MKDDL LEAGUE CUP 3rd Round
Tattenhoe Youth U15 Lions 3 v 7 Linslade Galaxy U15 Spartak

Spartak returned to League Cup action this week in an away trip to Tattenhoe Youth, a side handily placed in Division 2 and who had beaten Division 1 Kempston in the previous round. So, as the match kicked off in cloudy but dry conditions, they knew they would have to play well to progress to the quarterfinals.

The match could not have started any worse for Linslade as Tattenhoe Youth were immediately on the attack. After the defence had backed away too much, there was a neat ball into the edge of box and their striker, turned Dylan and hit true into the far corner. This was well and truly match on.

On 9 minutes there was better play from Spartak. A lovely ball from Jack J reached Matthew, who crossed in from the left but Ethan could not quite jump high enough to connect. Two minutes later Matthew cut inside but his effort went over the bar. Matthew, in particular, was causing their right-back all kinds of problems and the left-hand side certainly looked Galaxy's most promising area of attack.

However, three minutes later Tattenhoe proved that they were still dangerous in attack and their No.10 fired another low shot that Thomas did well to save and deflect for a corner.

As the first half neared the halfway mark there were more attacks in the Tattenhoe Youth box, largely led by Matthew. Firstly, he jinked in the box but his shot was straight at the keeper. Then, there was good interplay from Luke and Matthew and, in a further attack, from Jack J and Luke, but Spartak couldn't generate a shot on target. A few minutes later Elliot crossed in but Mali's header was straight at the keeper.

Galaxy were definitely on top, but the equalising goal would not come. On 29 minutes there was a typical bustling run from Jack J into the box, but he dragged his shot to the left. Then five minutes later, Spartak's best chance came and went as Mali was through in the box on a 1 on 1. However, his first touch took the ball further away from him than he would have wanted and allowed the keeper to rush out and smother his shot.

Fortunately Galaxy did not have to rue those missed chances for long as on 37 minutes the goal their play had deserved finally arrived. It came from a corner worked on training - at least that's what Owen will say - as his corner had no height but found Jack J at the edge of the box and he curled in a very neat effort to level the scores.

An so ended a very entertaining first half. Spartak dominated possession and territory but was lacking in that final 2% and couldn't find or waited too long for that perfect opportunity. Meanwhile Tattenhoe Youth were dangerous on the counter attack, but Dylan had ensured that no one else was getting past him after Tattenhoe Youth's goal. At 1-1 the match was finely poised with both teams knowing they could win this one.

Fortunately, it did not take long for Spartak to assert their dominance in the scoreline. Just four minutes into the half Owen crossed in from the right and Luke was there to head in from 10 yards. Then three minutes later the home side could not deal with a lovely in-swinging corner from Joseph, which both their defender and their goalkeeper were only able to continue the ball's trajectory into the back of the net for a second goal in two matches for the Galaxy left-back.

All of a sudden Spartak were 3-1 up and had the breathing space they needed. Nevertheless, Tattenhoe Youth showed they were still in the game and their No.10 strode through. Thomas did just enough to come out and stop the shot from coming over this head.

If the away fans were hoping for a calm end to the match, the players from both sides had other ideas and in a crazy 15 minutes a further five goals were scored.

16 minutes: a corner from Owen caused more issues in the box and Jack J prodded home 1-4.

22 minutes: Tycho drove forward and passed to Jack R down the right. He used his pace to reach the byline and cross to Matthew who was clear 6 yards out. Somehow he skied his effort to leave his head in his hands in disbelief.

23: Tattenhoe scored to reduce the deficit to 2-4.

24: Spartak responded immediately with good teamwork from Niall and Tycho and Luke finishing it off with a crisp shot passed the keeper's right. 2-5.

28: Tattenhoe broke again and scored from 20 yards. 3-5

29: Jack R crossed in from the right and Luke headed home. 3-6

After this breathless passage of play the match finally calmed down and it was only in added on time did Linslade produce a couple more chances of note. Firstly, there was a good ball from Elliot to Ethan whose shot from 25 yards was just over. Then, in almost the final kick of the match, Blake stole the ball and after a couple of steps fired home to put the icing on the cake and give Spartak a richly-deserved 7-3 win. Tycho, in particular had a great match after coming on as a second half substitute.

This win takes Spartak into the last eight of the League Cup where they will join Sporting. This will be a very exciting draw to keep an eye on - will Galaxy's two teams in the Cup be drawn together to decide who reaches the semi-final!?