5.10.13
Walkinstown 5 Spartak 3
This was a game which could have gone either way. The sides were evenly matched but a few important events in the game swung the tide in Walkinstown’s favour.
The host took the lead when Dave O Kelly and Jeff Gamble were exposed, not for the first time, down Spartak’s right hand side; but a long ball by Dave Berry was converted by Thomas Gaynor for the equaliser. Gaynor then gave Spartak the lead after good work by Gamble.
Mick Costello saved and Jervis Mulhall got in a good block as the home side sought to level; and they did so on the stroke of half time from the penalty spot after the softest of penalties.
On 62 minutes some poor midfield play allowed a cross which left Chris Hogan in no man’s land as the forward headed in. Minutes later Dave Berry was fouled; the ref gave nothing and Berry lost any semblance of control and unleashed a tirade which saw him get a yellow, then red card.
Stephen Barr then missed an incredible opportunity to equalise after Chris Hogan’s free was fumbled by the keeper and dropped on the line. The usually reliable Barr manged only to prod the ball against a post from less than a yard out.
Walkinstown then gained in confidence and added two more before Gaynor reduced arrears with a deflected shot.
The Sky Blues were left to reflect on the penalty, the miss, and most of all the unnecessary red card.
Form report;
Mick Costello 7 Dave O Kelly 6 Chris Hogan 5 Stephen Barr 7 Fintan Grace 6 Jervis Mulhall 6 Derek Ruxton 5 Jeff Gamble 5 Niall Lennon 5 Thomas Gaynor 7 Dave Berry 4 Conor Callis 5 Mick Leslie 5
