped into the huge gap and had a simple task to convert.
Worse was to follow on 65 minutes as the Spartak defence appealed for offside and for ball out of play. Both pleas were ignored by the ref and the home side who proceeded to equalise with the Spartak defence failing to observe the maxim of “play to the whistle”. Despite the alleged transgressions the goal was still preventable with a posse of Sky Blues shirts in close attendance.
The game seemed to be swinging the home sides way. The visitors threw on attacking subs in a attempt to regain the lead. All was in the balance, as neither team was happy to settle for a point. The task for Spartak was made more difficult on 87 minutes. A cross was met by the local forward for a glorious opportunity with Chris Hogan appealing for offside. The striker put it over the bar, and Chris’s continued appeals saw the ref produce the red card.
In the last minute Spartak claimed a throw in the corner (from discussion later it may have been a home throw?) and Martin Costello, showing enterprise coming up from the back, made it to the bye line. He pulled the ball back to Colum O’Sullivan, who did not connect cleanly, and looped his effort on to the crossbar. Conor Maguire, who had held the ball up well for much of the game, was on hand to poke home the winner with 15 seconds left on the clock. With no time for the home side to regroup, it was game over in emphatic fashion. Cue delirium for the Sky Blues, despair for the men in green and yellow.
The game as a spectacle was ruined by a strong wind, and Spartak had to show all their determination to get the win. It was a day when grit and will to win proved to be critical factors, as flair was limited due to the conditions.
An important result which sees Spartak with 4 wins out of seven games, leapfrog Greenhills into second place. No team in the league is setting a particularly hot pace, with the result that many teams are still in contention for promotion. Based on points dropped so far this season there are 6 teams within 4 points of each other so its all really congested at this point. Spartak are 2nd lowest scorers in the league but have the 4th best defence.
So much for statistics. Its all to play for with improvement needed to push on.
Form Report:
Bobby Hayes 7 Chris Hogan 6 Mick Greene 6 Martin Costello 7 Cathal Clancy 7 Fintan Grace 7 Niall Lennon 6 Ryan Burke 7 Conor Maguire 8 Ross Kelly 7 Niall Hanratty 6
Subs: Neill Bolger 6 Colum O’Sullivan 6 Derek McGoldrick 6 Shane McInerney Dillon Burke Dave O’Kelly
October 26th, 2011 at 9:36 am
Spartak are 2nd lowest scorers in the league but have the 4th best defence. – Surely points total is more important no??.
October 26th, 2011 at 10:31 am
You could be right there Michael! Rumour has it thats what the league uses to determine positions.
My point I have always thought that points dropped is the best way of analysing the league and finding out who is in contention. I believe thats the most important indicator. Teams who win leagues or promotion don’t drop many. For example Last year’s Div 3 winners dropped 11 points, runners up dropped 14. So on the basis of points dropped the likes of Ratoath are still well in contention, although only 6th at present.
I also think we need to very much improve on the goalscoring front, particularly as we have no player with more than 2 league goals after 7 games.
Good to see three guys score their first league goals on Saturday, so a good step in the right direction.