21 July 2012 -- We played the Sterling Sting at Potomac fields near Algonkian Park yesterday. The game was on even though rain threatened a cancellation. The temperature was under 70 for the match which was terrific given the past few weeks of heat wave. I fully expected the game to be cancelled due to rain as I think we've had more games cancelled at these grass fields then we have actually played.
At full strength yesterday we had 13 players...without aid from the other team. This is a good showing. Although three were guests of the team, Adam, Nate, and Andreas. We had one of the better referees keeping the peace...very loud and in control.
We lost the match by a lopsided score, 5 to 1, although we played much better than the scoreline showed. We had plenty of the ball and moved it well when we could keep control with multiple shots coming from Scott Black, B, a tremendous thunderous strike from Adam (which was deflected by Bob), and a wayward cross by your's truly that almost found the top left corner were in not for a terrific save by their keeper. That strike resulted in a corner kick which reminds me we had at least 6 corner kicks throughout the match...so we played well up the field and and had opportunities. The goal game from a series of touches in their box initiated by Andreas keeping control of the ball, losing his marker and putting the ball into the center, after a series of bounces B was able to finish it off culminating in a just reward for his first game back since he was wheeled off the field and took an ambulance ride a few months ago.
On Defense Doug played sweeper and did a hell of a job by running down countless attacks single handed and breaking up the play. Doug was also delivering really fine goal kicks. Gene stopped a number of strikes getting his body directly behind a hard hit, wet, and hard to handle, soccer ball.
Only criticism I have this game would be we played too many balls forward looking for a quick break. Scott Black and B had their work cut out for them running down all of these balls. Even with Jose present today we would have struggled because we were not lacking for speed and both B and Scott could beat their first marker (their second marker was a different story as he was a 17 year old athlete). What was happening was these balls through or over the top were out accelerating our strikers because of the wet surface. They were landing in the right place but skipped across the surface and moved so fast either the 17 year old or their keeper, who plays striker in his day job, was on the balls faster than we could break through. A one or two second delay in the midfield, with an extra controlling touch would have worked today is my opinion.
Honorable mention today to Kurt who had a great game on the wet surface with a spectacular ball over the top to B, and Bob Ashpole for his step over in the box (intentional or not) which resulted in a fine opportunity to score.
Although word went out to curtail the tackles at half-time Floppy didn't get the word and brought one of their midfielders down seemingly from behind. As everyone will note there was no yellow card. I was right in front of the play and was actually the recipient of the ball following the tackle. Floppy was actually on the side of the midfielder when he went to ground to win the ball, which he did. He did not come in from behind although it certainly looked worse than it was from the pile of legs on the ground after the play, To tackle from behind, or any tackle where you come through the a players legs, hitting the legs first, is the heinous foul. Floppy was beside the player and his legs came from the front hooking the ball first and bringing the player down. It was certainly within the Ref's discretion to award the foul but it was not a bad as it appeared.
Andreas needs to continue to ice his knee after several tweaks during the game. But other than soreness Andreas will live to make another appearance with the Orangemen.
