Orangemen Defeat Springfield 3 to 2 on Labor Day Weekend

Jermaine in Flight

Sorry this is a late and short report this week as I’ve been once again, placed on the injured reserves.   I could write about my medical condition...but I've spend too many  blogs this year doing that...let's just say I'm getting old.

Labor day weekend screwed up the league but the showing from Orange was fantastic as we had at lease 18 players at the field.  However the home team, Fairfax Juve, canx on us early in the week forcing us to go out and find another opponent.  Robbie from Springfield’s opponent also balked, but because Robbie has players who actually like to play, was able to field a team.  So we used the Juve field, hired a ref and split the cost.  Game On!

Springfield has been have serious success this season going most of the Spring/Summer undefeated, and the last game we played with them, only six weeks ago, was barnstormer...and we suffered two pretty serious injuries, not due to Springfield’s play, just the competitive nature of the match.

The game was also very competitive.  But we had an all star cast of performers on the field including John H, Jose the younger, Matt A, Tommy, Bernie, Jan, Will H, Mauricio, Alfredo, with Kendall, and Jermaine up top.  We also had Chris show up to split time in the net with Gene and Greg, Steve H, Karl, and Scott F on the pitch to shore up our defence.  I iwll note it was Jan’s first game back since the shoulder separation against Springfield six weeks ago.

It was a highly competitive match.  We were going end to end with plenty of opportunities up front.  And much better distribution of the ball than last week.

Matt, who should always be taking our throw in’s, was heaving the ball from the slide lines to the far post...this is as effective as one of Tedd’s corner kicks.  On one throw the ball went far side, was headed back across the goal, and Jose was able to get his neck behind the ball and direct it in for our first goal.

Springfield was playing their typical ball control, Barcelona style, of play. Relentlessly passing the  ball with an entire squad of strong and shorter stature players who all look like Lionel Messi from behind.  Strong on the ball, exceptional control, and great passers.  The two goals they scored on us they practically walked into the net.

But because Jose had pulled a goal back, the game was not out of reach and we were playing well.  If fitness could hold out we had a shot.  And it took until the last fifteen minutes of the game to tie it up.  Jermaine took a pass between two defenders, pushed it forward, and used his gazelle legs to run through them like they were standing still.  Jermaine has Gareth Bale like speed when he gets into a free lane and can spread his wings.  He finished with a right footed shot that the keeper couldn’t handle.  We were tied.  Mooch called for a sub and made a late game change to put fresh legs on the field for the last five minutes.  As Will walked off he said to Mooch, “If you want to win keep Jermaine on the field”.  Mooch kept Jermaine on the field, and wouldn’t you know, we had repeat performance.  Jermaine took a pass right between two defenders, pushed it past them and used is gazelle like speed to run past them for another right foot strike past the keeper.  The Orangemen we up 3 to 2.  A wonderful late goal and we could just hang on, a long awaited victory for the Orangemen.  We hung on for the remaining minutes and took the victory home on labor day weekend.

Good job fellas!  Sorry it took all week for us to re-live the glory of the past weekend.