Greek American Atlas Res 2 Barnstonworth Rovers Res 0

The Reserves title hopes were dashed yesterday at Ichan, when they were beaten by the Greeks 2-0. Now, only if both CPR and NYAC Reserves drop points or they tie in their encounter on the last day of the season will the Reserves be divisional champions. The younger, quicker Greeks, aided by several high profile first team players, were the better side for most of the match and were good value for the 3 points. The Reserves, started brightly and controlled the tempo for only the first 10 mins. Facing opposition of this caliber only at practice on a regular basis, they were slow to adapt to the pace and demands of the match thereafter. Unable to control possession, they turned the ball over constantly prohibiting them from building dangerous forays into the opposition half.
The Reserves best shot was at the stroke of half time, when new-boy Austin controlled a Felix pass and fired just wide from the 18een. And their best chance came off a Dixon long throw where Alexander won the header, placed in low and on the corner but lacked the power to beat the keeper.
Although the match was being played much in the Rover's half, a very solid defensive 4, with Aaron sitting in front, absorbed the pressure without much worry, and the Greeks took the lead from a build up that was seemingly extinguished. The ball went deep in the right side where it was contained by the Rover defense, but with only one Greek striker in the box, the Rovers attempted to pull for offsides. Momentarily it looked like it had worked, the shouts came but not the whistle from the lone ref. Their forward all alone executed Zawada. Rovers 0-1.
The scenario did not change for the rest of the half and the Reserves' bench was strategizing about regrouping for the 2nd half when Atlas fortuitously struck again. Zawada did brilliantly to thwart a Greek break, but their forward grabbed the rebound, this time clearly with this hand, and slotted it in as the Rovers shouted for the handball. It was a very harsh decision that the ref explained stating he had seen the handball, but that he believed there was on "intent !!" (intent has been stricken from the football rule book for at least 3 years now). Rovers 0-2
The Rovers were more aggressive in the 2nd half, although still lacked quality possession. They should have pulled one back with 25 to play when Andy's shot was parried to an unmarked Alexander who headed it powerfully off the crossbar. Zawada kept them in the hunt with several outstanding saves, and the Rovers had another chance to reduce the deficit minutes from time when Andy broke in but fired wide.
Somewhere there the Reserves' lost control of their destiny to the title. Clearly the Rovers made it a match, but in fairness, they still lacked something to have been equal to the task of beating the undefeated in the league and State cup champions Greeks. Maybe, if luck goes their way, they will get another chance later in June.
Special thanks to Eoin, Claudia and the Carabano family who came to support the teaam
Team: Mike Zawada, Mike Alexander, Andy Abramovits, Dixon Hayes, Bobby Hanifin, Aaron Samulcek, Alfonzo Nanclares, Felix D'Ambrose, Yuri Krym, Ron Baskin, Bazza O'Driscoll. Subs (all played) Brian Schmid, Stavros Zomopoulos, Shadi Shahrokhi, Daniel Cardozo, Austin Harris

Manhattan Kickers Res 1 Barnstonworth Rovers Res 5

The Reserves played in 2 pitches – one for each half – the result being the same on both. They destroyed a much better that the score indicates Kickers side.

The win keeps the Reserves at the top of the table ahead of the all important clash vs the Greeks on Thursday. Barring astronomic results from the other condenders, a point there coupled with a win vs Iberia on the last day of the season will secure the clubs first 1^st Division divisional championship appearance.

The Reserves played very well, especially with their movement off the ball, and made it very difficult for the opponents to stop the ball or hold posession. Had the pitch been better, the Rovers would have had more chances to finish as many dangerous build-ups were stopped by the conditions.

Baskin opened with a made to look – all too easy – well placed header to the far post. Rovers 1-0.

Mat made double the lead on the next foray a clinical finish from a cross to the penalty spot. Rovers 2-0.

Alex made it three before the change of venue, tapping it in from close range after a clever feed inside the six. Rovers 3-0.

Kickers got one back after a missed tackle outside the box, the shot unluckily bouncing over Zawada in the near post. Rovers 3-1.

The second half saw the Rovers fight for goal difference; the overmatched Kickers reduced to clearing for hopeful long balls that were easily dealt with by the Rovers.

Baskin got his second with a low drive to the bottom corner. Rovers 4-1 !

Mat closed the tally also with his second personal strike, after he beat the Kickers defender and placed under the keeper. Rovers 5-1.

Thursday night its Match of the Day.

Team: Mike Zawada, Bobby Hanifin, Dixon Hayes, Brian Schmid, Stash Rutkowski, Ron Baskin, Alfonzo Nanclares, Yuri Krym, Felix D’Ambrose, Mat Levine, Lexi Schardt. Subs (all played) Stavros Zomopoulos, Paul Stiell, Austin Harris, Daniel Cardozo.

Manhattan Kickers 1 Barnstonworth Rovers F.C. 0

Sunday was one of those rare moments in local derbies when one team could not lose, and that was the Rovers. They get a result, and they relegate for the 2^nd time their local rivals. They lose and they can look forward to a year without Gun Hill Road and the Albanians. And for 90 minutes, they torture the Kickers and reduce them to begging. Only if it was not played at Verranzano and the scenario would have been perfect.

The match started more that 30 mins late because the Kickers could not produce their player cards and the State Association President present at the ground would only forfeit the match to our favor without them, even after we had agreed to allow the opposition to play without cards. That is after we, as they away team, had to convince the facility to procure a field due to a mix up with the Verranzano authorities and Kickers.

More, the Rovers could only call on 9 1^st team players including Tamu for the first time this spring, one of which failed to show and another stuck in the mess called the D train. Even with 4 tired Reserves in the starting line-up the Rovers started brightly and completely dominated play. They closed the spaces impressively and moved the ball much better than the field should have permitted. Mat stole the ball from the Kickers defense, broke alone vs the keeper but the field managed to beat him before he could fire the Rovers into the lead. Pugli headed Andy swerving cross at the far post, just wide. And from a right side move, Yuri cut the ball and hit the far post just over the keeper’s reach, Pugli caught up with it just wide of the far post but his cut back header hit the side netting.

Then the Rovers created the breakthrough. Pugli attacked the defense from the left side of the box, cut between 2 Kicker defenders before he was upended. Penalty awarded. Pugli stepped up and somehow put the ball exactly where the keeper saved it ! More unscrupulous people would have shouted for collusion.

In the second half the script remained the same. Tamu attacked the Kicker middle, broke through before he was cut down without being allowed to finish. Wigs had another good run but his shot from outside the area was well saved. Giancarlos cross for Andy’s powerful header was also parried.

With 20 mins to play, after several substitutions with more Reserve players, even the most optimistic spectators and the Kickers coach just could not phathom where a Kickers goal would come from ! Their query was answered shortly thereafter. Fonzi saves a ball from crossing over the by-line at the six yard box, but as it bounces he clears it to the Kickers forward standing next to Dix about 7 meters out. He takes the gift as Broach can only paw at the sky. Rovers 0-1.

Not 5 minutes later the ref call it a match (8 mins early). A holiday present to our x-teammate Xavi and training mate Randi.

The firsts close their season on June 10 vs Iberia.

Team: Dave Borchard, Mike Alexander, Mark Kushemba, Sam Wiggin, Bobby Hanifin, Yuri Krym, Ron Baskin, Tamu Bowen, Andy Abramovits, Mat Levine, Stephen Pugliese. Subs (all played): Giancarlo Cavallo, Dixon Hayes, Alfonzo Nanclares, Stavros Zomopoulos

Barnstonworth Rovers F.C. 6 N.Y. Albanians 2

Sunday, the Rovers returned to wining ways thrashing Albanians 6-2. In the past this may have been an interesting match on the field, but lately the only interest is whether the Rovers can escape without off the field and out-of-play incidents. And other than a crazy Albanian official threatening the linesman, a player a hacking then stomping on Colin and an elbow to the teeth in the closing moments the Rovers made it home.

The match was even for only the first 15 mins. Colin has the best chance of the lot, a tet-a-tet with the keeper from the edge of the six, that was parried by the Albanian’s keeper. Giancarlo’s shot after he raced into the area curved wide. In that span Albanians moved the ball enough to break the Rover defense down on 2 or 3 occasions, once very well saved by driving from Buffalo Broach from close range. The second, a shot from inside the penalty spot went wide, and the third, slotted from the left hit the far post. From then on, it was a Rover monologue and a Hobbin’s hattrick ! The first came after another brilliant Wiggin ran with the ball deep into the Albanians’ half. He cut into the area, and cut it across to an unmarked Hobbins who easily took the chance for his 1^st club goal. Rovers 1-0.

The best goal of the day was the Rover 2^nd. The move started from the back, around the horn to Bazza. A great interchange between Bazza, Colin and Vidar and Bazza accelerated past the Albanian left back with a blaze of speed from the recent past. He put a telling cross to the spot. Andy making he far run, took it in stride, his first effort blocked, but he one-touched the rebound home. Rovers 2-0

Pugli would not be kept off the score sheet either. He typically turned and finished from the left side of the eighteen. Rovers 3-0

Hobbins got the next one when he got around the keeper after a Rovers’ break. Rovers 4-0.

Pugli made it 5-0 before Hobbins closed the Rovers scoring with 20 mins to spare to complete his hattrick ! Rovers 6-1.

The last 30 mins, and after Colin was first hacked, then stomped on, it was all about conserving the players welfare and not even contesting when Albanians threatened thus not giving Tamu a chance to play the last minutes even battling traffic for 2 hours to get there.

The Albanians looked more like a mediocre 2^nd division team rather than the once double CSL Champions.

Special thanks to Mika who came to support in his farewell appearance for the Rovers.

Team: Dave Borchard, Sam Wiggin, Kieran Mahon, Mark Kushemba, Bazza O’Driscoll, Vidar Ekehaug, Colin Marshall, Giancarlo Cavallo, Andy Abramovits, Phil Hobbins, Stephen Pugliese. Subs (played) Yuri Krym, Mike Alexander, Ron Baskin, Stavros Zomopoulos. (late and too dangerous for) Tamu Bowen.

Barnstonworth Rovers Res. 7 N.Y. Albanians Res 2

Yesterday’s Reserves match was not worthy of commentary other for some bizarre circumstances. The ref arrived very late and the teams had decided to start the match prior to his arrival. About 5 mins was played and the Lexi had just put the Rovers ahead. But the arriving ref decided he wanted to re-start the match at 0-0, erasing the strike. The Reserves buoyed by newcomers Mat and Cardozo fielded a strong team that would have served them better last week vs NYAC rather that the farce vs Albanians. Suffice to note that in the entire 2^nd half the Rovers reversed their lineup and had absolutely 0 structure yet still outscored their opponents.

Goal scorers were Mat (2), Shadi, Bobby, Lexi, Baskin, Stav. Unfortunately Mike did not score.

The noteworthy news for the Reserves come from the Polonia – NYAC match were the Poles bested the country club. The Reserves will again find themselves on leading the standings with 3 matches to play starting with arch-rivals Kickers on Sunday.

Team: Mike Zawada, Yuri Krym, Mike Alexander, Bobby Hanifin, Daniel Cardozo, Ron Baskin, Stavros Zomopoulos, Alfonzo Nanclares, Shadi Shahrokhi, Lexi Schardt, Mat Levine. Sub (all played) Felix D’ambrose, Paul Stiell.

N.Y. Athletic Club 2 Barnstonworth Rovers F.C. 1

The Rovers dropped their 3^rd in a row after a hard fought match at the country club. Hindrered after another 3 first team players were force to pull out of the squad on Sunday morning, and already missing Salvo, Broach, Musa, Tamu and Keiran, it was another depleted team, including 3 players that had already played a full 90, that took the field. And they found themsleves trailing 0-2 within the first half an hour. Yet, they showed a fighting spirit, Pugli pulled one back on the 70^th and should have been rewarded with a point when Pugli put the ball in the net 10 min later only to see his goal belately and questionably disallowed for offside.

NYAC took the lead in a moment that did not fortell a goal. A long ball over the top was chased down by Alexander (on his 2^nd match) aided by the wind, it bounced hard towards the Rover’s goal. Zawada decided to stay on his line, the NYAC forward professionally muscled the ball around the touch line and in an one touch half volley played it back towards the penalty spot, straight to the oncoming NYAC player who clinically finished. Rovers 0-1.

Then, on the half hour, NYAC double its lead. Another ball over the top, this time 2 Rovers were slightly outpaced as they hesitated as the NYAC forward started from a clearly offsides position, Zawada came out, but a high class finished thundered the net. Rovers 0-2.

The Rovers regrouped and took control of the match as NYAC started to tire and compact backwards. But chances were difficult to come by as the NYAC back 6 were very well organized, as always, and the Rovers lacked movement. The deceivingly bumpy condintions did not help matters for the more skilled Rovers, although noticigly absent an ability to break down the opponents in the final third.

The Firsts pulled on back in the 70^th, when several quick passes between, Aaron, Vidar, Wiggin and Einar saw the latter, slip a ball on top of the box to Pugli. He took it in stride approached the goal and burried it with a two-feet lunge to the top corner for his 1^st in 4 matchs. Rovers 1-2.

The Rovers desperately pushed on for the equilizer. And it seemed they got it, when after Andy’s throw in, Stav head it on to the far post for Pugli to beat the keeper. As the Rovers begun to celebrate, the linesman raised his flag, the Ref went over to consult him and proceeded to disallow the goal for off-sides.

Three other time, the Rovers seemed to break through, all whistled back for off-sides, two were disastrous calls. Suffice to say that if the linesman had started on opposite ends, the Rovers would have won this match, but it was not to be, and in honesty, a draw would have been the fairer result.

The Firsts have 3 matches left against struggling teams, and all they have left to play for are 9 point and a best-ever 1^st Div finish.

Team: Mike Zawada, Mike Alexander, Sam Wiggin, Ron Baskin, Mark Kushemba, Aaron Samulcek, Vidar Ekehaug, Einar Bennidktsson, Andy Abramovits, Stash Rutkowski, Stephen Pugliesi. Subs (all played) Dixon Hayes, Stavros Zomopoulos, Yuri Krym.

N.Y. Athletic Club Res 3 Barnstonworth Rovers Res 0

An one-man, 15 min demolition crew scored a first half hat-trick and wrecked the Reserves division championship dream. The Reserves finally this spring dug a hole from which they could not dig out. They never recovered enough to contest the point, even though a draw would have likely sufficed, but they did try to the last minute. They lacked fire power and enough clear chance to get back into the match.

The Reserves started brightly and looked in full control only for NYAC to take the lead in the first time of asking. A probing long ball to the #17 (former kickers top scorer) was collected in front of the Rover back 4. He proceeded to shake off a challenge, dribble 2 defenders and beat a half-awake Duff. Rovers 0-1.

Five minutes later, almost identically, the same #17, took the ball on the far side, dribbled through the Rover defense, and made it Rovers 0-2.

And he did not stop there, in the 20^th, he did it again, this time slotting from a short range. Rovers 0-3.

Game over, and barring a lot of lucky results, division title over.

At 0-3 the Reserves put Alexander to man mark the #17 and the tide of the match immediately changed. Had they adjusted earlier, it could have been a different day.

Team: Patrick Duff, Mike Alexander, Brian Schmid, Yuri Krym, Dixon Hayes, Stavros Zomopoulos, Ron Baskin, Alfonzon Nanclares, Stash Rutkowski, Alex Schardt, Paul Stiell. Sub (played) Shadi Shahrokhi.

More Photos from Floyd Bennett Field

Match reports for Rovers v Gottschee and Shamrock

Rovers v. Gottschee--4/22/07
Rovers 0
BW Gottschee 0

Queen's Childrens Hosptial

We dominated possession on the crappy field, hit the post twice on shots from Russell and Teddy and had numerous other chances but we could not seal the deal. They had one or two good chances. The best of which came from a horrible goal kick of mine, but fortunately I was up to the task of actually saving the shot from the ensuing 1 v 1. Newcomer Sven Isojarvi was solid in defense. Late in the match, a Gottschee dude tried to shoulder Sven off the ball and he just bounced off of him.

O'Donovan, Stiller, Isojarvi, Gajewski, Herrala, MacKinnon, Eisenman, Holmberg, Butte, Davies, Becher, Wisnom, Sisto, Sikora, Baskin, Huguenot


Rovers v. Shamrock--4/29/07
Rovers 1 (0)
Shamrock FC 1 (0)

Teddy Eisenman

Floyd Bennett Field

Overall, a fairly even match in which we amped up the pressure in the 2nd half and got the lead with 5 minutes to go. The Swedish trio of Par, Teddy and newcomer Anders worked well up front and it paid dividends when a through ball from ??? reached Teddy, well onside, who calmly beat the keeper from close range. A victory was not on the cards as Shamrock were awarded a dubious penalty with no more than a minute remaining. Messmer guessed correctly but the penalty was well-taken leaving him little chance.

We now have a league leading and unprecendented 8 draws. Only Shamrock come close with 7 draws. Noone else in all of the Cosmo league even comes close. This is perhaps our biggest accomplishment all season. And Messmer correctly pointed out that some of our wins and losses could easily have been draws. We are in 3rd place, though, behind perennial leaders Guyana A and Pele Masters. Though Pele have two games in hand, we could nick 3 points off of them this coming week.

Messmer, Stiller, Gajewski, Herrala, MacKinnon, Eisenman, Holmberg, Butte, Davies, Becher, Wisnom, O'Donovan, Moberg, Sikora