28.2.15
Rush Athletic 4, Spartak 1
With injuries an issue, Tony Kavanagh was pressed into action in this game and rolled back the decades in a solid display.
Overall the performance was satisfactory, but Spartak were holed under the waterline late in the first half by two poor refereeing decisions, just after Evans Sarpong had a “goal” ruled out for offside, and Ciaran Keane had eschewed a close range chance by blazing wildly over from a great position.
Ushering the ball over the end line, Tony Kavanagh was blatantly pushed over with the forward allowed to run in and score. Almost immediately a high tackle was ignored as the home winger drove in number 2.
Steven Harris was pressed into action and made some good saves, while controlling his area well, despite carrying a troublesome injury. Joe McCarthy played the 90 for the first time and put in an impressive performance. Overall the work rate could not be faulted.
The Sky Blues who came strongly into the game in the second period and Kevin Loftus and Ciaran Keane gave Jeff Gamble a good chance, but his close range effort was saved. ten minutes after the break Ciaran Keane got a touch to Mick Greene’s corner and Jeff Gamble fired in to reduce arrears.
Just past the hour mark and Mick Greene had a nightmare couple of minutes; deflecting in a corner to make it 3-1 to the home side, and almost immediately missing a penalty, and the rebound, when Jeff Gamble was tumbled in the box.
When Ciaran Keane was caught in possession with 10 to go, the home side got number 4 to clinch the points. Mick Leslie fired over as he Sk Blues continued to attack, but the gap could not be closed.
It did bot feel like a 4-1 game; those crucial, late, first half goals proved decisive.
Form Report
Steven Harris 7 Mick Greene 6 Mick Leslie 7 Tony Kavanagh 7 Joe McCarthy 8 Ciaran Keane 6 Shane McInerney 6 Niall Lennon 7 Evans Sarpong 7 Jeff Gamble 8 Niall Quinn 6 . Sub Kevin Loftus 6
