27.11.14
Willows 2, Spartak 5
On a good pitch, heavy with wintry conditions, Spartak made a fine comeback. After a wasteful opening half, the Sky Blues had only one goal to show from superior possession, when Fidel Benson drove in from close range on the half hour mark when the ball dropped to him following Conor Keegan’s corner.
Mick Leslie risked the wrath of the locals by wearing white boots with pink studs, but put in a decent stint as a hard running front man. Conor Callis had a shot just over before departing the fray with an injury, and substitute Thom O’Driscoll made an immediate impression , firing in a shot which the home keeper struggled to parry for a corner.
Ciaran Keane lobbed onto the woodwork after being sent away by Niall Lennon, but in general Spartak’s approach play in the first period was laborious.
The home side came sharply to life after the interval, and after Mick Greene and Dave Browne made last ditch clearances, back up was not forthcoming and the locals fired in from outside the box. Worse was to follow with a Bobby Hayes error gifting the home side the lead.
However Spartak finally woke up and the influence of Niall Lennon and Fidel Benson in midfield began to gradually increase, while Conor Keegan provided excellent cover at the back. The equaliser came after a few opportunities had been missed when Barry Maguire fed Thom O’Driscoll whose long range effort left the keeper helpless. 2-2.
With 17 minutes remaining a great Mick Greene pass sent Fidel Benson away on the left; his cross was too high but Jeff Gamble fired in a the second attempt.
Spartak then finished strongly and added two goals in the closing minutes.
A Conor Keegan corner was headed onto the bar by Ciaran Keane and Jeff Gamble forced home. Then Niall Lennon capped a fine performance by racing on to a Jeff Gamble flick to surge towards goal and finish neatly.
A pleasing comeback.
Form Report
Bobby Hayes 5 Barry Maguire 6 Mick Greene 6 Conor Keegan 9 Dave Browne 7 Ciaran Keane 5 Conor Callis 6 Jeff Gamble 7 Niall Lennon 9 Fidel Benson 8 Mick Leslie 7
Subs: Thom O’Driscoll 7 Chris Hogan 6 Shane McInerney 6
