Barnstonworth Rovers F.C. 2 Brooklyn Italians 1

On Sunday, the Rovers triumphed over the league champions Brooklyn Italians 2-1. Yet, the score is unflattering to the Rovers. They dominated for 75 mins, and should have raced beyond their 2-0 lead. They took the lead midway through the first half on a brilliant one-two on the right side between Andy and Bazza, the former getting deep and crossing to Pugliese, who neatly finished in the near post. Rovers 1-0.

Then, they extended their lead in the 40th min. After 5 passes in the back line, Scott found Musa in the middle of the pitch. He threaded a pass behind the Italian’s defense where Andy turboed past his marker and, first slotted it past the keeper who tantalizing deflected the ball, then followed on to ensure that it sneaked inside the far post. Rovers 2-0.

It was the best performance of the Rover back 4 for sometime. Solid, compact and first to the ball, they controlled everything that Italians attempted. The Italians got one back to make for a nervous last 15 minutes. It was as much a fluke as clinical finishing. A free-kick on the left near mid-field floated in the Rover area, one Italian got a head to it and the ball floated to the back post where another Italian launched a header to the upper 90 from 15 meters. Roves 2-1.

The Rovers had enough chances throughout to put the result beyond doubt, but their profligate finishing denied that comfort. Colin whiffed from close range and a gaping goal, then in the next corner, bravely rose above all to head just over the bar. Repeatedly, Tamu could have finished but his decisions to pass instead of going it alone each time were ill-advised. Sam, on debut, had his powerful shot from inside the area go wide.

The one blemish on the day: the injury to newcomer Lowe when he dislocated his shoulder only minutes after his first team debut entrance.

With at least 4 more first team candidates still waiting to get to fitness, the Rovers look strong, with competition in all places. And with if their performances remain on Sunday’s level, only good things are expected this season.

Team: Dave Borchard, Bazza O’Driscoll, John Salvucci, Eoin Quane, Mark Kushemba, Andy Abramovits, Scott Leber, Tamu Bowen, Colin Marshall, Musa Shannon, Stephen Pugliese. Subs (all played) Stash Rutkowski, Matt Lowe, Fergal Ferguson, Sam Wiggins, Mike Alexander

Barnstonworth Rovers Res 4 Brooklyn Italians Res 3

The Reserves avenged last year’s 9 men drubbing on a Thursday night at Verranzano taking 3 points and all the impressions from the Italians. It was a lot easier than the score-line suggests. The savier Rovers out-played, out-smarted and out-finished and out-hustled the younger, faster Italians. Lowe opened the scoring after the Rovers had spurred several early good chances, when he received a ball in the far post, cut past one Italian defencer and slotted it home. Rovers 1-0.

Aaron made it 2 shorty after with his first goal for the club in almost 6 years ! Roves 2-0.

The ref and Zawada, then, contrived to keep the Italians in the match.

At least 3 times the referee stopped clear Rover breakaways on – at best – questionable offisides, and amazingly dissallowed Sam’s strike following the restart when Matt cut the ball BACKWARDS to him from the byline !

And Zawada, deciding he was too bored, jolted out to catch a floating ball only in his angst to run past it and see it sail in the net behind him. Rovers 2-1.

Reserves of the past may have been flustered. Not so. They kept playing their game, stroking passes, controlling tempo and possesion and within minutes Alex restored their 2 goal margin when he run through his marker, rounded the keeper and tucked it in. Rovers 3-1.

Jerome – yes Jerome – made it 4-1 with a quarter hour to go when combining with Sam, squared on to the keeper and ruffled the net. Rovers 4-1.

The Italians got 2 late goals, the last coming at the final whistle, making the scoreline respectable.

4 of the Reserves saw first team action later on, and another 3 or 4 deserved to, and will in the future, attesting to the strength and depth of this years Rovers.

Team: Mike Zawada, Brian Schmidt, Tai Anderson, Dixon Hayes, Aaron Samulcek, Stavros Zomopoulos, David Ferguson, Giancarlo Cavallo, Alfonzo Nanclares, Sam Wiggins, Alex Schardt. Subs (all played) Mike Alexander, Matt Lowe, Alex Carabano, Shadi Shahrokhi, Jerome Albertini.

Barnstonworth Rovers F.C. 0 N.Y. Athletic Club 1

The Rovers missed an opportunity to revenge last year’s drubbing to NYAC. Although they dominated for long stretches, and displayed fine passing and build up play, a lack-laster perfromance in the final third rendered the Rovers goal-less.

The only goal of the game came minutes after the re-start from a set play. A free-kick from midfield was played short then, long in the area, NYAC’s 6’5’’ forward was the first to the ball, Salvo and Broach collided in their effort to get to the ball in the goal-mouth, allowing a NYAC player to chest the ball home. Rovers 0-1.

The Rover best chance came at the death. After a corner was cleared, Bazza retrieved the ball fired in a cross to the far post, Colin put it acros the goal, Tamu met it on the opposite end first time, but with the goalkeeper beat, the effort sailed over the bar. Moments before, Stash had made a run into deep into the NYAC area, and with 2 Rovers waiting in the 6 from a narrow angle decided to shoot. His powerfull strike whizzed across the goal and missing the upper corner.

The Rovers could not convert their domination of possesion and territory to chances. Defensively the Rovers were poised and controlled. Salvo was a rock, as usual. Led in the midfield by newcomer Scottie, they controlled the ebb and flow of the match. Had Tamu not been stuck in traffic and been able to contribute in the 1^st half, the result may have been different.

In the end, the Rovers showed the have a powerfull deep team. With more work on the flanks and more creativity they will go a long way.

Team: Dave Borchard, Mike Alexander, John Salvucci, Mark Kushemba, Bazza O’Driscoll, Eoin Quane, Scott Leber, Colin Marshall, Keiran Mahon, Andy Abramovits, Stephen Pugliese. Subs (all played): Tamu Bowen, Stash Rutkowski, Alex Schardt

Barnstonworth Rovers Res 6 NYAC Reserves 1

The Rover Reserves started the season with an emphatic victory (our club’s first ever) over NYAC 6-1. On the way, Alfonzo notched a hatrick, and Lexi scored a goal for the ages – one of the Rover best ever. Already leading 1-0 on a solo effort by new-boy Lowe, Lexi connected on a sideways overhead volley from 15 yards out thumping the underside of the upper 90 before bouncing in.

This was a new look, younger, Reserve side, spoting 6 new members, that dominated their illustrious opponent. And they were clinical in front of goal which made all the difference. NYAC were dangerous on occasions, had pretty ball movement, but lacked the same deadly accuracy.

Lowe put the Rovers up 1-0 after dribbling past 2 defenders in the box and firing in the near post. And Lexi doubled the score with his magnificent strike. Just after the restart and just as the Rovers were on the back foot, Aaron and Alfonzo played 3 consecutive 1-2s slicing the NYAC back line before Alfonzo tucked it in. Moments later he doubled his tally with a tap in at the far post to effectively end the contest.

After NYAC got their consellation strike, Lowe beat the offside trap on the right flank, pourred in the area to make 5-1 before Alfonzo closed with his hat-trick strike.

A very solid perfomance from a side that should see many of its members barging their way into the 1^st side,

Team: Mike Zawada, Bobby Hannifin, Tai Anderson, Stash Rutkowski, Dixon Hayes, Fergal Ferguson, Stavros Zomopoulos, Aaoron Samulcek, Alfonzon Nanclares, Alex Schardt, Matt Lowe. Subs (all played) Alex Carabano, Brian Schmidt, Jerome Albertini