28.1.12
Hyde Park 3, Spartak 4
Spartak reached the second round of the Vere Deane cup after a really fine contest with Hyde Park, with both sides stronger in attack.
The Sky Blues were grateful to Bobby Hayes who made a stunning double save in the opening minutes after sloppy play saw possession squandered. Bobby then handled a Cathal Clancy back pass but the locals were unable to take advantage. Initially Spartak tended to take too many touches and the pace suffered as a result. But then the game settled and Spartak enjoyed a period of hegemony with enterprising runs on both wings by Steve Walsh and Conor Maguire.
Fintan Grace surged forward on the left and from his cross Derek Ruxton fired against the post. Conor Maguire sent Neill Bolger down the right Ross Kelly’s header from the cross was saved. Then Ruxton was just wide after good work by Walsh and Kelly. Maguire sent Bolger away but the keeper blocked at the expense of a corner. Mick Greene’s corner was flicked just wide by Bolger, who also headed over just on the break after good approach play by Maguire and Kelly. The goal finally arrived on 44 minutes when Maguire’s run and cross was bundled in by Kelly.
Martin Costello was lucky to escape a card after a late challenge, and later gave the ball away from free resulting in Hyde Park pressure.
Spartak began the second half in the same vein, a defence splitting pass by Kelly sending Walsh through, but the keeper saved, with Maguire firing the follow up wide. Clancy headed over from Mick Greene’s free.
Walsh and Kelly combined to send Bolger through but the home keeper saved bravely and was injured in the accidental clash. Then Spartak went ahead with a fine goal from a smart break out. Hayes claimed a Hyde Park free kick and his throw found Maguire. A great through ball to Walsh saw the winger control and fire home for number 2.
Hyde Park rallied and created three chances in quick succession as Spartak tired, or switched off collectively, and lost control of the midfield. Bobby saved, Hyde Park hit the side net, and they also shot wide.
The home rally quickly paid off, as defensive slackness saw a half clearance fired in on 73 minutes; and two minutes later a long range free was headed home by an unmarked forward.
On 77 minutes substitute Niall Lennon played a lovely diagonal ball which Conor Maguire adroitly turned in to give Spartak the lead – surely the winner? But no, moments later Cathal Clancy conceded a free and was carded. Before the defence could reorganise, Hyde Park quickly exploited the gap on the left and the cross was duly converted. The home side now had their tails up and Bobby had to save smartly in a scramble, with Cathal Clancy also making a timely clearance. Martin Costello’s free was short and put Hyde Park on the attack but again Bobby saved.
As extra time loomed it took a moment of individual skill to settle the tie. A dazzling run by Steve Walsh on 87 minutes saw him beat a couple of defenders and shoot for goal – a despairing touch by a defender could only help the ball to the net.
With seconds left in injury time the locals gained a corner and the keeper came forward; however Derek Ruxton cleared the ball prodigiously; it travelled more than 70 yards – on a dry or windy day the ball would have carried and he might have scored from his own penalty area!
Plenty of attacking virtuosity on display in a thrilling contest. Defences were certainly not on top in this one!
Form Report
Bobby Hayes 8 Mick Greene 6 Fintan Grace 6 Martin Costello 6 Cathal Clancy 6 Neill Bolger 7 Derek Ruxton 6 Conor Maguire 9 Steve Walsh 9 Ross Kelly 8 Shane McInerney 6
Subs: Niall Lennon 7 Colum O’Sullivan 6 Derek McGoldrick 6 Chris Hogan
