6.5.12
Pioneers 3 Spartak 2
A deeply disappointing result against a home team struggling to avoid relegation; Pioneers started with ten men for a few minutes, held out and gradually strengthened as subs arrived.
Not so prompt were Spartak; many of whom become disoriented after leaving the front garden. In the worst case Alex Kenny crossed the east link at 10.15 and reached the pitch, in St Anne’s, at 11.40; he had reached the Phoenix Park before he noticed he wasn’t on the coast anymore. Lets hope his upcoming exams don’t have any questions on orientation, direction or geography!
Spartak created many chances, but defence was their achilles heel, and the goals conceded were very soft.
Spartak might have wrapped the game up in a bright start when a few good chances were created; with Dave Thomson an energetic mid field presence, the Sky Blues went forward and Ger Byrne and Graham Breen set up Conor Maguire for a straightforward chance 6 yards out but his attempt was a touch casual and allowed the keeper to save. Keith Kelly had a surging run and his cross-cum-shot was just ahead of Ger at the back post.
Having had things easy for the first ten minutes, the Sky Blues became complacent and listless as Pioneers showed a bit more bite; the central defensive partnership of Seamus McCahill and Dave Browne made for an uneasy combination; throw ins were frequently directed to opponents’ feet; Peter O’Toole’s kicking was off.
Peter O’Toole then made a couple of fine saves as the defence faltered; the early warning signs were ignored and from the second save Pioneers made the corner count as there was a lack of aerial power from Spartak and the ball was bundled in from a central position. On 35 minutes things got decidedly worse as a forward got a yard on Ken Buckley to fire in number 2.
Shaken, Spartak came close on the stroke of half time when Breen headed Ciaran Keogh’s header against the bar.
A much better display in the second half saw Spartak on the attack; there was an incredible miss by Neil McGowan after Breen headed Kelly’s throw against the bar. The ball dropped invitingly to Neil, a couple of yards out, but his volley was blocked on the line by the full back.
On 59 minutes Dave Thomson and Conor Maguire combined well for Conor to reduce arrears; and two minutes later the equaliser came from the same formula.
With the Sky Blues looking the most likely winners, Seamus McCahill had an aberration when in possession on the back line facing his goal; he could have conceded a corner or a throw; instead he dawdled, his pocket was picked and the home side nicked a gift winner on 72 minutes.
This was a game in which Spartak should have recorded a straightforward win, and the defeat marks five successive games without a win, after a good run which had lifted the team out of the relegation mire.
With three tougher home games to finish the season, a big improvement is required.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 6 Keith Kelly 5 Ciaran Keogh 6 Seamus McCahill 5 Dave Browne 5 Ken Buckley 6 Neil McGowan 6 Conor Maguire 6 Dave Thomson 7 Graham Breen 5 Ger Byrne 5
Subs: Alex Kenny 5 Graham McEnroe 5 Steve Walsh 5 Conor Canavan Thom O’Driscoll
