Results: Firsts/Res 11/23/08

Stan Mielec 2 Barnstonworth Rovers 1

The Rovers dropped another 3 points against relegation favorites Stan Meilec. This year the Rovers have lacked the consistency that brought them to the brink of the CSL title match last season, and have lost 8 points in 3 matches vs the bottom teams. The Rovers completely dominated play but their profligate finishing cost them. In contrast, the poles scored on both of their shots on goal, both in the first 3 minutes of each half.
A polish attack from their ended with a ball coming in the middle of the Rover area. The Stan Meilec forward lunged and chipped over Broach. Rovers 0-1.
The Rovers had the ball on the ground and created chance after chance. Einar had a great chance with a header 2 yards out of the far post, but somehow the keere parried. Colin's free kick went just over the bar, and Jordi cut in from the right fed the ball across the six, but somehow the Rovers could not connect. Oren cut diagonally to the middle, found himself alone in the area but could not find the back of the net.
The second half starting identically. Stan Meilec in their first and only attack - if you can call it that - go the ball to the Rovers left, then passed to a forward outside the D. Surrounded by 3 Rover defenders the guy curls a speculative shot that spectacularly tucks under and inside the far upper 90. Rovers 0-2.
Still it was a match the Rovers should have turned. Again they created chance after chance after chance but without the clinical Pugli, could not find the net. Finally with 20 to go, Einar found Jordi on the left, he beat his marker deep cut inside, and got the ball in the middle where Andy slid it home. Rovers 1-2.
Comeback on, right ? Almost. Next attack the ball is incredible saved from a Wiggi header and Fonzie pushes it surely past the line, but it hits Alex and goes wide ! And from the cross, the ball is rolling on the line, Alex toes it - surely the equalizer - but somehow he toes it in a parabolically outward trajectory and around the far post ! (dont ask i cannot explain it). And this was not nearly the last Rover chance. Many followed. With 5 to go, Oren crosses just inside the six. Austin is there to prolifically get another important goal, but he loses the ball in the floodlights and lets it glance of his forehead and into the waiting lap of the polish keeper. Finally, in extra time, Sam gets it through the middle inside the area but scuffs it once again at the keeper.
A very important 3 point wasted that the Rovers will need to make up during the season if they are to repeat last years playoff appearance.
Team: Dave Borchard, Sam Wiggin, Vidar Ekehaug, Randi Lee, Andy Abramovits, Einar Benedktsson, Colin Marshall, Jordan Chirico, Oren Nhaissi, Alfonzo Nanclares, Alex Cruz. Subs (all played) Sam Minaya, Austin Harris


Stan Mielec Res 2 Barnstonworth Rovers Res 5
The Reserves, reinforced with a reappearance from Mike Alexander and a fitness run from Baskin, scored 3 in the first half to kill off the hapless poles. The first 2 came from good finishes inside the area by Yannick, the third a nice far post finish by Stavros. Austin set up all 3 of the goals. In the second half, Baskin made in 4 with a shot from inside the area and Sam rounded up the scoring after a breakaway. Late on, the many unfamiliar changes in the back to allow some players to play on the top half of the pitch ruined the clean sheet the stellar Kaplan performance deserved.
Team: Mat Kaplan, Mike Alexander, Stefan Lysak, Simon Caton, Daniel Cardozo, Stavros Zomopoulos, Ron Baskin, Stash Rutkowski, Nick Reynolds, Austin Harris, Yannick James. Subs (played) Alex Carabano, Sam Minaya