15.5.16
Willows 0, Spartak 5
The Sky Blues quickly established midfield dominance in this game, affording the front players plenty of opportunities to score, but, particularly in the first half, the Sky Blues were profligate in their efforts to score.
A particular feature was a reluctance to shoot with weaker foot, and it was ironic that midfielder Thom O’Driscoll scored the opening goal with his weaker right foot, volleying in from the edge of the box after Dave Browne’s long throw was cleared to him.
Before that, Jeff Gamble and Conor Callis had vied with each other for most chances spurned; both hit the woodwork from close in, but they both had several weak efforts.
Willows occasionally threatened, but Jason Northey was rarely troubled, and well protected by his back four.
The second period saw Conor Callis miss a one on one, before once again racing forward to pull the ball back to Jeff Gamble, who laid on for Thom O’Driscoll to fire in number two.
Almost immediately Jeff Gamble finally got on the scoresheet, looking suspiciously offside, from an excellent through ball by Chris Hogan.
Steve Grier had a volley cleared off the line, before Owen McCormack and Gamble added numbers four and five as Willows wilted.
Substitute Ciaran Keane then blazed over when through one on one for the final clear chance of a match which had yielded many scoring opportunities.
Form Report
Jason Northey 6 Chris Hogan 7 Fintan Grace 7 Steve Grier 7 Dave Browne 7 Shane McInerney 7 Conor Callis 6 Jeff Gamble 7 Niall Lennon 7 Tom O’Driscoll 8 Mick Leslie 6
Subs: Ciaran Keane 5 Owen McCormack 7 Tom Maher 6
