It was another epic Orangemen match-up with Mt Vernon, and although the result was not entirely satisfactory, it was fun game with excellent contribution by all. Only minor breakdowns and each end of the field held us from victory.
The ref started us promptly at 9, which was a pleasant surprise, and was an indication of a match that was about to be very well refereed. We drew first blood, but they drew more (literally and figuratively – four stitched for those who were making odds).
In the military, we have a doctrinal approach to training our weapons on target, that we describe as “the kill chain”. Loosely, this is the steps that need to be taken to destroy the objective (search, identify, track, target, engage, check – in all these steps speed is highly valued). Last night, our first goal had a chain of its own, that should prove the model for our future attacks. The chain consisted of at least five deft Orangemen passes from our defending end into the Mt Vernon eighteen. Forgive me if I miss a pass or two, but the right back (Matt at the time) advanced the ball on the right outside to Dave who was nicely dropping back to “show” and one-timed it to Ben, who in classic Ben style controlled the ball through a challenging Mt Vernon player or two and fed the ball to Tedd as he approached our right side of their eighteen. After shifting the ball left (any surprise?), Tedd was thinking shot, but, out of the corner of his eye saw Kendal, who slipped inside the Mt Vernon right back. So Tedd made the easy play and nudged him the ball. After a quick move further left, Kendal blasted the ball past a helpless keeper. It was early, it was fast, and we were on top 1-0.
After that, Mt Vernon responded with two goals of their own. Three of the Mt Vernon goals were top-notch, skilled control, from inside to out, smart passes across our six (one in the air), with unstoppable finishes. The other two, were preceded by our failure to rapidly/aggressively clear the ball. Second first-half goal was similar to the first culminating with an easy pass to Alfredo, who on our right side of the Mt Vernon eighteen, made a skilled move to his right, then beat the keeper low far post. At halftime we were down 3-2.
Our shortcomings at the offensive end were characterized by poor execution and on occasion pressing an attack that was not developing in a controlled fashion (e.g., Tedd’s mediocre shot near the keeper when just inside the eighteen, the ball shifted to his left foot, and the defenders momentum right; and repeated forced passes through). However, those were balanced by solid play exemplified by another classic “kill chain” and by a set piece play. In the former, John Herbert (who after stymieing us in the first half, was back on our side) fed Tedd the ball in our defensive right towards the touch line. Meanwhile, John Hamner, exploiting the open field on the left, called for the ball, received a cross from Tedd, and advanced through the midfield unopposed. Once challenged, he made a sharp pass to Matt, who had nicely showed inside and one timed it back outside to John, who was streaking into our left outside of their eighteen. John collected the ball, shifted left, and blasted one of the hardest Orangemen shots seen in quite a while into the upper left ninety. Because the ball kept rising until well passed the fence, was so fast (light speed time-warp phenomenon), and the net was poorly hung letting the ball through, there was some confusion (on the part of some players) if it was a goal or not. But there was no doubt on the part the ref, keeper, John, and those who saw the net ripple from being nicked as the ball shot through. 3-3.
The set piece was a gorgeous direct-kick cross from just inside their half on our right side by Ben to Tedd, who was just outside our left of their six. He deflected the ball down to beat the keeper low, nearside. We were up 4-3. A while later, they knotted the score with a direct kick initially vectoring wide, when in an effort to get out of its way, Peter (who was now augmenting the Mt Vernon side), turned his back and the ball smacked off him and spun into the upper left corner – nothing Jean could do. 4-4.
Their final goal in the waning moments was skilled, and frustrated a stellar defense by Jan, Mikey, John Herbert, and Greg. Special thanks to John Herbert and Peter for helping Mt Vernon field 11, special mention to Matt for being a utility player with strong showings at both ends of the field, and a shout-out to the dozen young kids who graced the field during half-time! In summation, it was an excellent game which could have easily gone our way, but we should be proud of strong Orangemen play.
Finally, Tedd is extremely grateful for the care and kind attendance to his cut by Cori Ann, the Aldykiewiczes, Kendal, and everyone!
(Oh – lest Mooch have visions of Tedd subbing as scribe, it will only be on rainy Sunday afternoons when Tedd is kept from the pool by stitches in his eyebrow resulting from last minute Mt Vernon inadvertent elbows)
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