BOB match report 10/1/06

Malky Boyd waxes lyrical...


Rovers Old Boys 0 Guyana B 1
In the middle ages, many houses had thatched roofs that reached close to the ground. Such roofs would be constructed by piling up thick straw, on the roof without any wooden support. And, since houses in those days were often cold and damp, animals—dogs, cats and other small animals such as mice, rats, etc.—lived in the straw on the roof. However, whenever it rained hard, the straw surfaces became wet and slippery. This would sometimes cause some of the animals to slide and fall off the roof. When people saw this, they were heard to say that it was raining so hard that it was “raining cats and dogs”.
The quote seemed apt for a number of reasons, not least that a house built even with a straw roof would be a significant mark of progress on Randall's Island. But it's mainly apt simply to get an idea of the monsoon conditions which the Old Boys and their opponents endured yesterday. If rainstorms were measured on a scale from kitten to Great dane, this one was right off it, even the odd tiger could be seen amidst the deluge of Irish wolfhounds being chucked down mercilessly from the heavens.
Still, the Old Boys fought with gusto for a full 89 minutes of yesterday's 8am game against Guyana B, before succumbing to a last minute sucker punch completely against the run of play. With "the Cat" Sheero away (a prescient move for a cat in hindsight, given the rain), the Old Boys took the field with a debut keeper (me) in goal, and a new striker, Jonny Morrison, up front. But with old Old Boy Tim Chamberlain donning the famous blue jersey once again the team gelled quickly and quickly had the Guyanan's on the back-foot, which soon got to be a very slippery back foot indeed. Midway through the first half I had counted at least 4 good scoring chances for the Rovers before the clouds opened their own flood gates and turned the field first into a quagmire (actually an improvement for a Randall's field) and then into a surface more befitting a Battle of the Somme reenactment (not an improvement, to those unfamiliar with WW1). By the half, neither gerries or Guyana B had made it over the top and with a serious outbreak of trench-foot looming, the bedraggled Ref offered to call it quits. But by then the teams were wetter than a duck's bahookie and opted to waddle on.
The Rovers continued to dominate during long stretches throughout the entire second half, and went gut wrenchingly close on numerous occasions. A venomous 30 yard free kick from the new Old Boy Jonny thundered off the post, and Chip's well struck corners had trouble written all over them, leaving the Guyanan defense floundering like an awkward 8 legged flat fish. Just when it seemed the game was destined to end in a draw, the Guyanans nipped up the park and stole a last minute winner. It was very much daylight robbery, without the masks and horses.
Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory only builds character however, and the Old Boys continue to improve with every game. The goalie didn't have one save to make, the defense were tighter than a gnat's chuff, the midfield fought like two ferrets in a sack and for the third game in a row, the front line created around 8 good scoring opportunities. So there were a lot of positives to come out of this one, and with 3 games gone in the season, and with several players missing yesterday, the Old Boys have no reason to fear anyone.

Team - Malky, Eddie, Greg, Jules, Fergal, Josh, Zee, Chip, James, Gordo, Jonny and Tim.