Results: Reserves 12/7/08 State Cup 3rd round

NY Irish Rovers Res (LISFL) 4 Barnstonworth Rovers Res 2

Simply, Sunday was an amusing nightmare. It started only 6 players accounted for at 9:45 am and snowing, We found one in the subway, we forced a couple more from their sick bed, went around the city to pick them up, and Austin finally was allowed to leave the hospital. Off we were with what we thought we were 11 players ! Then as we were arriving at the venue Kushemba called !

The firsts playing at the same time were only 9, without a keeper but much worse –if that is possible for a cup tie - without Fonzie and the kit ! The next 45 min were spend trying to find them, then trying to get a kit and a goalie from Whitestone to the Oval !

Meanwhile the ref is telling our players on the sideline that he had a big fight w/his wife the night before and not to “F### with” him. Even Simon was bewildered. But that was just the beginnng.

Watching while trying to guide the awaken Broach to the Oval, Andy back to it and Baskin to borrow the other team’s kit and stall, I witness the ref stopping the match, running to Andrew and giving him a yellow, for asking for the ball ! The Irish with a first team out of the cup had several “fill ins.” One of them rushed past our entire line and slotted one home. Rovers 0-1.

By this time the phone call have ended, I go into the game, but from our first turnover, in go the Irish. Rovers 0-2.

Next, Simon call for the line to move up as we rush up the field. The ref stops the game with the ball in the other half, rushes to Simon and gives him a yellow. Soon it’s a comedy, everyone who opens their mouth is getting a yellow. Everytime its followed by a sarcastic “It’s a mistake” “oops another mistake, I am bad today” from the ref. Everytime we take a throw in, the ref says it was made too far behind the touchline and give the other team the ball. Meanwhile we are still trying to play football. The Irish first team keeper is warming up, but before he can get in, Yannick latches on to a ball in the area and put us back in the match. Rovers 1-2.

Austin had a shot on a turn to tie it just before the ref decides that 32 min is all that we should play and call it a half.

More Irish 1st team players arrive and are put in the match including their keeper. I inform them that in the cup you cannot do this, and that we would be protesting the match. They promptly show me, 32 – I counted them – yellow passes !

We are still trying to play football. Austin runs on a breakaway but a hapless last touch spoils it. Simon takes a cracker that nicks the outside of the far post. We are dominating.

Suddenly, the Irish find the ball in midfield, play a through ball to a guy 5 yards offside, we look at the ref, he smiles and lets him score as everyone watches. Then the ref turns to our defense and says “why are you complaining, Nigel is too good for you, he is too fast and you cannot stop him”

Despite the circumstances we are still playing and mostly dominating. Yannick get to a rebound, and again cuts the deficit to 1. Rovers 2-3.

Now we are pressing. All of a sudden the ref hears Stash. He stops the match and gives him a yellow. They ball is cleared by Willie near midfield. An irish players at midfield passes it to one of their players, camping out in our box, this time at least 10 yards off. Nobody even flinches, they guy looks back hears nothing, and puts the ball in the net. Rovers 2-4. Villie is besides himself “how can we play without rules” – and another yellow card. Austin now besides himself yells, “why don’t you give me one too while you are it” and so he gets one. Alex asks for one too – and he gets one. I am now livid, and ask the ref why is he doing this and I get a yellow.

Game restarts, we have played maybe 25 mins but apparently there are only 3 min left !

George stops and yells, “how about another mistake, this time maybe a pk for us ?” Ref stops and this time a straight red. Even the Irish are now taking the piss. Things turn ugly as one of the older Irish players makes some insensitive at best, racial insulting remarks at worse to Nick. As we try to hold him back, match ends. Austin approaches the ref about what is going on. He replies “you want to f### with me, you ll see what I will do to you, you will play again next year. I ll take care of you in my report” and gives him a post match red.

We get dressed and I go to pick up the cards. Ref refuses to give back the cards unless I tell him who is #3. I had no clue who #3 was. Tell him to look at the team-sheet, but of-course he had not waited for anyone to complete and sign a team sheet prior to the start, so there are no numbers on it. Austin still wearing his kit – the #3 – hears this, comes over and signs the sheet despite my objections. Again I ask the ref, why is he doing this, the match is over 15 min ago. He threatens me in Greek no less, then gives me back the cards, keeping a few, this time including mine !

Point of the story: don’t f### with a mad Greek.

Team: Mat Kaplan, Vilhelm Klareskov, Simon Caton, Daniel Cardozo, Stefan Lysak, Stash Rutkowski, Alex Carabano, Andrew George, Nick Reynolds, Yannick James, Austin Harris, Stavros Zomopoulos