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SPARTAK DYNAMO FCDUBLIN ยท IRELAND

Hano screamer not enough

Everton 3 Spartak 1 A 15th minute screamer from 20 yards by Niall Hanratty gave Spartak the  lead in this game , but it proved not enough against the league leaders. Spartak will look back at chances missed and a penalty conceded as the turning points of the game. Shane McInerney was centrally involved in these key incidents, somewhat unluckily conceding a penalty after a scramble, and heading over when well placed from Mick Greene's pinpoint cross.  A second game in three days proved tough going and some players found it harder than others. Mick Greene's lack of fitness could not carry him through while Mark Bolger was unable to fully shoulder the burden of lone front man;  however Niall Hanratty thrived on the extra game and produced a second man of the match performance in a row. Before scoring, Spartak had gone close when Hanratty's cross just eluded Dermot Dooley and then Mark Bolger went close with headers from Greene's free and then again from Hanratty's corner. Good work from Chris Hogan and Mick Costello led to the goal which Hanratty cracked home from distance. Spartak did not retain the lead for long enough and Everton equalised with a shot from even further out, 30 yards, on 25 minutes. On 34 minutes Everton went further ahead with the penalty and early in the second half got number 3 when Cathal Clancy was pulled back when about to clear and the ball was drilled home after a corner. Cathal Clancy made a goal line clearance and at the other end Shane McInerney then had chances from Greene set pieces but could not convert.   Substitutes combined to almost almost reduce arrears when Barry Maguire made a chance for Dave Williams, but the shot was delayed and danger averted. Overall a solid performance against a strong outfit who deserved to win; Spartak, the only side to beat them in the league so far,  would have needed to hold on to the lead a while longer to frustrate them and repeat the feat. Form Report Jason Northey 7 Dave O'Kelly 7 Mick Greene 5 Martin Costello 7 Cathal Clancy 7 Shane McInerney 6 Niall Hanratty 8 Chris Hogan 5 Mark Bolger 6 Dermot Dooley 6 Mick Costello 5 Subs Dave Williams 5 Barry Maguire 5