Results: Firsts 11/02/08 vs Landsdowne Bhoys

Barnstonworth Rovers F.C. 3 Landsdowne Bhoys 2
The Rovers staged an amazing come back in the last 15 minutes to take the 3 points they deserved from the Bhoys. Substitute Austin, on first team field debut, headed in the winner in the 90th minute. Jordi started the comeback with a diving header in the far post, before Wiggi tied the match pouncing on a lose ball in the box. The Rovers were missing Pugli, Colin, Kush and Nessa and had only 20 available players for the 2 matches, thus fielded a very young and unfamiliar side. Andy started at left back, Jordi filled the middle Sam and Oren played the wings and Cruizie started as the lone striker after having debut for the club in the Reserve match earlier. The match also saw the return of Tamu and another first team debut, Yannick.
Still the Rovers showed their football quality, playing the ball faster and moving it on the ground around the pitch. They created all the chances and should have been 2-0 up in the first minutes. Cruizie got a through ball from Einar, he turned the last defender and used his blazing speed to find himself all alone with the keeper, but put in an unusually weak finish right at the bewildered keeper. Wiggin, not to be outdone, played 3 brilliant 1-2s and carried the ball through the entire Bhoys’ defense to again tap it back to their keeper when he found himself all alone in the six. Fonzie could have opened the score but his shot from a great position went wide. Oren tracked the ball down on the right, beat a defender but his shot was saved in the near post.
Landsdowne was not so generous. On their first venture in the Rovers’ half, they netted. The Rovers cleared the corner near the middle of the D where a Bhoy’s midfielder connected powerfully and through a maze of players to open the score. Rovers 0-1.
As the Rovers dominated and squandered opportunities Landsdowne again proved lethal in their next foray 5 mins from halftime. Their best player #7, beat the Rover midfield, received a ball just outside the box, turned deep and cut it back to an unmarked forward who did not miss. Rovers 0-2.
The Rovers believed the could turn the match, and as the 2nd half wore on, the came ever closer to cutting the deficit. Einar, a stalwart in the middle, beat one and had a powerful shot save well. Jordi had 2 free kicks unluckily hitting the edges of the wall, Tamu had a short tap parried for a corner, and Sam received a ball on the left far post but his controlled volley was placed at the keeper. It was all one way traffic, the Rovers building and creating and Landsdowne ineffectively playing the long ball. Then, Oren fed Tamu towards the corner, he turned beat his marker, crossed it to the far post where Jordi acrobatically headed it past the near post. Rovers 1-2 with 14 mins to go.
Rovers bring in another forward, Austin, and he almost instantaneously opens his account when Fonzi chips him behind the defense but again the one-on-one finish is too timid and at the keeper. Then, moments later, he gets another chance when a cross reaches Austin arriving in the far post, but his header is saved. Jordi combines with Oren and Einar but his shot goes wide. With 4 mins to go, the ball arrives to Randi on the left, he puts the cross in, the Bhoys keeper comes out to grab it but is challenged and cannot hold the ball, Wiggi pounces on it and buries it to the upper 90. Rovers 2-2.
Landsdowne thought the Rovers would be satisfied with a point, they were wrong. They pushed on, now with 3 up front they won a free kick on the left. Jordi perfectly placed on the right of the penalty spot where Austin beat his Irish marker and nodded it to the far upper netting. Rovers 3-2 and 3 points !
Team: Dave Borchard, Vidar Ekehaug, Sam Wiggin, Randi Lee, Andy Abramovits, Oren Nhassi, Sam Minaya, Jordan Chirico, Einar Benedktsson, Alfonzo Nanclares, Alex Cruz. Subs (all played): Tamu Bowen, Austin Harris, Yannick James