Barnstonworth Rovers 1 Landsdowne Bhoys 3

The Rovers dropped another 3 points Sunday, registering their first ever defeat to Landsdowne. The Rovers were done twice hesitating and not playing to the whistle and in the process wasting one of the best Rover goals ever (reminiscent of the Gormley goal in Norway for the older crowd, or the Messi goal vs Getafe) and a chance to close the gap at the top to 3 points.

Landsdowne took the lead against the run of play midway through the first half.

A long ball was clearly controlled using both hands by a forward, the Rovers stopped looking for the stoppage that never came, the Bhoys continued, found an open striker on the far side of the box who slotted it past Zawada. Rover 0-1

The Rovers still controlled tempo and Pugli should have tied it after Hobs threaded a ball through the middle of the box. His effort was wide.

The 55^th min saw the Rovers draw level. Wiggin picked up the ball deep inside the Rover half, pushed through the cover, exploited the space in the middle of the park, dribbled one cutting to the left, burst into the left corner of the box and hit a left footer to the bottom right hand corner. Simply brilliant ! Rovers 1-1

The Rovers pushed their advantage and seemed in complete control of the outcome. Hobs had a chance to put the Rovers ahead but on a 3-2 break shanked it off his shin. Then Pugli had one more chance after Andy crossed to the far post on his lap. Again, the finish was listless and wide.

In the 70^th, though, Wiggin was just starting on another run inside the Rover half when he was clipped, and fell to the ground. The Rovers again hesitated for the call, while Landsdowne picked up the loose ball, fed a striker on the far side, who stolled in the Rover area and settled the points. Rovers 1-2.

The Rovers pushed forward to get an equalizer, but it was not to be. They lacked the quality final touch. Zawada came up big twice to keep the score at 1-2 but with only minutes remaining a very ambitious clearance was intercepted and the Bhoys forward clinched it. Rovers 1-3

Team: Mike Zawada, Kieran Mahon, Sam Wiggin, Aaron Samulcek, Mark Kushemba, Einar Benedktisson, Vidar Ekehaug, Colin Marshall, Andy Abramovits, Phil Hobbins, Stephen Pugliese. Subs (all played) Bazza O’Driscoll, Dixon Hayes, Mike Alexander, Yuri Krym.

Barnstonworth Rovers Res 3 Landsdowne Bhoys Res 2

The Reserves put it all together in the final 20 mins to overcome what loomed as an insurmountable 0-2 deficit and preserve their top of the table billing.

Top scorer Lexi completed the come-back with 2 late, gutsy, goals after Bazza pulled one back.

The Reserves started brightly and their pretty ball movement did not foretell the drama that was to follow. Yet, for all their possession they did not create any noteworthy chances.

The best of the lot, was one that never materialized, when a direct free kick just outside the area was wasted.

Landsdowne contested every ball, as expected, but also with little endeavor to complement their fight. On the half-hour they were presented with a golden gift and they capitalized. A miscommunication in the Rover area allowed the ball to bounce in the six, Mike and Mike pondered, and the Bhoys striker took the chance. Reserves 0-1.

The Reserves knew they had 45 minutes and were confident they could overturn the score, but their lack of presence in the opposing box, limited the threat.

Another collision in the Rover’s six in the 70^th presented Landsdowne their 2^nd opportunity and their 2^nd goal. Reserves 0-2.

The Reserves’ fortunes changed as their desperation increased and with it their pressure. Stash cleverly reminded the Rovers how weak the Bhoys left back was. And after one great cross that Bazza controlled and then rattled the cross bar, Stash again was put through on the left, he took to the byline inside the box and cut it back to Bazza who, this time buried it. Rovers 1-2.

The Rovers never stopped believing, and within 10 mins they were level. First it was new boy Stiell whose acrobatic volley hit the crossbar for the 2^nd time. And, this time, Stash found Lexi on the far post, He does not miss from that range, and did not. Rover 2-2.

Landsdowne surely thought the Rovers would be satisfied and coast through the final few minutes or at least persevere with their cramp breaks and frequent substitutions. They lost their wager and the match. The Reserves pushed on, and took all 3 points, deservedly, when Lexi rose highest and past his recent eye drama to nod a trademark Dixon throw-in to the far post (yes far post) and ruffle the net for a third time. Rovers 3-2.

The Rovers, just like vs CPR closed shop for the last 5 to preserve another invaluable 3 points.

Team: Mike Zawada, Mike Alexander, Vilhelm Klariskov, Dixon Hayes, Yuri Krym, Bobby Hanifin, Stash Rutkowski, Stavros Zomopoulos, Alex Carabano, Bazza O’Driscoll, Lexi Schard. Subs (all played) Brian Schmid, Shadi Shahrokhi, Felix D’Ambrose, Paul Stiell

Greek American Atlas 3 Barnstonworth Rovers 1

After a scoreless first half, the Greeks has 2 players send off, along with Rovers’ Wiggin but the numerical advantage did not translate on the field.

Quickly, two defensive lapses gave the Greeks a 2-0 lead, and then another a-typical breach finished the match when the Rovers went down 3-0.

Salvucci, got one back to 3-1 before having to be substituted due to a bad ankle injury. Loss effectively ends Rovers' title hopes.

Team: Dave Borchard, Mark Kushemba, Keiran Mahon, John Salvucci, Dixon Hayes, Einar Benidktsson, Sam Wiggin, Vidar Ekehaug, Andy Abramovits, Steven Pugliese, Phil Hobbins. Subs (all played) Stash Rutkowski, Bazza O’Driscoll, Mike Alexander, Alfonzo Nanclares

Central Park Rangers 0 Barnstonworth Rovers 4

Its always a good day when you beat your local rivals 4-0 ! The Rovers were a class beyond, the outcome was never in doubt. And now, the Rovers sit alone in 2^nd place looking forward to catching NYAC.

The Firsts took control of tempo and possession from the kick off. Well organized and composed, they prodded enough to expose CPR’s lack of quality throughout their formation. The Rover defensive set up was again superp, always compact, never really looked troubled.

Andy should have opened the score 20 mins in when a well work move from Colin to Puglie, to Hobbins, who released him free on the left edge of the box. He flew into the box but blasted his shot right at the keeper.

Salvo then had his chance for the 2^nd straight in a row, when he connected on an open header inside the 9 again from a Colin free kick. It looked as if any touch would suffice to redirect the ball into the net, but Salvo’s well taken header went straight at the keeper’s feet.

Andy had another similar chance on the far post, before he finally put the Rovers ahead to stay.

It was a minute before half time, again the ball was moved quickly form the left, Einar put the ball across and Andy slotted it home. Rovers 1-0.

The second half the Rovers domination only increased. As CPR tired, the Rovers finishing improved and it was just fun to watch.

The Rovers 2^nd came in the 60^th from a Colin corner. Keiran rose highest and hit a perfect header to the far upper 90. Rovers 2-0

It did not take long to make it 3. Colin, Andy and Einar combined, the ball worked to Colin deep inside the area, from where he had little difficulty ruffling the net.

Rovers 3-0

In the 80^th, the Rovers closed the scoring. Dixon found Einar who played 1-2 and broke into the area committed the keeper before sliding the ball to an on-coming umarked Vidar who simply completed the ask. Rovers 4-0

Overall, an eerily comfortable 3 points versus a CPR that usually show more guts and resolve.

Team: Dave Borchard, Mark Kushemba, Keiran Mahon, John Salvucci, Dixon Hayes, Einar Benidktsson, Colin Marshall, Vidar Ekehaug, Andy Abramovits, Steven Pugliese, Phil Hobbins. Subs (all played) Giancarlo Cavallo, Mike Alexander, Alfonzo Nanclares

Central Park Rangers Res 1 Barnstonworth Rovers Res 2

The Reserves beat CPR in the top of the table, local derby clash on a late brave Yuri header after trailing 1-0 fom more than 60 mins. It the first time a Rover team leads a 1^st Division table in the spring.

The match, by no means a classic in quality, was a display in Rovers determination. The Reserves had the run of play throughout but often lacked in the final third. Then, they had their profligate finishing to overcome.

The Reserves had the first chance when Bazza turned his marker but fired wide.

Then Alex made a deep run into the CPR half, found Yuri inside the box who misfired high.

Alfonzo dribbled around 2 CPR defensemen but was blocked just before he could shoot.

Against the run of play, CPR took the lead. After their midfielder got a rebound outside the Rover area, his shot was well saved by Zawada, but a CPR player got to the parry and his shot found the back of the net. Reserves 0-1.

The Reserves may have been excused if they just folded shop. They were reeling from a spell of 4 defeats in a row, the Jerome incident in the cup, a 3 month lay-off, and after dominating much of the play down 1-0 to league leaders and arch-rivals.

The Reserves Sunday, though, had belief. And they attacked CPR relentlessly for the remaining 60 mins.

Zawada came up big in a breakaway stop and a sprawling save from close range in the first 10 mins of the 2^nd half to keep the Rovers in the hunt.

Bazza was close when he got into a shooting area in the box, but failed to hit the net.

The Rovers were getting closer with each set play, Mike Alexander heading wide and Stash shot just over the bar.

Shortly after, Alfonzo broke in on a through ball only to have his final scuff saved.

Then the Rover backs spoke. Stash and Bazza exchanged passes, Stash shot was blocked the rebound came to Villie who hit it perfectly to the far left corner.

Rovers 1-1.

The Reserves were not satisfied. Schmidtie to Shadi to Bazza who looked to be stopped, but he put a prospective cross over the back of the CPR line. Yuri, making a run from the opposite flank, catapulted his head on it, just before the on-rushing CPR keeper and just over him to propel the Reserves to the top.

Bazza could have made it 3 with a bit of magic when he received a ball just outside the box, healed it around a defender and struck a thunderbolt that was well saved.

CPR had lots of mostly meaningless possession as the Rovers dropped back to preserve the scoreline, the back 4 and Zawada dealing with the rest.

What a better way to make a mark than with a gutsy win vs CPR.

Team: Mike Zawada, Bobby Hanifin, Alex Carabano, Mike Alexander, Vilhelm Klariskov, Stash Rutkowski, Alfonzo Nanclares, Giancarlo Cavallo, Yuri Krym, Shadi Shahrokhi, Bazza O’Driscoll. Subs (all played) Stavros Zomopoulos, Brian Schmid

Rovers Over 30s v. Guyana Veterans A--4/1/07

Barnstonworth Rovers 2 (1)
Guyana Veterans A 2 (2)

Goals: Par Holmberg, Oren Becher

Linden Park, 9am, 4/1/07

We started the Spring session with our 6th draw of the season coming back from 2-0 down against table-toppers Guyana Veternas A to take our season tally to 4-2-6. After the drive out to East New York, we began the match somewhat out of sorts. We had trouble stringing passes together and Guyana kept us under pressure in our half for the first 20 minutes by sending 3 or 4 men forward. Both of their goals resulted from slack defending with Guyana's speed enabling them to capitalize on our mistakes. Midway thru the first half, we started to play much better on the excellent surface at Linden Park. We created a good chances including a trademark long throw-in from Peter and a through ball to Teddy that resulted in the keeper making a foot save to deny him. Not to be outdone, Teddy later found himself on the left end line from where he crossed a perfect head-high ball. Streaking into the area, Par channeled Henrik Larsson as he deftly headed the ball goalwards leaving the keeper no chance. One of the goals of the season to be sure!

In the second half, we kept up the pressure. Guyana did manage a few breakthroughs, their best of which saw their striker Nolan, the dreadlocked and nimble 40 year old, narrowly miss. We netted the equalizer midway throught the second period. Carl's shot was saved by the keeper, but fell to the goal-poacher Oren who tapped in from close range, scoring his team-leading 5th goal of the season. For the last 15 minutes, we withstood the Guyana pressure with Par anchoring the back line. This week, there no match but there will be an Easter Egg Hunt with Martin and then GH Metros on the 15th.

Squad: Messmer, O'Donovan, Gajewski, Herrala, MacKinnon, Eisenman, Sisto, Huguenot, Sikora, Becher, Wisnom, Davies, Holmberg, Stiller, Butte