Result: Reserves 11/1/09 vs NYAC (A)

N.Y.A.C. Res 2 Barnstonworth Rovers Res 3

The turnaround is complete. The Reserves are for real, and that is a good sign for BRFC. Sunday, marathon Sunday, then night after Halloween, a 10 am kick off at Pelham, a venue the club has never registered a victory. Dauntingly, the selected keeper, who also has the kit, decides not to show up or respond to the phone, leaving the Reserves with 10 at the start and Stavros between the posts !

So what ?

The Reserves have enough quality to be able to play against many 1^st teams this year. And many players that can and will play for the first team. Organized and sporting a solid back four, the Reserves held their own until Baskin arrived to make it 11. Even without their new kit, with 11 on the park, they started to spread the ball, attack the flanks and dominate the chances. At the half hour mark, Yannick did well to release Marto on the right flank. He rounded the defender to place a Jordi-like cross to the far post. Levine arriving connected powerfully to beat the excellent NYAC keeper. Reserves 1-0.

The Rovers did not stop there. Minutes later, Oren made a typical run down the same flank, outpaced the defense and swung another perfect cross to the far post. This time it was Baskin arriving there, who volleyed it with his favorite left foot for his 60^th goal for the club. Reserves 2-0.

The Reserves controlled the tempo in the beginning of the second half until NYAC finally exposed the lack of goalkeeping. A failed attempt to get to a bouncing ball in the box, the NYAC forward kept the chase and finished very well from an awfully acute angle and 2 retreating Rover defenders. Reserves 2-1.

NYAC followed with their best spell. As champions, they held the ball for many passes at a time, and constantly asked questions of the back line. They wasted a couple of well positioned free-kicks. And several good chances were blocked. Then a sustained stretch of pressure, including 3 consecutive corners, the ball swung from side to side, the winger cut inside, his shot from close range, kick saved. But the rebound fell to another NYAC forward on the other side, who slotted it home for the equalizer. Reserves 2-2.

With 10 minutes to play, one would not blame the Reserves if they were demoralized having surrendered a 2 goal lead or if they had been satisfied with a point and hunkered down to protect it. Contrarily, they made a goalkeeping change and pushed ahead. The ball broke to the left, and another pin point cross was destined for Baskin’s 61^st. He fluffed it enough for the ball to carry to Levine past the far post. He calmly touched past the defender and under the keeper. Reserves 3-2.

NYAC never really recovered. They did have a chance that was correctly – albeit surprisingly – called back for offside, and the Reserves had a historic victory and, now, a record start to a season.

Team: Stavros Zomopoulos, Bond Griffin, Stash Rutkowski, Peter Watson, Corey Dempsey, Mat Levine, Yuri Krym, Oren Nhaissi, Michael Martocci, Yannick James, Ron Baskin