Results: Old Boys 9-Nov-08 vs CPR

Barnstonworth Old Boys - 3 Central Park Rangers - 1

It's always a pleasure to beat these guys, whichever division we're playing them in. And they always give us a tough game, and Sunday was no exception.

BOB took 16 players out to Forest Hills HS, and needed a contribution from everyone to see off CPR, who started much brighter than we did and put us under pressure for much of the first half. It took us a while to get into our stride and struggled to really get anything going early on. Defensively though, we were once again strong - 4 goals conceded in 7 league games tells its own story - although I probably had to deal with more shots in the first half an hour than I had in the last 3 or 4 games. But we succeeded in limiting them to long-range efforts, and for once the keeper's handling seemed to be fairly reliable.

CPR were the first to score though, as the first half wound up. We conceded a free-kick about 15 yards outside the box, which was floated towards the back post. For once, we were complacent and thinking the ball would head out for a goal kick, we allowed a CPR player to get round the back and squeeze the ball inside the post from a tight angle. I got a hand to it, but couldn't prevent it from sneaking in - had I been more on my toes and in a better position, it would have been a routine stop. An earlier ankle injury (which now has me on crutches and out of action for a while) is the official exuse!

So into half time and a goal down... but as soon as the second half started, we began to impose ourselves more and more. The equalizer came from a sweeping move, that found Fergal free on the right of midfield. Stepping forward, he sent the ball across the top of the box, which eluded 2 or 3 defenders and found Unmackers unmarked and in a position he rarely misses from... and he duly dispatched his 14th goal of the season neatly into the bottom corner giving the keeper no chance.

The game was finely balanced at this point and either team could have gone on to win. Their main danger from central midfield, a tall skillful player was being well-marshalled by Chip & Billy, but he did get through on a fortunate ball once to go one on one with the keeper... who used his (ahem) imposing frame to close down the angles and force the shot wide.

We used our subs well, and the longer the game went on, the more control we took and the more the opposition tired. The go-ahead goal would have made Rory Delap (Stoke City long throw-in specialist) proud. Greg launched a ball into the middle of a congested box, the keeper went to claim it, but let it through his hands. Jeff was right behind him and managed to get something on the ball (knee, thigh, bollock, who cares?) to bundle it home before he ended up in the net himself.

We had several chances to put the game away before Cesar finally did with the assistance of the CPR keeper. A not-very-hard-shot-at-all from the edge of the box was right at the keeper, but he let it squirm under him (been there!) and it crept over the line to make the game safe.

Nice to have some support on the sidelines from the other Rovers O30s showing up for their game afterwards - to hear your goals heartily cheered warms the cockles!

So the Old Boys still maintain their unbeaten run, all the more pleasing to do so in the last couple of weeks against decent opposition - and to show the character to come from a goal down is especially encouraging. However, Tesoro continue to win every game, so it'll probably be up to us to knock them off the top of the table when the time comes.

Next week is State Cup action - a very tough trip to the Bronx to take on Div I leaders NY Dinamo.

BOB: Sheero, Rocco, Greg, Lordy, Dominator, Josh, Macca, Chip, Billy, FergalOG, Colin, Jeff, Scooby, Luxury, Negro, Unmackers.