| In the first of 3 meetings between these 2 teams in coming weeks it gave Spartak a chance to try out some tactics. However conditions weren't favouring a flowing game of football with a strong wind howling across the pitch and intermitant rain causing problems.
Spartak lost the toss but that was all they lost in the first 20 minutes as they were dominant in all ares of the pitch. The first goal came when Dave picked up a short pass on the halfway line and played a perfectly weighted ball throught the Orange House defence and on to the well timed run of Sam who steadied himself and shot across the keeper. Dave had a chance almost immediately to make it 2-0 from a clearance by Paul which cleared the defence again but his first time shot went over. However he turned provider again when he crossed from the right which wasn't cleared allowing Sam to pounce for his second.
After this the game changed and Orange house came back into the game scoring 2 quick goals to bring the game back level. Then just before half time they took the lead when Andrew was dispossessed when the ball had appeared to have alredy crossed the line and the resultant cross led for an easy finish for Orange House to have the lead at the break.
A change was needed and Pete was brought on to sure up the midfield and Steve was pushed onto the left. Spartak needed to lift their game a little if they were to get back into this game.
They did lift their game and the first notable action of the half came when Sam picked the ball up on the edge of the box but as he went passed his marker was cynically hacked down when he was clean through. The ref had no choice but to give him his marching orders. Orange House held onto their lead by losing a striker and strenghthening the midfield for 10 minutes but when Dave picked up the ball down the left took on 2 players and as he cut inside the third let off a bullet of a shot only for it to canon of the inside of the post, but with the keeper stranded the ball fell kindly to Sam who slotted in his hatrick with the open goal at his mercy.
Again Orange house rallied and if it wasn't for some good strong defending from Graeme, Owen, Rich and Andrew they would have taken the lead again. However with 15 minutes to go a quick throw from Bren to Steve allowed him to have a touch and curl the ball, with the aid of the strenghthening wind, into the top corner. Orange House gave one final push and a ball over the top of the Spartak defence allowed their lone striker to run on but a covering Graeme had him in his sites and tackled only to be ajudged to have fouled giving them a free kick right on the edge of the box. It was heart in mouths time as Spartak thankfully watched the ball go over.
Spartak made the game safe late on when Pete went on a mazey run down the left and tucked the ball inside to Dave whose shot lobbed the keeper. The final action of the game came when Sam was fouled and Steve saw red due to a 'kick him' comment made by an Orange house player. This resulted in a small coming together of players but was sorted out sensibly by the ref.
Their was a number of strong candidates for MOM. Paul in goal made some cracking stops and Sam up front with his 3 goals but it was given to Graeme due to his hard work with the wind against in the first half and his covering and strong defending in the second. Spartak are through to the challenge cup final to face Darley Stud on the 9th May, a well deserved reward for everyones hard work throughout the season, Well Done!! | 
CDFL Challenge Cup