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.