RD Semi. Barnstonworth Rovers F.C. 0 Polonia S.C. 2 (AET)

On a brilliant Sunday afternoon, in front of the biggest Rover partisan crowd ever, the Rovers fought, and ultimately lost, their State Cup Semi final and failed to reach the final at the first time asking. Interestingly, the Rovers first ever match in the 1^st Division was a 2-0 decision at home over the same Polonia. After 90 minutes of a lackluster scoreless tie, where the Rovers really should have broken the deadlock several times in the 2^nd half, Polonia scored the match winner on a fantastic direct free kick in the 1^st half of extra time. The Rover immediately responded and thought they had tied the match when Andy found the net after Pugli’s shot clear at the keeper from inside the area was parried, and Colin had redirected the rebound goal bound. But, after their celebrations has subsided, they realized the linesman had wrongly disallowed the goal for offside !! Then, on the next Rover corner, Salvo met Colin’s delivery inside the penalty spot with a powerful downward header that seemed destined for the net, only to see it miss the post by inches. In the second half of extra time, the Rovers, threw caution to the wind, conceded a 2^nd goal but were still in the tie with a chance. With 5 minutes remaining, the Pugli was awarded a penalty and stepped up to take it himself (snubbing cardinal rule: the offended does not take the penalty). After a couple of minutes of gamesmanship he slotted the kick home only to have it recalled because Yuri had crossed the line into the penalty area. On the retake, he send the ball on the same side, the goalkeeper guessed correctly and made a sensational save to preserve the tie for Polonia.

The Rovers could have finished the time in regulation. A great move on the right, Andy got the ball deep and crossed to the far post inside the six where Hobbins won the header at point blanc range. The stunned Polonia keeper, in a pure belated reflex, threw his right hand up towards his upper corner and tipped the ball for a corner.

Every Rover set piece was a threat. Late on Colin’s corner was headed by Keiran on the far post back toward the middle of the goal, 2 Rovers attempted to stir it to goal but the Polonia defenders blocked and eventually cleared the box. And 2 min later, the Rovers broke 3 on 2, Hobbins carried the ball to the side of the 18teen, but his pass to the unmarked Pugli was a little late and intercepted.

The Rovers should have had a penalty in the first half. Aaron, Vidar and Einar combined, the ball went to Colin who found Hobbins in the box, he turned the corner and put a short cross to Pugli all alone on the first post. The Polonia defender, in a last gasp effort to stop the cross, he threw up his goal-side hand, blocked the ball but the ref ruled it as incidental and waived the play-on.

Regulation time was not an exciting affair. The Rovers were tactically perfect throughout. The low pressure allowed Polonia to hit their long balls to Keiran and Salvo who won almost all of the aerial battles, and the compacted Rovers were first to almost all 2^nd balls. And after a tentative first fifteen they began to impose themselves in midfield. By the 35 min mark and beyond, as expected, Polonia surrendered the central midfield area, giving the Rovers space and time to attack. The Rovers got to the final third with increasing frequency and with potential. What the Rovers lacked was the final ball, penetration and a bit more creativity in the final third. Missing Musa, Tamu and Bazza (and Eoin, Sam) contributed to the Rover woes, but the presence of newcomer Einar helped alleviate the situation.

Polonia on the other hand, after the first 5 minutes, very rarely threatened, if at all, and definitely not from their build up, relying mostly on the individual skills of their strong front duo. Until, the extra time and the free-kick 22 meters out gave them the set piece that made the difference, as they always seem to do in the matches between the 2 sides.

The Rovers’ Alex Schardt had his eye socket fractured in 2 places and received 10 stitches in 2 places above and below his eye after being seriously injured (attempting a bicycle kick in his first touch on the ball !!) in the 2^nd half of the extra time !

Thanks to all the Rovers that made it out to watch the match. It was a fantastic atmosphere to see so many club members supporting the team.

Team: Dave Borchard, John Salvucci, Kierna Mahon, Mark Kushemba, Aaron Samulcek, Eirnar Benediktsson, Vidar Ekehaug, Colin Marshall, Andy Abramovits, Phil Hobbins, Stephen Pugliese. Subs: (played) Stash Rutkowski, Giancarlo Cavallo, Alex Schardt, Yuri Krym. DNP – Dixon Hayes