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Reports
Competition: LSL Major Sunday
Date: 08/5/02
Spartak 8
(O'Connell, McGowan 2, Walsh 2, McNamee 2, Harte)
Templeogue 3
Form: O'Toole 5, Dunne 6, Kilroy 6, Keane 6, Stafford 6, Grace 5, McGowan 8, Harte 6, O'Connell 8, Walsh 6, McNamee 7 Sub Burke n/a
A strange encounter at Marlay opened with some dazzling attacking soccer yielding 3 goals in the opening 18 minutes. O'Connell pounced for the first following Harte's missed header from Kilroy's corner. A foul on Harte gave McGowan to curl a 25 yard free kick into the top corner, which was followed up by Walshs spectacular volley moments later.
Walsh then made it 4-0 before Templeogue reduced the arrears with a smart header and then through springing the offside trap, aided by hesitancy by O'Toole. When Templeogue scored a third through Stafford on 48 minutes Spartak unbelievably felt under pressure. It wasn't until McNamee slotted home Kilroy's superb free kick on 72 minutes that the game was safe. McNamee swept home his second on 85 minutes, which was followed by smart control and a cool finish by McGowan from Kilroy's raking pass. Hartes' close range header in the last minute completed the rout.
Competition: LSL Major Sunday
Date: 04/5/02
Spartak 5
(Forde 3, Crowe, Buckley)
Sportslink 1
Form: O'Toole 6, Cooney 7, D O'Connell 8, McGowan 8, Grace 8, McCarthy 7, D Buckley 7, McNamee 7, Forde 8, Crowe 6, W O'Connell 6. Subs Suleyman 4, J Doyle 4
A sparkling performance by Spartak, who were depleted by Bank Holiday absentees brushed aside Sportslink in Marlay park. A first half full of flowing passing movements foundered in the last third as both strikers struggled to link play. spartak took the lead when a McGowan free kick was glanced down by McNamee to Forde, whose shot was blocked but Crowe had a simple finish. Several chances went a-beggingbefore McCarthys long pass found forde who finished comfortably.
The game was settled 15 seconds into the second half when Will O'Connell's industry gave Forde a chance which he finished from an acute angle. The best goal of the game came on the hour when a passing move involving O'Toole, Crowe and Forde ended with the latter drilling a cross which Buckley headed into the top corner.
Forde completed his hat trick when he slotted home following good work by Will O' Connell. Sportslink scored a late consolation from a corner following some absent minded defending by Crowe.
Competition: LSL Major Sunday
Date: 27/4/02
Spartak 1
(Walsh)
Lissadell 3
Form report: O'Toole 6, D Buckley 6, Kilroy 5, Grace 6, Stafford 6, O'Sullivan 7, McGowan 6, Harte 6, O'Connell 7, G Walsh 6, Dunne 6. Subs Corless 6, A. Walsh 6.
Spartak failed to translate good openings into goals as they went down to Lissadell in marlay. An opening half saw Spartak in enterprising mode, but caught by a Lissadell opener from 25 yards following a corner. Dunne and Kilroy drilled crosses across the 6 yard box which were not converted and O'Connell was just over with a volley.
Walsh and O'Connell combined for the latter to shoot wide early in the second half and this miss was compounded when an attempted cross drifted in at the far post. A third Lissadell goal from a long ball over the top sealed the win before Walsh fired a fine goal for Spartak. Chances fell to O'Connell and Harte to reduce the arrears but they were not converted.
Despite a spirited performance, Spartaks bad run continues and relegation looms........!
Competition: LSL Major Sunday
Date: 27/4/02
Drumcondra 1
(D Buckley)
Spartak 1
I'll stick to the facts for this one. Spartak played well, created half a dozen good goalscoring opportunities and missed them all before Declan Buckley scored following a good move involving Doyle, O'Connell and McGowan. Drumcondra equalised with a fluke of a goal before Spartak went on to create and squander, more chances. The main culprits were McGowan (management reckon I should have shot), Harte, O'Connell, Declan Buckley and Dunne. In the end Spartak deserved more than the point they got but were glad to put a stop to their run of 6 successive defeats.
Competition: LSL Major Sunday
Date: 27/4/02
Postal Celtic 4
Spartak 1
The reporter was away this weekend so no reports were written. The facts are that spartak conceded 3 goals in the first twenty minutes and after that everyone might as well have gone home.
Competition: LSL Major Sunday
Date: 24/4/02
Lorcan 2
Spartak 1
No report can highlight just how badly Spartak played in this game. It is best said that Mick Harte took two attempts to score for 3 yards having been set up by McGowan before the worst team in the league came back to dominate the game and score two goals. McGowan, Harte and Buckley were all culpable when it came to missing chances, the midfield was overrun and the defence was awful. In the form report no one managed to get more than a 3. Generally the less said the better, only now Spartak look in severe relegation trouble.
Competition: LSL Major Sunday
Date: 21/4/02
Kilnamanagh 1
Spartak 0
Form report: O'Toole 6, Dunne 4, Doyle 6, O'Sullivan 7, Stafford 6, Buckley K 7, Walsh 7, McGowan 7, Buckley D 6, O'Connell K 7, Harte 4. Subs Grace 6, Forde 5, Kilroy 5.
A more spirited performance than of late by Spartak merited at least a share of the points. A well struck shot from 25 yards in the 48th minute following a headed corner clearance gave the points to the home side.
Spartak were not without chances and McGowans first half shot drew a good save. Shortly afterwards, Doyle's cross was tamely missed by Buckley from close in. A strong second half performance saw Spartak play in neat triangles with good distribution from the back by O'Sullivan and Grace. McGowan and Ken Buckley combined well in midfield and it seemed that Spartak had earned a deserved point when Declan Buckley wriggled his way to the byline and crossed to the back post, but O'Connell inexplicably headed wide of an open goal from a yard out.
Competition: LSL Premier Saturday
Date: 20/4/02
Clondalkin 3
Spartak 2
Form report: O'Toole 6, A. Doyle 5, Byrne 4, Keane 5, Grace 6, McCarthy 5, Buckley 6, McNamee 6, Forde 6, Cooney 5, Mohan 5 Subs: St Leger 5, W O'Connell 4, Suleyman 4.
Spartaks run of wins came to an end following a tight match played in blustery conditions. A needless freekick conceded by Mhan was flicked on and Clondalkin finished the move to give them an early lead. Spartak laked cohesion and created little in the first half. On the hour McNamee won a penalty which was converted by Buckley, but within two miutes the Spartak defence allowed a Clonalkin player time and space to execute an overhead kick.
Buckley had some efforts from free kicks, but wasn't able to generate sufficient power or accuracy. Grace conceded a penalty in the 75th minute and Spartak were 3 - 1 down. A McCarthy header was just wide and Byrne had a close range shot saved before Buckley put Forde through to finish neatly. Spartak then threw eveything forward in search of an equaliser. Their best chance came with a StLeger free kick which was just over.
Competition: LSL Major Sunday
Date: 19/4/02
Spartak 1
Clover 3
Form: O'Toole (4), D Buckley (4), Walsh (5), Keane (4), O'Sullivan (5), Buckley K (4), McGowan (5), Harte (4), O'Connell (5), Doyle (5), Dunne (4) Sub Forde (4). [Management P. McGowan(2) Mohan (2)!]
Yet another calamitous start to the game forfeited the points in this game. Clover notched up two goals in the first 15 minutes before Spartak realised the game had started. The defence were at sixes and sevens on both occasions. McGowan went close twice to reducing the arrears, firstly miscuing a right foot shot and then firing a free kick wide.
The second half brought somewhat more spirit from the lads in sky blue and O'Connell may have scored but the Clover defence were not to be quite as accomodating as their Spartak counterparts. Following their failure to break through Spartak's revival faded and was extinguished totally following the awarding of a harsh penalty which was duly despatched. Declan Buckley then converted a meaningless goal following a neat move.
The lack of moral and togetherness shown by many of the players was very worrying as they slipped to yet their 4th consecutive defeat and still closer to the drop zone.
Epilogue: Rumours of a fall out between a star player and management at half and full time have not yet been confirmed. Similarly, Fabio Capello's (below left) ability to properly organise a warm up, makes him a prime candidate to succeed the current management team with whom the Board are rapidly losing confidence.But again this rumour is unsubstantiated.
Competition: LSL Premier Saturday
Date: 15/4/02
Spartak 4
Clondalkin 2
Form: Kavanagh (7), Grace (7), Byrne (6), Doyle C (7), Keane (6), McCarthy (5), Buckley (7), StLeger (6), Forde (6), Walsh G (6), Mohan (6) Subs: McGowan(7), A Doyle (6), Suleyman (5)
Spartak continued their recent good run of results with a victory at Spawell. A snap shot by Byrne gave them an early lead which was followed by chances for StLeger and Walsh to increase the advantage, but they failed. Meanwhile, a sometimes shaky defence was covered by some safe handling by Kavanagh. An early second half goal, with a good near post header by Grace seemed to put Spartak in a commanding position, buut almost immediately McCarthy conceded a penalty for handball. Substitute McGowan restored the two goal advantage within a minute of coming on. However again McCarthy conceded a penalty, this time for a rash tackle. Spartak then faced a resurgent Clondalkin who threw men forward in search of the equaliser. Spartak squandered several chances before McGowan delightfully set up Forde to round the keeper and clinch the three more points.
Competition: LSL Major Sunday
Date: 14/4/02
Balbriggan 5
Spartak 1
Form: O'Toole (4), O'Sullivan (5), Walsh (5), Keane (5), Stafford (4), K Buckley (5), McGowan (5), Harte (4), O'Connell (5), Doyle (5), Dunne (4) Subs: Grace (4), McNamee (4), Forde (4)
A bizarre game at Balbriggan saw the game swing in a first half minute of mayhem and ended with both teams finishing with 9 men. After early chances by McGowan, Harte and Buckley were missed, a cross by Dunne was handled, and a penalty awarded. McGowan stepped up and slotted home for the opener after 25 minutes. Five minutes later it seemed Spartak were in luck when O'Connell was punched in the box and another penalty awarded. This time the keeper got down to save McGowan's spot kick. The clearance was picked up by a Balbriggan player, who was fouled by Buckley, and the ref pulled out the red card. O'Connell, already cautioned, abused the ref and duly received a second yellow card.
Spartak, playing uphill and into the wind, capitulated in the second half through very poor defending, not helped by O'Toole's injury as he was at fault for two goals. The lack of spirit shown by Spartak in the second half, where most of the players looked as if they didn't want to be there, was quite shocking and Balbriggan took full advantage to take all three points.
Competition: LSL Major Sunday
Date: 12/4/02
Sacred Heart 3
Spartak 2
Form: O'Toole (7), D Buckley (6), Walsh (7), Keane (6), Stafford (5), Buckley K (5), McGowan (5), Harte (6), O'Connell (6), Doyle (6), Dunne (6) Subs: McNamee (6), Grace (5), Forde (5)
This was a game which Spartak lost in the space of the a minute. Two goals were conceded to turn potential victory into disappointing defeat. Spartak started poorly, and Sacred Heart took advantage in the 6th minute when their centre forward looped in a shot from 30 yards. Spartak then settled, and a neat move involving Doyle, McGowan and O'Connell set Harte free to square for Declan Buckley to equalise. McGowan and O'Connell then exchanged a series of passes, culminating in O'Connell slotting the ball through the keepers legs for his first league goal of the season. Declan Buckley departed through injury and his replacement McNamee, went on a strong run to set up O'Connell to score early in the second half. Unfortunately, he was given offside.
A rearguard action ensued for Spartak as the increasingly desperate home team threw more men forward. This policy paid dividends when their centre half struck home from the edge of the box. Straight from the kick off Stafford dallied carelessly, was caught in possession and the winner was drilled home.
Competition: LSL Major Sunday
Date: 7/4/02
Beggesboro 1
Spartak 0
Form Report:
O'Toole (6), D Buckley (7), O'Sullivan (4), Burke (6), Stafford (6), K. Buckley (5), McGowan (5), Harte (4), K. O'Connell (4), C. Doyle (6), Dunne (4) Subs: Grace (5), Forde (4)
A penalty awarded in the most innocuous of circumstances settled the game for Beggsboro against a Spartak side well below par. Beggsboro, penalty apart, never threatened but Spartak failed to make headway against a poor outfit. The match was littered with some very lack lustre performers in blue shirts and Spartaks midfield and wing backs rarely got into the game.
The game turned in the 65th minute when, in the best move until that point, O'Connell shot wide when through one on one with the keeper. Alsmost immediately, following Ken Buckley's altercation with the ref, a free kick was slotted through, which caught Grace on the wrong side of his man. The seemed little danger or contact, however the Beggsboro forward went ot ground and the ref pointed to the penalty spot. Desperate late pressure for Spartak couldn't make up for the poor performance overall. Even so, O'Connell, Forde, and both Buckleys all had chances to snatch an undeserved point, but were unable to take them due to a combination of good goalkeeping and poor finishing.
Competition: LSL Premier Saturday
Date: 6/4/02
Manortown 2
Spartak 3
Form report:
O'Toole (7), Grace (6), Byrne (5), C.Doyle (8), McCarthy (5), Keane(7), D. Buckley (9), Cooney (5), Forde (5), Walsh (5), D. O'Connell (6). Subs: StLeger (5), W.O'Connell (6), Kavanagh (5)
A stunning second half comeback topped off by a late strike by Declan Buckley, gave Spartak full points at Whitehall road. First half honours went to Manortown, who scored twice and fluffed several chances to make it more in a wind dominated game. Spartak's defensive efforts were twarthed by a poor midfield performance and Gary Walsh went closest for the visitors when he headed Fordes cross wide.
In the second half, Spartak gradually got a grip and reduced the arrears via a Cameron Doyle freekick special. Chances then fell to Forde twice and substitute St Leger. It wasn't until the 75th minute, when Walsh's freekick was parried by the Manortown keeper, that Forde fired home from close range.
Manortown threw everthing forwad and resolute defending by Doyle and Keane held them at bay. A late thrust by Spartak involving O'Connell and Kavanagh resulted in the ball falling to Buckley, who cracked home into the top corner from 25 yards.
Competition: LSL Premier Saturday
Date: 22/3/02
Firhouse 0
Spartak 1
Form report:
O'Toole (8), A Doyle (5), Grace (6), C. Doyle (8), Keane (7), McCarthy (7), D. Buckley (8), McNamee (6), Forde (6), Walsh (6), W. O'Connell (6). Subs: Byrne (5), Cooney (5), Mohan (6)
A gritty performance by Spartak earned the full 3 points at Firhouse. Despite several controversial referring decisions going against Spartak, including a penalty kick, a sending off and two dubious offside calls, the boys in claret and blue pulled through. This was mainly thanks to a composed display from the central defensive trio of McCarthy, Doyle and Keane, and keeper O'Toole, who saved a penalty. Declan Buckley was perpetual motion personified and his hyperactive involvement ultimately led to his dismissal, somewhat harshly.
The breakthrough came from a defensive header by substitute Mohan onto which Forde latched and he sprited clear to score. The goal, timed at 85 minutes, deflated Firhouse and allowed 10 man Spartak to hang on for a well earned 3 points. This confirmed result confirms a dramatic upturn in form following the previous victory against Clover.
There were also a number of incidents which I feel must be reported on. Firstly, Fintan Grace was booked - no not for kicking lumps out of attackers as usual - but for talking! How in the name of God, the referee understood exactly what Finno was saying is a complete mystery to us! There was also an usavoury occurence on the touchline involving a small minority of the Spartak support. One of the eight spectators (subs are included as spectators) became so rowdy that he had to be asked to leave the touchline - for legal reasons we are unable to name Ken Buckley as the guilty party! As he walked from the touchline a cry was heard around the ground :"Get Out Of Here You Scumbag!". The guilty party? Surely not his brother Deco?!
Competition: LSL Premier Saturday
Date: 22/3/02
Clover 2
Spartak 4
Form Report:
O'Toole (6), Grace (5), C Doyle (6), Byrne (5), Keane (7), Mohan (5), Buckley (7), McNamee (8), Forde (6), Walsh (6), Cooney (5) Subs: McCarthy (6), McGowan(7), W O Connell (6).
A patchy performance by Spartak, who mixed bright spells with shoddy defending, gave them a much needed three points in the LSL Premier division last Saturday. Spartak did enough in bursts to clinch the game, which was only finally settled by an injury time goal by Eric Forde, who ran from the half way line to slot home.
In the early stages Peter O'Toole had to save himself from a miscued kick but then saving at the near post as Clover tried to take advantage.Spartak themselves had several chances through Frank McNamee and Mick Cooney to take the lead but both were wasted. McNamee, who had a powerful game before tiring towards the end, broke the deadlock when an attempted cross drifted in over the Clover keepers head. Forde hit the post shortly afterwards and then Gary Walsh shot wide from close in.
Clover had a good spell either side of the interval, and equalised when a quick throw in found the Spartak defence flat footed, allowing the attacking striker to finish at the near post. On 65 minutes Spartak went ahead when McNamee chased a lost cause and passed to the substitute McGowan, who set up Walsh to score with an extravagant finish. A quick throw in by McGowan moments later found Fordes run and his cross was met at the back post by McNamee.
Spartak then had a spell of profligacy during which posession in the final third was wasted and chances were missed. Clover pulled a goal back from a corner following poor marking in the 82nd minute and there was a nervous ending until Forde ended the game with a fine goal.
Competition: Major Division Sunday
Date: 22/3/02
Spartak 0
Hillcrest 0
Form Report:
O'Toole (6), Dunne (5), Grace (7), Burke (5), C Doyle (5), Stafford (6), D Buckley (6), K Buckley (4), McGowan (6), Harte (4), O'Connell (6) Subs A Walsh (5), Forde (5)
A tough stalemate ensured at Marlay with defences generally having the upper hand over off key attackers. Spartak started well and moved the ball about smartly at first. O'Connell and McGowan recieved little support in attack with Harte off form and little back up from Buckley, Dunne and Doyle.
Spartak were indebted to Stafford who raced back to tackle when Hillcrest beat the offside. Burke also cleared off the line when O'Toole had been rounded.
Second half pressure from Spartak was crystallised in a move when O'Connell superbly controlled a through pass from McGowan. O'Connell then opted for power rather than placement and the keeper covered the effort. McGowan then stretched to shoot wide following a flick on by Harte.
Hillcrest had two good second half chances following hesitation in the Spartak defence, but both efforts went wide. In midfield, Harte switched from up front, was frequently caught in possession while Ken Buckley never got to the pitch of the ball. In the end, the referee decided to put both teams out of their misery and so the match ended in a dour 0-0 draw.