Spartak Dynamo FC

4.12.16
Palmerstown 1, Spartak 5

A blistering opening by the Sky Blues laid the foundation for this victory. Two goals, well taken by Ger Byrne, in the first 15 minutes followed sweeping moves. Dave Kernan and Geoff Gamble did the spadework for the first, while Neil McGowan, Steve Grier, Stuart Love and Geoff Gamble all combined to allow Ger to finish sweetly for number two. Ger then began to receive some unwanted attention, which eventually led to his early departure, which the referee ignored.

Errors by Steve Grier and Aodhan McCahill gave the home side a chance, but Jason Northey saved the on-on-one. On the half hour Steve Grier nodded in Neil McGowan’s corner to make it 3-0, but a goalkeeping error allowed Palmerstown to reduce arrears.

Geoff Gamble headed home Mick Leslie’s corner and then scored from the spot after he was taken down following Cian Donohoe’s through ball.

A fine attacking display.

Form Report
Jason Northey 5 Dave Kernan 7 Cian Donohoe 6 Steve Grier 7 Aodhan McCahill 7 Stuart Love 7 Neil McGowan 7 Kevin O’Toole 6 Geoff Gamble 8 Ger Byrne 8 Mick Leslie 7
Subs: Cormac O’Connor 6 Ken Buckley 6 Karl McCullagh 6

3.12.16
Spartak 1, East Wall Rovers 2

East Wall edged this that contest in Marlay, although Spartak will be left rueing a number of opportunities missed.
A free kick by Leo Bradley was deflected by a defender against the bar, only to drop to Geoff Abraham – but his tame effort did not trouble the keeper. Owen McCormack, straight through on goal, was called back for a dubious offside.

A defensive mix up gave East Wall the lead, which they doubled on the hour mark with a decent header.

The introduction of the three substitutes gave Spartak the impetus for a fightback, and Bulelani Dunjana turned in Ciaran Keane’s cross to half the deficit.

Sean Molloy had an effort saved, Geoff Abraham fired over, Leo Bradley headed wide at the back post, and Dave O’Kelly headed over from a corner.

Not quite enough to force extra time.

Form Report
Greg Byrne 8 Mick Greene 5 Cian Stenson 7 Gary Bridges 7 Dave O’Kelly 6 Shane McInerney 6 Geoff Abraham 5 Leo Bradley 5 Mick Leslie 7 Owen McCormack 6 Sean Molloy 6
Subs: Conor Brady 5 Ciaran Keane 6 Bulelani Dunjana 6

27.11.16
Spartak 7 Dalkey Utd 2

A comprehensive win by the Sky Blues over a youthful Dalkey side.

Spartak took a two goal half time lead, Geoff Gamble turning in Owen Marron’s deflected cross, while Stuart Love’s header made it two.

Geoff Gamble made it three from the spot early second half, before Dalkey converted a spot kick themselves. It was now end to end stuff, but Spartak capitalised first, Steve Walsh finishing a move between himself and Geoff Gamble. Ger Byrne got in on the act, before Dalkey again scored. Owen Marron fired hme with a long range effort before Geoff Gamble completed his hattrick near the end.

Form Report
Dan Galvin 7 Dave Kernan 7 Cian Donohoe 6 Dave Browne 7 Steve Grier 7 Stuart Love 7 Niall Lennon 6 Owen Marron 8 Geoff Gamble 8 Ger Byrne 6 Steve Walsh 6
Subs: Neil McGowan 8 Darragh Logue 7 Cormac O’Connor 6

20.11.16
Transport 1, Spartak 5

Spartak treaded a precarious path in Rutland Avenue, in heavy conditions, before emerging as winners with a comfortable margin in the end.

Spartak huffed and puffed without result, and , almost inevitably, the home side took the lead following a misdirected defensive header. Emboldened by the lead Transport took the game to Spartak, having been initially content to defend. Niall Lennon bundled in a Steve Walsh free kick to equalise, and it was Walsh himself who finished two second half moves to give the Sky Blues some breathing space.

Then came the pivotal moment of the game, as Dave Kernan conceded a penalty. The spot kick was struck low and hard towards the corner, but Daniel Galvin got a strong hand to turn the ball around the post.

Transport continued to press, but the Sky Blues scored twice on the break, Dave Haczynskyj turning in Geoff Gamble’s cross, before Owen Marron did likewise from Gary Bridges’ cross.

Three points, but not a great performance.

Form Report
Dan Galvin 8 Dave Kernan 5 Cian Donohoe 5 Dave Browne 5 Steve Grier 6 Stuart Love 6 Niall Lennon 6 Geoff Gamble 6 Owen Marron 6 Ger Byrne 5 Steve Walsh 7
Subs: Dave HAczynskyj 6 Gary Bridges 6 Ken Buckley 6

13.11.16
Edenderry Town 1, Spartak 1

An injury time goal, well taken from a narrow angle by Geoff Gamble, earned a point on the Sky Blues trip deep into darkest Offaly. The goal resulted from a cohesive move by Stu Love, Owen Marron and Mick Leslie. Such moves were difficult on a very heavy pitch, which cut up badly as the game progressed. Clear chances were few and far between for both sides in a tight contest in poor conditions.

The locals took the lead on 12 minutes, after a bad defensive pass allowed the striker in for a shot. Peter O’Toole saved the first effort, but could nothing about the rebound. Scarce resources were further stretched as Neil McGowan limped off to be replaced by Gary Bridges, who worked hard in the middle of the park. Darragh Logue slotted in at the back, and gave an assured display.

Edenderry, boosted by the early lead, then beat a poorly set offside trap by a reorganised back four, but chipped wide.

Gradually Spartak found their feet and the best first half opportunity came when a Mick Leslie’s fine header found Stuart Love 8 yards out, but his shot was smothered at the expense of a corner. Mick “Hatchet” Leslie had earlier been booked for a studs up challenge, with Geoff Gamble following him into the book for retaliation after a foul which wasn’t given.

It seemed Spartak had equalised early in the second period when Gamble’s pass was deflected to Mick Leslie , who fed Stuart Love, but the “goal” was disallowed for offside, the second for Stu in a week. On this occasion the ref had more justification than the Valeview game where there were two defenders on the line.

Geoff Gamble’s free was just over, but even as the home side fell back they still carried a threat. Peter O’Toole made a fine save in a 1 on 1 situation to keep the Sky Blues’ hopes alive. Darragh Logue headed a free from Gary Bridges wide in the best opportunity to date, as Spartak sought a way through.

Frustration increased as Spartak were denied a clear corner. Barry Crowe was noted in the book for giving the ref his forthright opinion on the matter. Additionally the ditch running along one side of the pitch ensnared any football which went more than a few yards over the touchline, with the breaks providing welcome time wasted for Edenderry.

Finally, and not a moment too soon, the breakthrough came.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 8 Dave Kernan 7 Darragh Logue 7 Neil McGowan 5 Dave Browne 7 Stuart Love 7 Sean Molloy 6 Geoff Gamble 7 Owen Marron 7 Mick Leslie 7 Caoltan Strain 7
Subs: Gary Bridges 7 Ken Buckley 6

12.11.16
Spartak 5 Earl Celtic 7

No, it wasn’t a rugby match despite the strange scoreline!

Its certainly one of the oddest matches seen in Marlay for many years. It looked as if each back 4 had never met their teammates previously, as every attack by both sides looked like producing a score.

Spartak, apart from scoring five goals, missed a number of chances; crosses by Mick Leslie were headed off target by Leo Bradley and Shane Cunningham; Conor Callis fired wide when clean through; Ciaran Keane fired wide from a good position.

Leo Bradley fired a decent hat trick, and Mick Leslie scored a neat goal. Gary Bridges’ long range effort was the pick of the bunch for the Sky Blues. Spartak found themselves 4-3 down at half time, and Earl made it five very early in the second period; Spartak struck back and scored twice to equalise; indeed at this point it seemed there could only be one winner, but a break by Earl saw a very soft goal conceded, even by the standards of the day, and Earl added one more as they surged past a bewildered Sky Blues defence.

It is probably better to draw a veil over the concession of so many scores; in Spartak’s case the defending was deplorable from front to back.

A bad day at the office.

Form Report
Bobby Hayes 6 Chris Hogan 5 Dave O’Kelly 4 Liam Caffey 4 Cian Stenson 4 Eric Barber 5 Shane Cunningham 5 Gary Bridges 6 Ciaran Keane 4 Leo Bradley 7 Mick Leslie 7
Subs: Conor Callis 5 Shane McInerney 5 Sean Molloy 5

6.11.16
Valeview Shankill 4, Spartak 1

Despite taking an early lead, Spartak succumbed in the end, in controversial circumstances. Stuart Love had a goal disallowed, and Steve Walsh had a valid penalty claim, but was awarded a free outside the box.

Steve Walsh gave Spartak the lead from the spot after Neil McGowan was fouled. Owen Marron and Mick Young then had chances to increase the lead, the latter not realising he had time from close in. Dave Kernan, not on form, conceded a penalty to hand the home side parity.

The home side took control of the game with two early second half goals, the first a decent long range effort, the second following a poor Spartak throw in.

Spartak fought back, Steve Walsh firing a decent chance over when through, and the disallowed goal and penalty claim came to nothing, with a few decen efforts being blocked by home defenders.

A fourth for the home side wrapped up the points.

Form Report
Eric Barber 7 David Kernan 4 Aodhan McCahill 5 Dave Browne 5 Dave O’Kelly 5 Stuart Love 5 Neil McGowan 7 Mick Young 6 Owen Marron 5 Ger Byrne 5 Steve Walsh 6
Subs: Cormac O’Connor 5 Neil Lennon 5

29/10/16
Spartak 1, Rush 2

A Steve Grier throw in was deflected onto the rush crossbar and off the lien as Spartak strove for the opening score.
Rush showed plenty of intent also, forcing Bobby Hayes into a good save before hitting the woodwork themselves.

Conor Brady’s weak effort was not enough to effect a breakthrough, and Shane Cunningham fired wide from decent position, before putting Conor Brady in to finish neatly.

But a low cross was converted by Rush on 37 mnutes to denythe Sky Blues an interval lead, and in the first minute of the second period Mick Leslie failed to clear and Rush made it two.

Both sides had half chances, Spartak pushed on for an equaliser and left the back door somewhat open. Sean Molloy and Geoff Abraham had the best opportunities, but did not trouble the visiting keeper.

A disappointing performance.

Form Report
Bobby Hayes 6 Cian Stenson 6 Mick Leslie 4 Steve Grier 6 Liam Caffrey 6 Gary Bridges 5 Owen Marron 5 Conor Brady 5 Shane Cunningham 5 Darren Ritchie 5 Owen McCormack 7
Subs: Sean Molloy 5 Bulelani Dunjana 5 Geoff Abraham 5

23.10.16
Spartak 2, Dublin Central 2

After defensive errors had allowed the visitors a second minute advantage, Spartak regrouped and pressed hard. Ger Byrne missed from close range, Owen Marron had an effort saved, but then cracked home the equaliser on five minutes.
Possession squandered easily allowed the visitors the chance and they made it 2-1. Just seven minutes goe, many chances and three goals!
Strangely the scoring was completed on 19 minutes. Darragh Logue hit a long cross field pass from left to right. The ball looked to be going out of play, but Dave Kernan not only caught it, but effected a marvellous cross on the run. Steve Grier popped up in the box to head home the second equaliser.

The second half could not live up to the excitement of the first period, and both teams tightened up at the back, reducing opportunities. Steve Grier had a good long range effort saved.

Form Report
Daniel Galvin 7 Cian Donohoe 6 Darragh Logue 7 Dave Browne 6 Steve Grier 7 Stuart Love 6 Neil McGowan 5 Dave Kernan 7 Owen Marron 7 Ger Byrne 5 Steve Walsh 5
Subs: Eric Barber 5 Aodhan McCahill 6 Cormac O’Connor 6

22.10.16
Spartak 1, Walkinstown 2

A late and controversial penalty (seen only by the referee) gave the visitors the narrowest of wins against a Spartak team who put up a decent show and deserved something from the game.

Owen McCormack’s effort looked to be enough to enough to get a point in a tight game, and it was particularly galling to lose the match in such fashion.

Walkinstown have been involved in many low scoring games, and this was no exception, with chances at a premium.

A bitter pill to swallow.

Form Report
Bobby Hayes 7 Chris Hogan 7 Cian Stenson 8 Liam Caffrey 6 Dave O’Kelly 6 Shane McInerney 7 Leo Bradley 6 Mick Leslie 5 Shane Cunningham 6 Darren Ritchie 6 Owen McCormack 8
Subs: Conor Callis 6 Sean Molloy 6 Conor Brady 6