Spartak Dynamo FC

5.2.23
Spartak 3, Knocklyon 2

The visitors, managed by former Spartak stalwart Leon David, can consider themselves unlucky having struck the woodwork twice but the Sky Blues were delighted with this cup victory which advances them to the quarter final stage.

Mick Leslie opened the scoring early on after retrieving the ball and playing a one two with Ciaran Brady. Further chances fell to Mick, again, and Chris Hogan, whose weak effort was easily saved. Knocklyon equalised with a snap shot form the edge of the box following a half cleared corner, and, growing in confidence and control, struck the woodwork twice within minutes.

The second half began poorly for Spartak, with a Knocklyon player allowed to run 50 yards with the ball before beating Craig Howard rather too easily.

Spartak struck back with an equaliser from Neil McGowan before Knocklyon applied further pressure which required some desperate defending.Spartak held out and with minutes remaining a long throw was flicked on by Stuart Love; Mick Leslie had a free header from a yard out and managed to apply the merest of touches to glance the ball to the net.

Form Report
Craig Howard 7 Chris Hogan 7 Dave Browne 7 Steve Grier 7 Kevin Cunningham 9 Stuart Love 7 Neil McGowan 7 Ciaran Brady 8 Mick Leslie 7 Fergus Flynn 7 James Burke 6

30.1.23
Shankill 3, Spartak 0

Bad passing by the Sky Blues spread in this game, in the words of one player, like a virus. Threatening only from set plays, Spartak were a shadow of their normal selves.

Shankill were passing neatly on a bumby pitch with a blustery wind, conditions which teh Sky Blues never came to terms with.

The goals were all too easily conceded and the home keeper had a quiet morning.

Form Report

Craig Howard 5 Ciaran Brady 6 Kevin Cunningham 6 Steve Grier 5 Ian Harmon 6 Stuart Love 4 Neil McGowan 5 Ciaran Nolan 4 Niall Lennon 5 Dave Power 5 Mick Leslie 4
Sub Carl Gaffney 5

22.1.23
Spartak 1, McKelvey Celtic 2

The first game of the new year saw Spartak in good form and unlucky not to salvage a point.

Spartak were denied a possible equaliser when Steve Grier was tripped in the penalty area with minutes to go. It looked a nailed on penalty but the referee was not convinced.

Midway through the first half the teams exchanged goals, McKelvey with a neat header, and Steve Grier with a fine shot from the edge of the box to the top corner.

With 20 minutes to go a poor pass from the back saw McKelvey gain an opportunity, and they scored with the aid of a deflection which looped high over Craig Howard leaving him helpless.

As Spartak pressed for a second equaliser Dave Power was through one on one but the keeper saved.

A decent display by the Sky Blues against a side pushing for promotion

A harsh defeat.

Form Report
Craig Howard 6 Owen Marron 8 Kevin Cunningham 7 Ian Harmon 8 Steve Grier 7 Stuart Love 7 Neil McGowan 7 Ciaran Brady 8 Niall Lennon 6 Dave Power 6 Fergus Flynn 5
Subs Carl Gaffney 6 Chris Hogan 5 Ciaran Nolan 5 Sean Nolan 4

Clara Town 3, Spartak 3 (Spartak win 4-1 on pens)

Spartak got a tough draw in the Leinster Shield with a long trip to deepest Offaly.

The weather was rather inclement, with driving rain and a strong breeze making conditions difficult for both sides.

Following two opening league defeats, the outlook looked bleak again as the Sky Blues went two down after just 15 minutes; hesitation in dealing with a long ball led to an easy opener for the home side, and then a free kick conceded within striking distance saw a fine, albeit wind assisted, shot adding number two.

Indeed Spartak remained fairly sleepy, and the home side missed a gilt edged opportunity at the back post which might have finished the game as a contest.

A fine Lennon pass freed Love on the left; he pulled an inviting ball back for Gahan, who shot wide; a repeat of the same move saw Spartak reduce arrears before the break, Gahan drilling home with the aid of a deflection.

The second period saw a different Spartak. Within ten minutes they had gone ahead. When Leslie was impeded, a penalty converted by Harmon levelled things up. Then a McGowan free saw a defender, under pressure from Love, have the misfortune to find his own net. 3.2

The heavy conditions and lack of subs told on Spartak as the home side flooded the pitch with 5 fresh men and finally Clara equalised when a seemingly harmless cross was handled. Penalty. 3-3.

Extra time it was. Spartak had a fine chance when Grier played Marron down the line, his cross slowed in the muddy conditions which allowed the home defender to foil Love from just a few yards out.

So to penalties. Harmon, McGowan, and Grier all netted; for the home side there was misfortune with just one of three scored, one off target and Howard saving one. So Gahan added the fourth to ensure that the long drive home was a happy one.

Form Report
Howard 7 Marron 7 Hogan 5 Grier 7 Harmon 7 Love 7 McGowan 7 Gahan 6 Doyle 6 Lennon 7 Leslie 6 Gaffney 5

Spartak’s over 35 side have commenced the season in fine fashion, with 7 points from the first three games hoisting them to the top of the table. Shea McClafferty’s men won thr first two games by a 3-2 scoreline and took a point from a 1-1 draw with Booth Road in the third game.

Long may the good form continue.

1.5.22
Spartak 3, Ayfield 3

A last minute score by substitute Lee Griffin earned the Sky Blues a deserved point in a very open game played in the rain in Marlay.

A fine opportunist intercept, run and score saw Owen Marron give Spartak the lead inside 3 minutes; followed quickly by efforts by Cian Stenson and Dave Power. Each in turn hit the woodwork and shot off target from good positions.

Suddenly the visitors came strongly into the picture and Ayrfield equalised from close range, then took the lead from a headed goal following a free kick. Just on half time Neil McGowan headed in from Cian Stensons corner kick to restore parity.

Ayfield looked stronger in the second period and Craig Howard made a fine save from a one on one situation, but late on a headed goal put Ayrfield ahead.

Spartak were not to be denied, however, and Lee Griffin rifled the ball past the visiting keeper to make it 3-3.

Form Report
Craig Howard 7 Luke Stenson 7 Dave Browne 6 Steve Grier 6 Kevin Cunningham 7 Stuart Love 6 Neil McGowan 6 Owen Marron 7
Dave Power 6 Niall Lennon 6 Cian Stenson 6
Subs: Ciaran Brady 6 Lee Griffin 7

30.4.22
Ballyoulster 4, Spartak 3

Having beaten Dundrum 3-1 in the previous round, Spartak travelled to Celbridge to take on Ballyoulster.

Playing mostly on the back foot, the Sky Blues nevertheless were devastating on the break, with Djamel Djedaa having a goal disallowed before Cian Stenson (2) and Owen Marron goals rattled the home side.

With just 11 players travelling, Spartak tired in the second period and ceded control of the midfield as the home side brought on fresh legs to come out on top.

Form Report
Craig Howard 6 Owen Marron 8 Conor O’Sullivan 6 Chris Hogan 5 Seamus Battelle 7 Eric Barber 6 Adam Keane 5 Ciaran Brady 6 Liam Caffrey 6 Djamel Djedaa 7 Cian Stenson 9

24.4.22
Naas 3 Spartak 3
Naas win 5-4 on pens

A fine performance saw the Sky Blues come back on three occasions, with goals from Ian Harmon, Niall Lennon and Steve Grier against a home side who had won the league encounter.

It was not to be however. When it came to penalties, Spartak scored the first four, Naas having missed one, but didn’t score the 5th to go through, and then missed again to allow Naas to prevail.

13.2.22
Spartak 4 Iveagh Celtic 1

The visitors got off to a dream start and took the lead within two minutes. Iveagh then proceeded to have the best of things, and only a fine Craig Howard save and later, following another Howard stop, a last ditch clearance by Steve Grier.

Gradually the Sky Blues worked their way back into the game and Iveagh had their first scare when an Owen Marron cross was deflected on to the woodwork by a defender.

Spartak turned the game around quickly with two well take goals from Michael Leslie. The first saw him coolly finish a one on one when set up by Dave Power and the second saw him react quickest after a free kick. Mick might have completed his hat trick early second half, but he volleyed just wide.

Cian Stenson was first to a Neil McGowan corner and his effort was finished (from VERY close range) by Stuart Love.

A Martin Rolfs free saw the keeper parry the ball upwards, which allowed Steve Grier to rise highest and plant a firm header in the net.

Form Report
Craig Howard 8 Owen Marron 7 Dave Browne 7 Steve Grier 7 Kevin Cunningham 8 Stuart Love 7 Neil McGowan 7 Mick Leslie 8
Ciaran Brady 7 Dave Power 7 Cian Stenson 7
Subs: Ian Harmon 7 Martin Rolfs 7 Daire Doyle 7

6.2.22
Ayrfield 2, Spartak 3

Conditions in Donaghmede were difficult, with the wind in particular, blowing powerfully across the pitch, playing havoc with the flight of the ball.

The Sky Blues began the brighter side, creating a couple of half chances and generally looking the likelier to score; however it was the home side who took the lead following some soft defending after free kick. Cian Stenson and Jason Gahan missed opportunities before the break as Spartak strove for an equaliser.

Owen Marron levelled early in the second half, when his cross was fumbled by the home keeper at his near post. Cian Stenson fired wide from a good position as Spartak began to push on. The Sky Blues then edged into the lead when Jason Gahan shot a loose ball to an empty net as the home keeper and defender collided.

The home side were somewhat harshly reduced to ten men, but managed to remain strongly in the contest and there was an air of inevitability when they scrambled in a equaliser, following a poor kick out, with just minutes left on the clock.

Spartak had the final say when a Jason Gahan free was headed back across goal and in by a jubilant Cian Stenson, who had endured a torrid time at the hands of the local defence up to that point.

A very welcome victory.

Form Report
Craig Howard 6 Owen Marron 7 Dave Browne 7 Ian Harmon 8 Kevin Cunningham 7 Stuart Love 7 Neil McGowan 7 Jason Gahan 7 Niall Lennon 7 Steve Grier 6 Cian Stenson 6 Mick Leslie 6 Ciaran Brady 6