Peamount 1, Spartak 3
Goals from Mick Leslie, Owen McCormack and an og gave Spartak a win in the opening friendly. There were encouraging performances from debutants Cian Donohoe, Darragh Logue and Ben Johnson. Of particular satisfaction was the fine display by Stuart Love on his recovery from a cruciate knee injury. Aodhan McCahill was also welcomed back after his erasmus year in Germany. Keith Kelly was solid at the back while Mick Greene did a decent job deputising in goal.
Form Report
Mick Greene 7 Cian Donohoe 7 Darragh Logue 7 Keith Kelly 7 Dave Browne 6 Niall Lennon 6 Aodhan McCahill 6 Neil McGowan 5 Ben Johnson 7 Owen McCormack 7 Stuart Love 8 Kevin O’Toole 6 Dave Kernan 6 Mick Leslie 6 Mick Young 6 Dan Crowe 8 Darren Ritchie 5
Castle Celtic 3, Spartak 3,
Mick Leslie continued his goalscoring run with two well taken scores as Spartak came back from 3-1 down; A late Darren Ritchie header secured a draw in a tight match. Spartak conceded some soft scores and did not match the physicality and strength of the Castle players.
Bobby Hayes 5 Cian Donohoe 7 Keith Kelly 7 Aodhan McCahill 7 Mick Greene 6 David Kernan 6 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Martin Costello 6 Mick Young 5 Darragh Logue 6 Mick Leslie 7 Darren Ritchie 7
VEC Tournament
Spartak 1, CYM Beechwood 1 – CY won on pens
Spartak dominated their higher ranked opponents everywhere but on the scoreboard. Indeed it took a late, long range screamer from Niall Lennon to equalise after Dave Browne had unluckily conceded an early penalty. Spartak struck the woodwork on three separate occasions and, with greater incisiveness could have won the game handsomely. Overall the performance was the best we have seen in pre season so far.
Spartak had only a 50% success rate on penalties as Owen McCormack and Neil McGowan had their spot kicks saved, while Mick Leslie and Geoff Gamble succeeded with their efforts.
Martin Costello 6 David Kernan 7 Dave Browne 6 Paul Kinsella 7 Aodhan McCahill 7 Mick Young 7 Geoff Gamble 7 Niall Lennon 7 Stuart Love 7 Owen McCormack 7 Mick Leslie 6 Cian Donohoe 7 Neil McGowan 6 Lee Malone 6 Dave Hacynskyj 6
Spartak 1, VEC 5
Lack of fitness, and some poor defending, handed this game to VEC. Two early low crosses were not dealt with, and Spartak were 2 down after just 4 minutes. Aodhan McCahill got a consolation score, but Spartak conceded two rash penalties and a further goal from play in the second period to end the day on a weak note after a fine earlier showing.
Martin Costello 6 Cian Donohoe 6 Paul Kinsella 5 Lee Malone 5 Aodhan McCahill 5 Dave Hacynskyj 5 Niall Lennon 6 Mick Young 5 Stuart Love 6 Geoff Gamble 6 Owen McCormack 5 Dave Kernan 5 Dave Browne 5 Mick Leslie 5 Neil McGowan 5
