Spartak Dynamo FC

7.8.21

Spartak 5, Peamount 4

Spartak began in fine style when Aidan Duignan nodded in Conor O’Sullivan’s free to open the scoring. However, soon the Sky Blues were being overcome in midfield and the home defence was exposed three times in quick succession, leading to two goals and a third being prevented by a Craig Howard save.

Gradually Spartak began to get a grip on the match.

On the half hour Mick Leslie and Alex Conroy combined to send Cian Stenson through and he made no mistake. 2-2. Minutes later the same trio worked the oracle again and Cian got number 3.

Peamount were having the lion’s share of possession and eventually, midway through the second half, equalised direct from a free kick.

A bench boost helped the home side when a Stuart Love flick on was netted by Jeff Gamble, and then Luke Stenson’s run and cross was met by his brother Cian, who completed his hattrick in fine style to make it 5.3.

Peamount were not finished and a second free kick goal caused ripples of anxiety in Sky Blue ranks, but the defence held out resolutely to see the game out.

Form Report
Craig Howard 6 Aidan Duignan 7 Conor O’Sullivan 6 Chris Hogan 6 Kevin Murphy 6 Pedro Lopes 7 Alex Conroy 7 Mick Leslie 7 Liam Caffrey 6 Eric Barber 6 Cian Stenson 8
Subs : Niall Lennon 7 Stuart Love 7 Jeff Gamble 7 Luke Stenson 7

11.7.21

Spartak 2, Loughshinny 2

After the long Covid break it was an unusual July start to the season for the men in Sky Blue, with the heat a factor for both sides

Spartak started brightly, but it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play after defensive hesitation by the home side. Spartak pushed back strongly and Dave Power headed home via the crossbar after a free awarded by a foul on Dave and taken by Neil McGowan. Owen Marron with a one on one chance which was saved, and Dave Power with a solo effort grazing the frame of the goal came close before the break.

The sky Blues pressed early in the second period and Stuart Love headed wide from close range, while Loughshinny missed a glorious chance at the other end, before taking the lead with a cracking shot.

Spartak fought back once more and a slick move between Cian Stenson and Dave Power saw the latter slot home the equaliser.

Dave Power then had a snap shot which struck the post as both teams pressed for a winner, but no joy for either, with just a point apiece for all the effort.

Form Report
Adam Halligan 6 Ronan Buckley 6 Kevin Cunningham 7 Steve Grier 6 Ian Harmon 8 Stuart Love 6 Neil McGowan 7 Owen Marron 6 Keith Kelly 6 Dave Power 8 Cian Stenson 6
Sub: Niall Lennon 6

2.2.20
Spartak 3, Edenderry Town 1

After a dull first half stalemate it came as no surprise that the visitors took the lead on the hour mark; just earlier they had missed a very presentable headed chance.

Spartak had created a couple of chances, none better than a very early one which Cian Stenson fired over.

It was only after going behind that the home side roused themselves and Cian Stenson twice went close before Owen Marron equalised from close range.

Spartak took the lead after a cute cross by Dave Browne was headed home at the second attempt by Cian Stenson, after Steve Grier’s first effort rebounding off the crossbar.

The clincher came as the visitors pushed out in search of an equaliser, when Cian Stenson beat the offside trap to run through from 40 yards out and coolly slot in the third.

Form Report
Dave Byrne 7 Niall Hanratty 6 Dave Browne 7 Steve Grier 6 Ian Harmon 8 Stuart Love 6 Neil McGowan 6 Niall Lennon 8 Dave Power 6 Owen Marron 7 Cian Stenson 8
Subs: Ciaran Brady 6 Kevin Murphy 6

25.1.20

Spartak 2, Ashbourne 2

Spartak held on for a gritty point against a confident Ashbourne side, who had most of the play and possession.

The Sky Blues took an early lead when Ian Corcoran fired to the top corner from 20 yards for a cracking goal.

Ashbourne took over for a period and snatched an equaliser before the break. The Spartak forward players showed a lack of ability to hold the ball up to take pressure from the defence and Ashbourne benefited.

Once again that man Corcoran was on hand to give Spartak the lead early in the second half, but pressure told and Ashbourne headed in from a cross. The visting number 5 showed impressive dribbling skills but was well contained by an in form Darren Hughes.

A hard earned point.

Form Report
Andy Hughes 7 Chris Hogan 7 Darren Hughes 9 Seamus McCahill 8 Kevin Murphy 8 Dwayne Curry 7 Conor Brady 5 Pedro Lopes 6 Owen McCormack 5 Liam Caffrey 6 Ian Corcoran 8

Subs: Enda Grogan 6 Conor Callis 5 Conor Canavan 5

11.1.20

Hyde Park 6 Spartak 5

A rip roaring game in Balbriggan, where heavy rain before the game turned the pitch to a quagmire.

An extremely slow start by the Sky Blues saw them concede three goals in the opening quarter. However the response was truly dynamic.

Lee Griffin contrive to miss an open goal from six yards; then he headed home from Dwayne Curry’s cross, but the goal was disallowed for offside against Ciarn Brady.

It was all Spartak now. Aidan Duigan headed in Dwayne Curry’s corner. Then Aidan got a second with a fine left footed volley. The equaliser quickly followed as Ian Corcoran slotted in following a scramble.

The lead came less than a minute into the second period. A terrific move involving Jack Rogers, Darren Hughes, Pedro Lopes saw Ciaran Brady lay it off to Aidan Duignan, whose shot from 25 yards sailed over the keeper to complete a perfect hat trick; right foot, left foot, header.

Gradually the home side regained their composure, aided by a strong bench, and led as we entered the final minutes.

A surging Ciaran Brady run saw his cross converted by Ian Corcoran.

Injury time will not be fondly remembered by Spartak stalwart Kevin Murphy, who was unlucky enough to concede a penalty and then with the final kick of the game shot wide after a fine Darren Hughes cross.

Result no, but the performance continued recent improved trend.

Form Report
Liam Caffrey 7 Chris Hogan 7 Darren Hughes 7 Jack Rogers 8 Kevin Murphy 7 Dwayne Curry 7 Aidan Duignan 9 Pedro Lopes 7 Ciaran Brady 7 Lee Griffin 6 Ian Corcoran 7

29.12.19
Parkvale 0, Spartak 2

A calm dry day at Rockbrook saw two second half goals win the game for the Sky Blues in a good run out for both sides.

A brave save by Andy Hughes saw the ball cleared to Dave Browne whose first time pass sent Cian Stenson free. Cian drew a defender before releasing stuart Love aon the left, and his low cross was converted by Gerry McGuiness. A second goal by Cian Stenson clinched the result.

The Spartak defence was ably marshalled by Dave Byrne and Seamus McCahill.

Form Report:
Andy Hughes 7 Aidan Duignan 6 Dave Browne 6 Seamus McCahill 7 Dave Byrne 7 Stuart Love 6 Neil McGowan 5 Conor Canavan 5 Gerry McGuinness 6 Liam Caffrey 5 Cian Stenson 7.

14.12.19
Leixlip 0 , Spartak 1

A vital away win secured with a fine goal by Conor Brady after Owen Marron’s persistence and speed had created the opportunity.

Spartak began the game strongly, and Dylan Scanlon had a very early chance which he screwed wide.

Leixlip then had a good chance after a free unnecessarily conceded gave them a shooting opportunity from a good position. Spartak got a slice of luck as the shot rebounded from the woodwork into the grateful arms of Andy Hughes.

After the Spartak breakthrough, Leixlip piled on the pressure, pushing men forward, and it took some brave defending from Spartak to prevent an equaliser. In particular a goalmouth scramble saw a series of great blocks to deny the hosts.

As pressure mounted, Spartak tried to break out, but were given offside ten yards inside their own half. Admittedly there was a lack of VAR to assist the ref.

Three points and a clean sheet.

Form Report
Andy Hughes 7 Chris Hogan 7 Darren Hughes 7 Jack Rogers 8 Kevin Murphy 7 Dwayne Curry 6 Ciaran Brady 5 Owen Marron 7 Owen McCormack 5 Dylan Scanlon 5 Pedro Lopes 6
Subs: Conor Brady 7 Liam Caffrey 6 Craig Hyland 5

17.11.19
Spartak 4, Tymon 1

The Sky Blues gained revenge for a earlier reverse by Tymon with a clear win.

Fielding a full strength squad, Spartak were good value for the three points.

Dave Power poked home his first Spartak goal after a scramble, and Cian Stenson doubled the lead with a neat finish. Tymon reduced arrears, but an extraordinarily confident volley from Owen Marron, after his long range effort returned to him via the crossbar, more or less clinched the point, while Amin Afsar added to Tymon’s pain with a looped effort.

Form Report
Jason Northey 6 Kev Cunningham 6 Ian Harmon 7 Steve Grier 6 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Niall Hanratty 6 Neil McGowan 6 Stu Love 6
Owen Marron 7 Dave Power 6 Cian Stenson 6
Subs: Dave Browne 6 Jeff Gamble 6 Amin Afsar 6 Dave Byrne 6 Jason Fenlon Lee Griffin

7.12.19
Mount Merrion Youths 1, Spartak 4

On a muddy and windy Bearna Park, the Sky Blues battled their way to an excellent win, despite going a goal down early on.

Ian Corcoran soon headed home Neil McGowan’s corner kick to equalise, and then Ian’s cross was finished by Pedro Lopes. Ian almost completed a purple patch when his shot struck the foot of the post.

In a comfotable second half Spartak added goals from Jack Rogers and Conor Brady, while Ian Corcoran fired a good chance over and James Flynn’s header brought a fine save from the home keeper.

Form Report
Bobby Hayes 5 Chris Hogan 6 Darren Hughes 8 Jack Rogers 8 Kevin Cunningham 7 Dwayne Curry 6 Neil McGowan 7 Owen Marron 6 Pedro Lopes 6 Stuart Love 6 Ian Corcoran 7
Subs: James Flynn 6 Conor Brady 6

27.10.19
Edenderry Town 2, Spartak 2

With many of their teammates opting for a weekend away in various fleshpots, it was a bare 11 players in sky Blue who made the journey to the midlands.

The journey was well worthwhile as a battling performance secured a point.

When Edenderry regained the lead in the 90th minute, it seemed Spartak would leave empty handed despite a good display. But in the 94th minute Dave Browne powered in a header from a Niall Hanratty corner to secure the draw.

Spartak created a number of decent chances; Niall Lennon failed to connect at the far post, Jason Fenlon forced the keeper into conceding a corner, and Dave Browne had an earlier header wide.

Playing with composure, Spartak made light of the situation, with the midfield trio of Hanratty, Lennon and Stuart Love getting through a mountain of work.

The locals took the lead in the 62nd minute, and it was only in the 84th minute that Stuart Love knocked in the rebound when Ciaran Brady’s headed effort came back off the crossbar.

A most satisfying performance.

Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Chris Hogan 7 Cian Stenson 7 Dave Byrne 8 Dave Browne 8 Stuart Love 8 Niall Hanratty 8 Lee Griffin 7 Niall Lennon 8 Jason Fenlon 7 Ciaran Brady 8