14.4.12
Esker Celtic 2, Spartak 3
While the home side, in hot pursuit of promotion, may have understimated the opposition, Spartak nonetheless produced one of their better displays and might have won by a wider margin. There was some sparkling play from the Spartak attack with Steve Walsh’s midfield promptings causing problems for the home defence.
Niall Lennon was to the fore before the game, displaying his organisational abilities, leaving half the kit at home in the hot press. Luckily Ross had the claret kit, to avoid the lads having to paint on jerseys or go topless!
Colum O’Sullivan swept in Steve Walsh’s sumptuous cross at the back post to give Spartak the lead after good work by Derek Ruxton; and later on 39 minutes Colum touched Conor Maguire’s through ball past the advancing keeper to make it 2-0. In between he dispossessed a defender to give himself a clear run on goal, but scuffed his shot at the keeper and pulled the rebound wide.
A flaky attempt at an offside trap on 49 minutes gave Esker a way back in, as Colum O’Sullivan was left as last man; luckily for Colum, his attempted foul just failed, avoiding a red card. The player recovered his balance and squared to a colleague for an easy finish.
Jason Northey made a number of brave saves throughout; some dodgy punches caused some grief.
A mazy Walsh run was halted at the cost of a penalty kick on 68 minutes; up stepped Conor Maguire, but his weak effort was parried and Colum O’Sullivan blazed the rebound wide from an angle. Mick Costello had a chance on his right foot following a Walsh free but then Walsh finished cleverly from Derek Ruxton’s pass to make it 3-1 before Esker reduced arrears almost immediately with a shot that dipped over Jason Northey’s head.
Fintan Grace and Cathal Clancy spared nothing at the heart of the Spartak defence making timely tackles, clearances, headers and interceptions. Distribution from the full backs, Chris and Conor, who both battled well, was more erratic, with a number of foul throws and weak passes.
Form Report:
Jason Northey 7 Chris Hogan 6 Conor Canavan 6 Fintan Grace 8 Cathal Clancy 8 Mick Costello 7 Derek Ruxton 7 Colum O’Sullivan 8 Steve Walsh 8 Conor Maguire 7 Shane McInerney 7.
Subs: Niall Hanratty 6 Neill Bolger 6 Dermot Dooley 6 Niall Lennon Ross Kelly
