Spring in Janurary - Orangemen vs Great Pretenders

Perhaps I should re-figure the time and location of Orangemen games.  On a near springtime day in mid January, last Saturday at 11:30 am at Patriot Park, 24 Orangemen came to a match.  That rivals the turnout for our Family Night back in the Fall and had it been a home game and I was collecting funds, it would have been a windfall!

With 24 players it was going to be hard to monitor substitutes and give everyone something close to half a game playing time.  But Mooch tried hard.  The game itself, against the Great Pretenders, was decent enough,  I think at the end the final was 2 to 3...we lost, but not by much.

Because most players really didn't get a full run, and the field was open at the end of our game, we stayed for another 45 minutes playing a 8 v 8 sided pick-up game.  It was a load of fun and gave everyone who needed extra time the chance to get their Saturday run in.

Since I've waited a week, I can’t think of much more...but here are a few bullets that come to mind.

Chris H played the second half in goal...apologies for pulling Gene and not putting him back in the second half.

Great Pretenders player earned a red card for dissent.

Gorilla Greg went up for a ball, and came down hard.

Jan also went down hard and injured his already tender ribs.

Eric made one of his infrequent Cameo appearances.

John E also made a cameo and did well stepping in for Eric or Tedd in central midfield.

Chris B and Jim L senior made rare appearances.

Banana Fana Tedd

In the morning it was looking like another cold one. Mooch still couldn’t feel his feet from the game against Agosto the week before. But by the 3 pm game time the temperature was downright balmy...well maybe not balmy but it had increased to the high forties and there was no wind. It was a great day to engage with our nemesis from Chantilly, the Casuals under the leadership of long time Grey League Manager Dick C.

As the Orangemen collected at Arrowbrook Park a touch game of American Football was being played on the field. Arrowbrook is the only field in Fairfax County dedicated to strictly soccer...but those American Footballers will always find a field to play on.

Orangemen had a good turnout, except in the defensive 3rd of the field. No of our regular sweepers turned out, and Sam was missing from his signature left back position. As the game began Mooch fielded a brand new defensive four...with Karl being the only regular at right back. The Casuals were, rather casual as they scored their first and second goal. Basically there were two rather nothing plays that resulted in the ball being walked right into the net. This prompted Jose to ask if I wanted him to play sweeper. Jose, who has played sweeper many times for the Orangemen, could have been considered a regular for us in defense year ago. But not any more. It didn’t take Mooch a second thought to shift the defense around to allow Jose to take charge in the back.

Aside from the crappy first couple of goals that were scored against us we played very well We are passing perhaps better than we’ve ever passed before. Multiple combinations of passes right out of the back and down the field. If we can keep this kind of passing the tide will turn for the Orangemen, I can guarantee it.

We had plenty of opportunities up top. Mooch had multiple shots on goal as did Tedd and B. Tedd was dialing in a new pair of shoes, but should be awarded goal of the game for scoring from a corner kick. I haven’t seen a successful banana kick like that in years. As Tedd dialed it in he kept coming closer and closer finally drilling the cross bar on one fabulous strike. Tedd had about 5 goal scoring opportunities but only came away with one on the fabulous banana kick. On another day he would have done far greater damage to the casuals.

B however, was once again running down every ball and creating opportunity after opportunity for the Orangemen. B get’s man of the match for scoring 2 goals. One a magnificent header where he had to out jump players twice his height. And one from a throw in from Gooch to Mooch, who related it to Tedd, who slotted it across the goal for B to finish. That’s good passing gentlemen.

Cold Feet and Red Card

When we awakened on Saturday morning the first thing we to notice was the dusting of snow on the ground and the sleet falling from the sky. First instinct was that the Orangemen game would be cancelled. Mooch checked the weather and it showed by noon the precipitation would end the the temperature would rise above freezing. Having been cooped up all week Mooch was not interested in cancelling the game although during the day several, shall we say fair weather players, called to announced they wouldn't be making it. As it turns out our numbers we already down. Mooch sent out a plea for more participation and with Pete responding.

I don’t remember playing at Oak Marr in Oakton Virginia previously, but there’s always a first, and if it not a first, certainly a first on the new turf field recently installed there. As we arrived the first thing we noticed, other than it was a new field, was that the field was poorly installed. This was the first turf field that I have come across that didn’t shed it’s water. In fact there were standing pools of water all over the field. What’s worse is that the temperature was in the low thirties. An the wind was blowing. It was going to be a cold night of soccer for the Orangemen and I lost the feeling in my feet early on.

Our opponent hosting us this Saturday night was Agosto FC. They are a very good team and perhaps shouldn’t be playing down in the grey division. Maybe just for the Winter Season.

The final score was 2 to 6 or there about...my brain was frozen as well as my feet. We played very well, our passing was good. Kurt had to step up his game as the wind kept most of the play on the left side of midfield, Kurt’s position. He saw more of the ball in 15 minutes than he’s seen all year.

Pete brought Jeff H to play in the net because Gene said he wasn’t coming...he’s apparently afraid of a little snow. Jeff did great for us. Gene played in the field as a defender and had some wonderful touches on the ball and passes into midfield. We may try Gene in the position from time to time.

Thanks to Pete for making the drive down from Baltimore and bringing some players. Sadly Pete missed some goals that really would have turned the score around. He missed a 1 v 1 with the keeper and then missed a chip over the keepers head for a certain goal...but we created the opportunities so it was promising. 

Tedd hit a perfect goal with his signature left footed blast. High into the left side corner netting. He was breaking in a new pair of orange shoes that he claims he gets to wear because I no longer let him wear orange socks. Socks or no socks did I mention my feet were cold.

Agosto has a few players who play extremely dirty. Fortunately one of the players in question was spotted by the ref. When this player attempted to start a fight the ref rightfully produced a red card and sent him to the parking lot. It remains uncertain as to whether the player actually made it to the parking lot.

My feet were still numb in the morning...