R2D2 bites the dust against the aptly named NY Skulls

Let's start out by saying we were up against a team that was clearly in training for the military, or football or any other "sport" that requires you hurl your entire weight of 180 or above at your opponent. They wanted a tear down, balls to the wall physical fight and we were not all that willing to give it to them because it seemed possible to beat them simply by being better soccer players. We were all left a bit mystified after their first goal: " how could this team be winning, we are SOOO much prettier?!?! Oh and better at soccer." We held them off the rest of the half, but were unable to get any goals ourselves.After a pep talk by our coach in which he likened out play to standing still in a room full of puppies bounding around us with no control of their bodies, we went out on the field and were unable to pull ourselves out of that mentality and gave up 3 more goals; Storm Trooper and Podgy ( I liked that one, Nic) or Scrappy, and the rest of em were able to beat us and win at their own game as we could not seem to complete a set of passes, what we are generally so good at. I have faith that, as the prettiest team in the league, we will start to win…oh and as we train a little more and remember that we really ARE good at soccer and way better than some steroid taking skull heads….A few highlights from my perspective:-Carolyn somehow staying on her feet while handling "Scrappy", a really sweet nic name considering it usually implies tiny and cute, but tough, this girl was neither tiny, nor cute.-Emily punching out a corner that was very near to going in the goal-Lara taking a sliding fall where I thought she was going to get up and have to spit out turf, instead she just came up with no skin left on her knee and blood dripping down her sock-some of steph's clean crisp passes-Lara declaring we have a weigh in the end of the week, probably implying we need to get in better shape by LOSING weight, to which I replied we all better have GAINED 10 lbs. of muscle weight
Coco

Result: 3/30/08 BRFC vs NYAC

N.Y.A.C. 0 Barnstonworth Rovers F.C. 1

It took 15 years for the Rovers to beat the mighty NYAC’s first team and it was worth the wait. Even more impressively, the Firsts triumph came in the beginning of the spring when NYAC is traditionally at its strongest (many remember a couple of 5-1 drubbings we have taken in the same juncture from this team in the past). The Rover back four were so dominant that during the first half NYAC did not have an effort at goal. But it took a Pugli poachers’ finish in the 70^th to bring the 3 points. The last 20+ minutes a collective effort and hustle protected the fine margin and the historic result.

The Rovers executed tactically as well as any Rover team has. And for the first 45 dominated proceedings; without scoring or creating a sleuth of clear chances, they set the pace, tone of the match laying the groundwork for the goal that would come later. Wiggin and Ness collapsed on the NYAC towering kneipper eliminating the NYAC main threat. Kush, Dix, Randi, Jordan and Einar stifled the favorite NYAC wide play leaving them unable to mount offensive forays the Rovers to regaining possession with ease. Andy won every aerial battle keeping the NYAC defense on the back foot.

The best chances were created from the width. Jordi got deep and swung the ball to the back post were Andy won the header but directed it wide. Puglie could have put Jodri through but chose to finish alone aiming at the keeper. Einar got to Colin corner in the middle of the area but missed the target.
Every long Dix thrown in the area was dangerous, off which, Wiggi and Andy had their efforts cleared.

With 25 mins left in the match, the Rovers gambled for all the points throwing Tom behind the front two and switching to 3-5-2. The extra player through the middle put pressure on the NYAC middle, and creating space deeper in their defense. First, Andy got deep from Jordan and Colin, then cut the ball back to Pugli. His finish was not strong enough. The next time he made amends. The Rovers won the ball, fed Einar who cut across, Tom brought it forward feeding Andy, again deep in the right side, and Puglie waited for the low driving ball across the box. He made redirecting the ball to the far post easy. Rovers 1-0.

Vidar dropped back as the Rovers morphed back to 4-4-2 giving a bit of space in the middle but hankering down. NYAC now pressed up, leaving the Rovers space for the counter. First NYAC had a set piece sail wide. The Rovers followed with 2 chances to put the match away but wrong choices in the final decisions left the one goal margin intact. The tense final 10 mins saw NYAC put a free header form the penalty spot just over the bar for their best chance of the match, and a haste Rover clearance after a mele in the box.

The Rovers fought and held on. Now, there is no club left that the Rovers have not beaten.

Team: Dave Borchard, Mark Kushemba, Jon Nessa, Sam Wiggin, Dixon Hayes, Vidar Ekehaug, Colin Marshall, Einar Benediktsson, Jordan Chirico, Andy Abramovits, Stephen Pugliese. Sub: (all played) Randi Lee, Tom Davison

Result: Reserves 3/30/08 vs NYAC Res

N.Y.A.C. Res 5 Barnstonworth Rovers Res 2

The Reserves chose the wrong match to have their worst performance since their cup exit. Intermittently facing parts or most of the Athletic Club 1^st team, the 19 deep Rovers were not up to the challenge on the day. From the start, they were disjointed, could not hold possession – something they do normally very well – and were second to the ball, often waiting for it to arrive instead of stepping to it. It was a couple of mental lapses though that provided the NYAC early breakthrough.

First a turnover in the Rover third after a Rover throw finished by a simple tap in for the waltzing NYAC forward. Reserves 0-1.

That was shortly followed by a blown marking decision with the same result. Reserves 0-2

The Reserves settled and when playing vs the NYAC Reserves in the 2^nd part of the half, they started to compete even dominate but without creating the goal that may have change the outcome.

The 2^nd half was much of the same show, but the NYAC ringers scored thrice to run up the score to 5-0.

And when it became a Reserve team match, this time the Reserves converted twice, first by an individual effort by Mahesh fighting through the NYAC lines and executing the keeper. Reserves 1-5.

Then a nice combination from the right side fell to Tom in he area for the second. Reserves 2-5.

Result will likely the Reserves 6 back from the Pancyprians and without further margin for error.

Team: Dave Borchard, Brian Schmidt, Vilhelm Klareskov, Bobby Hanifin, Mahesh Submaranian, Yuri Krym, Alfonzo Nanclares, Ron Baskin, Zach Chandis, Stavros Zomopoulos, Matt Lowe. Subs (all played) Simon Caton, Daniel Cardozo, Austin Harris, Mike Alexander, Hirofumi Takeuchi, Alex Schardt, Giancarlo Cavallo, Tom Davison

SC Eintracht 2 - Barnstonworth Rovers Thirds 4 (3/16/08)

On a cold, drippy Sunday afternoon more suited to protracted bouts of indoor drinking than anything remotely athletic, the Rovers dragged themselves to the one and only Metropolitan Oval, a surprisingly decent pitch considering it appears to have been carved out of a landfill. While the rain eventually subsided, the Rovers’ collective off-season sloth and spirits-fueled malaise lingered, making this match against a rather shocking assortment of plodding donkeys much more difficult than it had any right to be.

Eintracht started brightly, stringing together passes and generally keeping the Rovers defense on the back foot. When the Rovers did gain possession, too much was asked of forwards Gavin and Okey in the form of speculative long balls and little support. Despite physiques that can be described as approximately spherical, the Eintracht attackers continued to find holes in the Rovers third, and their work was rewarded about ten minutes in. A long throw was launched into the box. Now, limp wrists and goalkeeping do not a fortuitous combination make, evidenced by an overhand smash that wouldn’t earn Zack a starting spot on a middle school girl’s volleyball team. Likely huffing and weasing, some red and white-striped fat fuck bundled in a goal-line gift. 1-0 Eintracht.

This seemed to energize Barnstonworth, or perhaps the goal just coincided with most Rovers’ usual 2:30pm Sunday wake-up time. In any case, the team found its form behind Vincent who, looking more Lyon than PSG, began to dictate play in the middle. His link-up work with the suddenly super-fit Caesar sprung Donald, looking lively on the left, and Okey, who created much space by simply knocking everyone the hell out of his way. Bernfeld’s anarchic runs threw their midfield for a loop, while for Gavin, it was business as usual as he routinely sliced through two or three men at a time like it was the first ten minutes of Friday the 13^th. Eventually the Rovers earned a corner.

There’s much to be said about knowing one’s teammates. As Juan delivered the kick, JMoore correctly anticipated El Capitan’s patented wobbly inside-out near post lollipop, and with an athletic-come-balleretic backheel, coolly put his squad level. Game on.

With Mackers’ tough tackling on the left of defense and Eric’s commanding presence in the middle, the Rovers weren’t troubled much again that half, especially after the welcome introduction of Derek, back from a season-long exile in London and the sad demise of his bachelorhood. The only real hullabaloo occurred when a new opposition forward was introduced—a little Asian prick employed more for his jujitsu-to-the-achilles-tendon than any discernible soccer talent. Following an ordinary tussle for the ball, he delivered a petulant little left jab to Brown’s chest that surely should have garnered a red. Instead, Brown received a yellow. This is what’s called “foreshadowing.” Halftime.

It’s worth noting that Eintracht are one of those teams with “coaches”—grizzled, roly-poly old men of Eastern European extraction who talk shit to opponents from the sidelines in between furtive sips of Bukoff vodka from 8oz tin flasks. They were overheard encouraging “their” players to bait the Rovers into getting tossed out. Class, as you can see, was just oozing. For the record, everything I just typed was true, except for the vodka part, which is probably true.

In the second half the Rovers came out with purpose. After some back and forth play, Barnstonworth began to control the game, culminating in a deserved goal. Brown dispossessed an attacker down the left (who then yelped “scheizer!”—the only indication of anything remotely Bavarian about this Eintracht team), passed to Vincent, who beat one man, and sent a beautiful cross to Gavin on the right side of the box who calmly chested down and dished to Donald, waiting ten yards out. Fantastic play, great finish. 2-1.

The second goal is a bit foggier as the author was experiencing mild hallucinations by this point, the result of having too few players present. He is, however, sure it mostly involved Gavin and a cast of sorely embarrassed defenders. He did look up to see the goal go in, though, and it was an unstoppable left-footed cracker to the corner. 3-1.

It was around this time that the referee decided enough was enough. The Rovers began to be whistled for a number of phantom infractions, and one particularly glaring offsides play was allowed to continue. Zack came up with some timely saves to maintain the scoreline, but the Rovers succumbed to the pressure of twelve men, gave up an inevitable corner and after some sloppy defending, paid the price. 3-2.

At this point the officiating went from one-sided to comical. The Rovers were dominating possession but hamstrung by a cynical official. Every time Gavin beat a man, which was often, and in increasingly more elaborate ways, he was called for a foul; every time the Rovers defended with a whiff of force a yellow came out. Needless to say, Negro’s no-doubt level-headed entreaties earned him a card. It got to the point where the Rovers couldn’t attack or defend, and what’s more, the ref refused to say how much time was left. Obviously, Juan was quiet as a mouse the whole time.

Entering the 55^th minute or so, it was clear what was happening. Once again, though, it was Gavin to spoil the ref’s, er, other team’s day as he tucked a cheeky little toe poke beyond their hapless keeper. The score was 4-2 and all of a sudden there was three minutes left, quoth the ref. A fine performance from all, and a well-fought victory. The only thing missing was a proper McAleer’s celebration. Next time.

Rovers: Zachary Rubin; Eric Hamm, Jeremy Brown, Mackers and Jason Moore; Vincent Billiard, César González, Donald Robertson and Juan González Casares; Gavin Dick and Okey Obudulu. Subs: David Bernfeld, Derek Kilfedder (all played).

Result: Firsts 3/16

Brooklyn Italians 0 Barnstonworth Rovers 2

The Rovers came off the winter hiatus and beat the 2-time defending league champions 2-0 away ! Both sides were clearly under-strength and the unfit Verranzano pitch complicated matters. The Rovers, though, started and finished as the better side.
The Rovers had the chances, with Puglie missing from close range, and then when he was flagged off-sides as he slotted home on a rebound from Einar's shot. Andy worked with Baskin to go through, but again he was called back off-sides. Colin's corner was headed back to the edge of the box for Zach to blast hard and low, the effort well saved.
It was the Italians late on in the half that really spurred a golden gift. Zach was late on a mistimed tackle in the box, and the clear penalty awarded. The Italian striker completely shanked it wide. And they promplty paid the price.
With the first attack of the second half, Einar collected a Zach flick header, turned in the area and poked it to the top of the far post. Rovers 1-0.
The goal seemed to deflate the opposition and the Rovers took complete control. Accurate restarts from Colin were a constant threat and the long Dixon throws caused chaos. First a Nessa header was just wide, and then a free kick from the sideline gave Lowe an fleeting chance. The Italians only threat came on individual efforts to rush the area that were easily contained by the Rovers back four.
The seal came in the 75th min. A Colin restart was flicked in the far post, the ball dropped at the outside edge of the six where Pugli forced it home. Rovers 2-0 and second place in the bag.

Team: Brochard, Jon Nessa, Sam Wiggin, Dixon Hayes, Mark Kushemba, Ron Baskin, Zach Chandis, Colin Marshall, Einar Benedikttson, Andy Abramovits, Stephen Pugliese. Subs (all played) Randi Lee, Matt Lowe, Yuri Krym

Result: Reserves 3/16

Brooklyn Italians Rs 0 Barnstonworth Rovers Rs 3

You know it’s a mid-march match when the freezing rain is pounding, the pitch is a duck-crapp ridden tandra and your goalkeeper has not shown up. Then again, the opposition, one of the deepest and best organized clubs in the north-east, show up with only 9 with a 10 running in the dressing hut !
And it is Rover's custom to blow this opportunities - most infamusly vs CPR in a cup match several years ago. Not this time !
The Rovers 14 deep and with re-inforcements on the way, decided to start with star power - Austin - in goal. It proved to be a match winner.
The Reserves dominated posession but were rush in reading the line and in front of the goal. Yuri, had the first couple of chances and Lexi - in his first match this season - twice had goals dissallowed for marginal off-sides. 20 mins in the Rovers finally broke through. A through ball skipped to Yuri deep on the left, his cross intented for Lexi hit off the defenders back and limped pas the goalline. Reserves 1-0.
The Italians hardly touched the ball, and certainly did not threaten, except when an ill timed turnover in the back third allowed one to stroll in the area and hit a diagonal shot. Austin amazinlgy dove to his right and tipped the ball around the far post !!
The second half saw the numbers even, but the Rover domination augment. Realizing they are in a more interesting match, they passed the ball better, moved off the ball and never let the Italians get into the flow. Lowe put the match beyond doubt in the 55th. Zach, now the goalkeepr, punted, Austin now a centre forward, flicked and Lowe outsprinted the defense slotting it on touch around the sprawled keeper and inside the near post. Reserves 2-0.
The rest of the match was a serier of Rovers forrays, finally Fonzo netting the 3rd. Reserves 3-0
And the shutout registered for Austin and Zach !!

Team: Austin Haris, Mike Alexander, Randi Lee, Mahesh Subramanian, Vilhelm Klariskov, Yuri Krym, Stavros Zomopoulos, Hirofumi Takeuchi, Bobby Hanifin, Alfonzo Nanclares, Lexi Schardt. Subs (all played) Brian Schmidt, Daniel Cardozo, Simon Caton, Kurt Khaloo, Matt Lowe, Zach Chandis

R2D2 Result 3/16

R2D2 went down 6-0 against distant league leaders CPRW (who would be close to top of tables in League A really and are out of place in B).

This being said, kuddo's to the ladies who found their rhythm in second half and dominated entirely keeping possession of the ball in their opponent half for 40 out of 45 minutes.
Damage had been done but we could all feel good about it.

nicolasburniat@gmail.com