4.11.12
Coill Dubh 3, Spartak 3
Spartak returned to scene of last years cup mauling by a strong local side, who have just entered the LSL after success in the Kildare league. There were many detours en route. Its difficult enough for some of our lads to find Marlay!
Needless to say as a result the Sky Blues had the worst possible start and it took only two minutes for Alex Kenny to concede a penalty and the lead goal. The back four were struggling; Niall Hanratty was dispossessed and Alex cleared off the line; Seamus McCahill was all too easily beaten but the locals fired wide; Dave Browne was watching proceedings from afar for a while before finally taking a decisive role.
Gradually Spartak settled down and began to weather the storm. Conor Maguire won a free and Seamus McCahill fired the cross just over. On 23 minutes Dave Browne advanced with the ball into space and fed Conor Maguire whose pass picked out the run of Neil McGowan; Neil’s shot, although touched by the keeper, was too strong and nestled in the corner of the net. A flowing move by Niall Hanratty Steve Walsh and Neil McGowan saw Conor Maguire just unable to direct his header onto the goal.
The threat from Coill Dubh continued and they took the lead from a simple ball over the top and a first time finish as confusion reigned in the Spartak defence. Alex Kenny departed injured and Ken Buckley came on to good effect with Steve Grier dropping back. Spartak then had a lucky escape as a forward evaded Hanratty and McCahill but slipped at the vital moment and Jason Northey saved. Neil McGowan then fired a shot just over.
Coill Dubh had a free well saved by Jason Northey but the Sky Blues then had their best spell. Stuart Love, eventually carded, Neil McGowan and Ken Buckley all put in some decent challenges and the tide began to turn. A long ball from Dave Browne gave Conor Maguire a chance which came to nothing and then a Browne- Walsh- Maguire move saw Steve Walsh’s shot saved at the expense of a corner. Conor Maguire then had a free kick deflected over and a super ball by Steve Walsh gave Stuart Love a great opportunity but his touch was too strong and the chance evaporated.
On 68 minutes came the game’s pivotal moment. A sweeping local move saw the no.11 bear down on goal from the right; his shot was too close to Jason Northey who saved well. From the breakout Dave Browne fed Graham McEnroe, who exchanged passes with Conor Maguire before controlling the return ball perfectly and languidly knocking it past the local keeper. 2-2 instead of 1-3!
It got better two minutes later; again Conor Maguire chased a long Dave Browne ball but was taken down from behind – penalty. Conor himself stepped up and made no mistake.
Coill Dubh equalised with a soft goal on 79 minutes as Spartak dropped deep. In truth there were quite a few hairy moments for Spartak as the local side came in search of the winner. In particular a deflected effort which hit the post and spun back across goal.
Urged on by Barry Crowe the ref finally blew the final whistle after a jittery last few minutes and Spartak were happy to take a point; particularly after a 5-1 defeat in the cup to the same team last year.
Pleasing features of the game included the creative play and combo of Walsh, Maguire and McGowan while Steve Grier did well in midfield and then in defence. In general the effort was excellent and players worked hard and covered well for each other. The unbeaten run now is three games, a good improvement after a shaky start to the season; with plenty of further potential for improvement.
Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Niall Hanratty 7 Dave Browne 7 Alex Kenny 5 Seamus McCahill 7 Graham McEnroe 7 Neil McGowan 8 Steve Grier 8 Stuart Love 7 Conor Maguire 7 Steve Walsh 8 Ken Buckley 7 Derek Ruxton 5
