10.4.16
Spartak 2, Glasnevin 3
No less than three vital goal decisions in the final few minutes of this game swung the tie in the visitors favour.
Firstly a goal should have been awarded after a rebound saw the ball cross the Glasnevin goal line by more than a yard; the referee turned down the appeals; then Steve Walsh, in injury time, scored what surely would have been a winner following good work by Dave Kernan and Jeff Gamble, but was, incredibly, given offside. To add insult to injury Glasnevin then scored an unlikely winner from a blatantly offside position.
Spartak played the entire first half in peripatetic fashion, seeming to expect that the visitors would simply lie down and allow the Sky Blues claim a handy three points in the promotion race. The visitors, embroiled in a relegation fight, had other ideas, and tackled accordingly.
Spartak created no clear chances in the first half, as Glasnevin sat deep and easily repelled the home attacks, such as they were.
Minutes before half time, a fast break by the visitors saw the forward round Jason Northey to reach the bye line, before squaring across the open goal. The hapless Martin Costello, racing back, hacked his attempted clearance to the net for an unfortunate own goal.
Substitutes Steve Grier and Jeff Gamble imbued the home side with some urgency, and a powerful Neil McGowan effort was saved by the goalie’s feet in instinctive fashion. Kevin O’Toole had a chance but produced a tame effort.
Then came three goals in a three minute spell within the last ten minutes. Neil McGowan fired in right footed from the edge of the box to equalise, but almost immediately Dave Browne was caught napping by the winger who raced away, then crossed for a scoring header. 1-2 with less than 10 remaining.
Spartak had regained their fighting spirit, and when Mick Leslie’s drive was parried, Jeff Gamble headed in a second equaliser.
Then came the injury time twist in the tale, as joy turned to despair following those decisions.
Form Report
Jason Northey 6 Dave Browne 4 Niall Hanratty 4 Paul Kinsella 5 Martin Costello 5 Kevin O’Toole 6 Neil McGowan 6 Dave Kernan 5 Keith Kelly 5 Tom O’Driscoll 5 Steve Walsh 5
Subs: Jeff Gamble 7 Steve Grier 7 Mick Leslie 7
