25.10.14
Spartak 4, Rush 1
Spartak started well and were gifted a tonic start with a penalty and a keeper error allowing the Sky Blues to go two up almost immediately. When Jeff Gamble tumbled into the box it seemed the foul may have been committed just outside, but a spot kick was awarded and Mick Greene drove in for number one.
A fine through pass by Niall Lennon then saw Ciaran Keane and the keeper contesting the ball but the keeper erred and Ciaran had only to tap to an empty net.
Spartak suffered late cry offs with Adam Doran and Niall Hanratty reporting in with man flu while Shane McInerney was restricted to the subs bench nursing a knee injury.
Niall Lennon continued his excellent form in midfield, displaying a range of passing and also doing his fair share of defensive work while Conor Keegan and Dave O’Kelly combined well at the back with each making timely interceptions and strong challenges. Jeff Gamble was his usual lively self and had a hand in most forward moves.
First half failure to hold the ball up put some pressure on the Spartak defence. Ciaran Keane, Jeff Gamble and Mick Leslie were culpable in this regard. In midfield Conor Canavan was calm on the ball while Fergus Burke showed few ill effects from his season of nocturnal activities and put in an energetic performance. In fact the only ill effect shown was a bout of temporary deafness as a substitute was ready to come on!
Rush got back into the game just on half time; a corner kick struck the near post and rebounded to a Rush player who took advantage of the statuesque Spartak defence to score.
Graham Campbell’ free kick, after Jeff Gamble was taken down on the edge of the box, eluded the keeper for number three and Jeff put the icing on the cake with an injury time effort from 20 yards.
Form Report:
Bobby Hayes 7 Chris Hogan 6 Mick Greene 6 Conor Keegan 8 Dave O Kelly 7 Ciaran Keane 5 Conor Canavan 6 Jeff Gamble 7 Niall Lennon 8 Fergus Burke 7 Mick Leslie 5
Subs: Barry Maguire 5 Graham Campbell 7 Conor Callis 6
