Spartak Dynamo FC

26.11.11

Spartak 5, Ballycragh 4 (AET)

The Sky Blues finally came out on top of this pulsating contest. With the visitors down to 10 men after 25 minutes, Spartak looked odds on to come out on top, but instead found themselves 0-2 down at the break. When Ballycragh made it 3-1 on 85 minutes, hope faded and Spartak teetered on he edge of disaster. However Steve Walsh’s corner went straight in on 88 minutes, and on 92 minutes Cathal Clancy strode imperiously forward before passing to Conor Maguire, who sent Martin Costello in to fire in the equaliser to a mixture of euphoria and relief from the home side.

That meant extra time; and Conor Maguire duly fired in to make it 4-3 in the first period. Colum O’Sullivan then took centre stage, conceding a penalty and the equaliser first, and then was involved in the move, set up by Chris Hogan, which led to the winner with 90 seconds of extra time remaining. Colum’s shot struck a defender, and Conor Maguire coolly finished the rebound to the net. In between Cathal Clancy had a glorious opportunity from a Niall Lennon cross but headed wide.

Spartak began the match poorly and conceded on 9 minutes when Fintan Grace half cleared a corner. The second Ballycragh goal came on 18 minutes when a hesitant Bobby Hayes allowed a low cross to drift past him.

On 25 minutes the visiting player foolishly struck Cathal and was red carded.

It was a game in which Spartak created more chances than in all games put together so far this season.

In the very first minute a long Conor Maguire pass found Martin Costello who fired wide. A harbinger of things to come? It looked that way. Niall Hanratty fired weakly at the keeper when clear, Fintan Grace’s shot from the left was on target but had no power; Mick Greene’s pass put Conor Maguire in for a one on one, but he shot too close to the keeper. Conor’s pass put Niall Hanratty in but he blazed wide and later hit the bar from Mick Greene’s pass; Shane McInerney was well wide from the edge of the box. And that was just the first half!

The second half was almost all one way traffic , with Ballycragh scoring on virtually their only excursion into home territory on 85 minutes. Their only other chance came courtesy of a tiring Mick Greene, who played across his own goal. Shane McInerney came to the rescue with a risky challenge in the box.

Shane could have had a hat trick, but despite getting into great positions failed to make good contact with the ball sufficient to trouble the keeper. Niall Hanratty, too, could have had a few goals, but lacked the clinical touch, opting for power instead. Chris Hogan, marauding from right back, had several efforts go close; Conor Maguire hit the bar from Steve Walsh’s cross and the ball bounced invitingly a yard out but Martin Costello handled in his attempt to get the ball across the line.

Spartak were now on the rampage, camped in Ballycragh’s half, with unused sub Derek Ruxton acting as a manic ball boy to keep the tempo at a frantic level.

Substitutes Niall Lennon and Steve Walsh had given added impetus and Niall Lennon burst through and looked certain to score but the effort was deflected over.

On another day all those missed opportunities would have given rise to much soul searching following the game.

On 73 minutes Mick Greene and Martin Costello combined to cross for Niall Hanratty to toe poke home. It looked set up for Spartak , but credit must go to Ballycragh, who fought really well with 10 men, defended deep and worked hard and had other ideas, scoring a third goal.

A great game, almost a nightmare but finally the goals came to the delight of the boys in sky blue.

Form Report
Bobby Hayes 5 Chris Hogan 6 Mick Greene 6 Fintan Grace 6 Cathal Clancy 8 Mick Costello 5 Shane McInerney 6 Niall Hanratty 6 Conor Maguire 7 Ross Kelly 5 Martin Costello 6
Subs Niall Lennon 7 Steve Walsh 7 Colum O Sullivan 6 Derek McGoldrick Dave O’Kelly Derek Ruxton

One Response to “Spartak Snatch 3rd Round Shield Victory”