10.12.11
Spartak 2, Inchicore Athletic 1.
Two fine first half finishes clinched a spot in the 5th Round of the Leinster Junior Shield for the Sky Blues.
This tie was considered by the LFA to be a virtual shoo in for Inchicore, one of the famous old names in junior soccer and who are having a powerful season in the LFL, but it was Spartak’s drive and energy which saw off their more fancied opponents to register their most impressive result of the season so far.
Spartak threatened first with two Steve Walsh free kicks and also when Mick Costello flicked on Chris Hogan’s throw, Conor Maguire’s effort was too close to the keeper. In between Bobby Hayes took off a good save to deny the visitors.
On 17 minutes Conor Maguire was denied by the keeper at the expense of a corner, from which Niall Hanratty’s perfectly flighted ball was emphatically headed home by Martin Costello.
At this point Spartak’s defence began to look shaky for a while; errors by Fintan Grace and Martin Costello were reprieved when the striker fired over; Cathal Clancy cleared off the line after a scramble; and a fine cross was turned wide by the Inchicore no.9 from 5 yards with Chris Hogan struggling to get across to cover.
Chris Hogan and Niall Hanratty combined well going forward down the right and were unlucky not to see at least one cross converted.
On 42 minutes came a goal of rare quality. Hard work by Neill Bolger and Mick Costello saw Conor Maguire take possession 25 yards out. His lofted pass was chased by Steve Walsh, whose close control artfully outwitted two defenders before he rifled it home.
Unsurprisingly Inchicore came out all guns blazing for the second period, but it was Spartak on the break who had a Neill Bolger effort disallowed for offside, with the keeper departing injured after the clash, and both players booked.
Inchicore then had a period of dominance marked strangely by a reluctance to shoot when in good positions, and marked by a couple of big misses. On 64 minutes a prolonged game of head tennis in the Spartak box was finished by a visiting forward who scored.
As second half became a war of attrition in heavy conditions the Spartak defence became more resolute and there were some fine tackles and blocks to deny chances.
On the break Niall Lennon and Steve Walsh had chances to stretch the lead but were thwarted.
Bobby Hayes then killed off a number of attacks by some fine takes from dangerous crosses.
Anyone got a road map for Carrickmacross?
Form Report
Bobby Hayes 8 Chris Hogan 7 Fintan Grace 7 Martin Costello 8 Cathal Clancy 8 Mick Costello 7 Niall Lennon 7 Niall Hanratty 7 Steve Walsh 8 Conor Maguire 8 Neill Bolger 7
Subs Derek McGoldrick 6 Shane McInerney Mick Greene
December 15th, 2011 at 8:51 pm
Thru Slane and straight on for about an hour