7.3.14
Fassaroe 4, Spartak 3
When the home side took an early 2-0 lead with just 17 minutes gone the omens did not look good for the Sky Blues. Indeed, despite Steve Walsh pulling one back with a neat finish, the home side added two more before the interval. Spartak did have one more first half effort when Steve Walsh shot just wide.
Fassaroe had finished four from four with some decent finishing.
Far from being shell shocked Spartak began the second half with a flourish and produced some of their best football of the season in the third quarter. Chance followed chance as Derek Ruxton and Fergus Burke took a grip on the middle of the park, with Neil McGowan and Steve Walsh combining well up top.
Walsh had an effort saved after McGowan’s pass set him free, then Fergus Burke fired over after the goalkeeper fumbled a cross. Ruxton and McGowan combined to send Walsh in to reduce arrears. On 64 minutes a long Grier throw caused sufficient confusio for Neil McGowan to force home from a narrow angle; 3-4 and an entirely diffrenet complexion on the contest, which now swung in Spartak’s favour.
Martin Costello intercepted a clearance and fired towards goal; Fergus Burke seemed well place to slot in but seemed to think he was offside and that hesitation proved decisive.
Spartak laid siege to home territory but, showing too much anxiety, persisted with too many high balls against a powerful aerial defence which just about held out.
Form Report
Jason Northey 6 Paul Kinsella 6 Dave Browne 6 Steve Grier 6 Martin Costello 6 Fergus Burke 7 Neil McGowan 8 Niall Hanratty 6 Derek Ruxton 8 Dave Kernan 6 Steve Walsh 8
