20.9.14
Spartak 2, Cherryfield 4
Spartak’s opening home game did not produce any better result than the previous two away games as the team, missing players from last season, is only starting to come together as a unit.
In a fine move, Fidel Benson, Jeff Gamble and Ciaran Keane combined well and the latter’s cross was headed down to Shane McInerney but he could only make a weak connection.
The Sky Blues began promisingly enough, but approach play was spoiled by the poor quality of crosses, mostly lobbed in and easy meat for the visiting keeper, with Chris Hogan, Niall Lennon and Dave O’Kelly among the guilty men.
On 27 minutes Cherryfield went ahead from a free header from a corner, awarded instead of a free out for a clear foul on Chris Hogan.
Bobby Hayes took off a fine save just on the break, tipping the ball around the post; he was even more disappointed than the opposition that the ref awarded a goal kick!
The second half saw the game become quite open, with both sets of defences looking porous. Spartak equalised when a Conor Keegan free was knocked back by Niall Lennon to give Dave O Kelly the simplest task from a yard out, but Cherryfield restored their lead five minutes later from a break out. Jeff Gamble responded with a fierce shot, but unfortunately too close to the keeper, who parried.
Jeff Gamble sent Kevin O’Connell in to equalise from a narrow angle with 18 minutes remaining but almost immediately Cherryfield scored from a clearly offside position.
The remaining minutes were frantic; Bobby Hayes saved well after a poor back pass by Dave O’Kelly; Cherryfield added a fourth and Jeff Gamble was fouled in the area but no penalty awarded.
The team remains a work in progress as new players bed in and fitness improves.
Form Report
Bobby Hayes 6 Barry Maguire 5 Chris Hogan 6 Conor Keegan 7 Kevin O Connell 7 Shane McInerney 5 Niall Lennon 5 Fidel Benson 5 Dave O’Kelly 5 Jeff Gamble 6 Ciaran Keane 5.
Subs: Mick Greene 5 Mick Young 5 Evans Sarpong 5
