21.1.12
Swords Celtic 3, Spartak 1
Spartak came to rue missed first half chances in a game ruined by the wind and a whistle happy ref, who was never in control of the match. Apart from his infuriating habit of evening things up with provocative decisions, he failed to punish a horror challenge on Mick Costello. Mick has ankle damage and was lucky not to sustain a broken leg. To add insult to injury, the ref was only a few yards away from the incident.
Back to that first half, in which Spartak had the edge but somehow ended up a goal behind.
After just 5 minutes Conor Maguire won a free which Mick Greene crossed; the ball fell to Neill Bolger, close in, but he could not make the contact in the swirling wind. A fine reverse pass by Neill then put Derek Ruxton away on the right, and his shot was deflected for a corner.
Against the run of play Swords went ahead. A corner was cleared back to the taker, and his cross was headed down and finished. The Sky Blues claimed offside; but simple defending could have prevented the goal.
Spartak responded well with three attempts to equalise. Steve Walsh had a shot saved; Steve then put Conor Maguire through, who slotted past the keeper but wide of target; as the ball was running wide Neill Bolger raced to try to turn it in but hit the side net. Derek Ruxton’s run and cross left Conor Maguire with a close in header, but he could not get sufficient purchase and the ball drifted wide.
In fact Spartak had the home side on the run for a while, but sometimes chose to turn back to retain possession when a drive forward was more in keeping with the trend of the play.
The second period began poorly for Spartak; Neill Bolger picked up a yellow card, and on 50 minutes disaster struck when Martin Costello was dispossessed twice in the same move. On the first occasion his fellow defenders came to the rescue and returned the ball to him but the second was punished by a fine rasping shot past Bobby Hayes. 0-2.
Nonetheless Spartak fought back and reduced arrears on 56 minutes after good work by Steve Walsh when Conor Maguire turned the ball in. An equaliser looked on the cards when Fintan Grace and Martin Costello combined to cross for Neill Bolger, who powered a great header off the top of the bar. On a luckier day, he might have been completing his hattrick.
A fine run and cross by Fintan Grace saw no takers in the box and Maguire and Ruxton had shots saved. But the Sky Blues were undone as the defence pushed on and were caught out of position on the break and Swords added number 3 on 78 minutes.
Ross Kelly’s good work gave Mick Costello a good headed chance and then later when Mick’s shot was spilled by the keeper he challenged for the ball; he was butted and punched but Mick received a red card for retaliation – with no punishment for the home lads.
Not a match to be fondly remembered. A quick recovery is required for the Vere Deane cup (which Spartak has won previously) against high flying Hyde Park on Saturday in Balbriggan. The unfortunate Mick Costello will be both injured and suspended for that one.
Form Report
Bobby Hayes 6 Mick Greene 5 Fintan Grace 6 Martin Costello 5 Dave O’Kelly 6 Mick Costello 6 Neill Bolger 6 Derek Ruxton 6 Steve Walsh 6 Conor Maguire 6 Shane McInerney 6
Subs : Niall Lennon 5 Cathal Clancy 5 Ross Kelly 5 Colum O’Sullivan Niall Hanratty
