Rovers Thirds (3)- NYPC FC 2 (3)
A disappointing draw on a disgraceful "pitch" leave the Rovers Metro with a lot of work to do to stake a claim for the league title. Granting a side their first point of the campaign wasn't part of the plan.
The scene was set at Commodore Barry Field, a near-condemned under-bridge American Football field, turned kind of diagonally into a makeshift soccer pitch with the liberal usage of baking flour (some of which was dispensed by a Mac(kers)Guyver contraption consisting of duct tape, a Bustelo coffee can, and a banana stroller with a hole cut out of the bottom. This was professional level stuff and I think we were all a bit shocked that we skipped the anthems before the match.
To their credit, NYPD came out physical and committed, belying their 0-2 start, and before long, hit the game's opener from about 25 yards when the shooter wasn't quickly shut down. Rovers struggled to set themselves apart on a pitch that made short controlled passing difficult, and the narrowness of the pitch made it difficult to play directly to Sergio "Menudo" Restrepo and Brandon "Oatmeal" Rowley up front. The same was true with Okey "Does the bike riding do much for MS?" Obudulu working his way at the top.
However, in what would be the first of three clawbacks, Thomas "Carlito" Obaseki finally found a bit of room in the center of the field, made a nice move to get free, and an equally nice low, hard finish to beat the keeper to his right and all were level. Phew, order restored. Somewhat. The level scoreline wouldn't survive long, as NYPD's most dominant player, a good 6' 5" giant of a man who dominated much of the middle of the pitch, found the ball at his feet at a bit of an angle at perhaps 28 yards, and looped a perfectly placed shot over James O'Krapp into nearly the upper 90 and Rovers trailed once again. With Dusan "Sir Alex Short List" Zivanovic and Tommy "Tex" Chenoweth asserting themselves in the midfield, Rovers earned a free kick from 25 yards out. Obaseki drove it hard and low to Restrepo, who expertly and without mussing up his hair backheel-flickingly deflected it to wrong foot the keeper. Rather pretty, actually. Halftime, 2-2.
It would be unfair to say either team was ever in the ascendancy at any point, but NYPD did come out of the half with a higher workrate. Early in the half, their giant midfielder took an aerial ball down a bit to set up an impressive instep volley from no closer than 35 yards, once again beating Krapp high and away. It was one of those throw up your hands goals; what are you gonna do about that? He has no business even taking that shot. Three goals from distance.
To the Rovers' credit, they didn't give up, even resorting to some pseudo headbutting and increasing being fouldedness. With about 5 minutes to spare, Rowley finally found himself free with the ball at his feet, diced his way right through the backline, and finished well to even the score. Bond "All Time" BondBond picked up a ball at midfield and made a thrilling run to see the finish gasp just wide, leaving Rovers' a little disappointed not to nick it in the end, but fair play to both teams to get a point in a mudbath.
Why was it so muddy? I don't even remember it raining?
Squad:
James Krapp (g)
Sarg "Has All the Hookups" Schlatter
Darrell "Ice-T" Crane
Derrick "Derrick's Ball" Kilfedder
Jeremy "Wint-o-green" Wine
Thomas Obaseki
Tommy Chenoweth
Bond
Juan "Neither Played Nor Coached" Gonzalez Casares
Sergio Restrepo
Brandon Rowley
Okey Obudulu
Mackers
Bruce "Dr. Feelgood" Sholltrain
Dusan Zivanovic
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