16.2.13
Leicester Celtic 2, Spartak 0
The Sky Blues recent good run came to a shuddering end on Saturday. Some poor approach play in the final third, particularly in a one side first half, proved costly to the Sky Blues. Leicester took the lead with virtually their first chance on 44 minutes, negating all that had gone before.
Spartak will reflect on a first half when they lacked the ruthlessness to kill off opponents who were on the ropes. Too many tentative final passes; poor quality crosses; and not enough runners from midfield in support of the front men. In short, too little ambition, and too many players not willing to step outside their comfort zone.
Spartak opened brightly, and Leicester had to defend furiously as Paul Byrne had an effort blocked on the line, Shane McInerney was also thwarted at the expense of a corner, Dermot Dooley forced a save and Martin Costello tried to find Paul Byrne when a shot seemed on.
Cathal Clancy at the back made a couple of errors, with Shane McInerney there to tidy up on one occasion while Leicester crossed harmlessly on the other.
Fintan Grace’s through ball put Conor Callis racing clear and cutting in from the left; however his side footed effort on goal was disappointingly tame.
Chris Hogan had a few opportunities to cross, but his best effort found the top of the net – on the wrong side. Pressure from Dermot Dooley and Paul Byrne saw the latter caught by a defender in the box; but the ref did not award what seemed a solid penalty shout
The Leicester goal came from a crisp finish when the Sky Blue defence switched off completely.
In the second period, Spartak showed a slightly greater sense of urgency, although now the home side had something to defend, and set themselves accordingly. Anto Doyle and Chris Hogan combined to put Paul Byrne through, but the home keeper was quick off his line and saved well. Sean Doyle teed up Stephen Barr for a shot which whizzed just wide with the keeper well beaten, and Sean Doyle’s header from Chris Hogan’s cross was too close to the keeper. There was another good penalty claim when Paul Byrne was tackled in the act of shooting; the defender got none of the ball, but knocked Paul off balance. No luck this time either.
Leicester were not without chances in the second period, mostly caused by basic defensive lapses.
Leicester went down to ten men towards the end, but it was Spartak who conceded on 88 minutes, when a Mick Costello goal kick was returned into acres of space between defence and keeper, and the forward ran in to clip past the advancing Spartak custodian to put the cap on a frustrating afternoon.
Form Report
Mick Costello 6 Chris Hogan 4 Fintan Grace 5 Sean Doyle 6 Cathal Clancy 4 Shane McInerney 4 Anto Doyle 4 Conor Callis 4 Dermot Dooley 5 Paul Byrne 5 Martin Costello 4
Subs Stephen Barr 6 Steve O’Hara 5 Niall Lennon 5
