Ever since I was a young boy,From Soho down to Brighton
I must have played them all.
But I ain't seen nothing like him
In any amusement hall...
That deaf dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pin ball !
When Tommy stepped on the field last night he didn’t know he would be driving home with a hat-trick in his pocket and man of the match honors. Due partly to Rancher Willie arriving late, having to drive to Alexandria from Gainsville, Tommy got the call to start up-top as a striker. After a stern lecture at midfield for a three-touch game, all passing and no individual heroics, the first goal came in what can be described as Pinball. The ball was passed forward, backward, and out the right flank, back to the center, then back out to the right again with George B providing the a final pass inside to Tommy who played it back to George, who scored the opening goal. Text book...but with that assist Tommy was just getting started.
On the field last night Tedd returned to the match after an long convalescent to run the midfield. Gene was in net with Marcus visiting from out of town (George Guest) stepping if for Karl. Jorge would come with Mauricio and play sweeper for us, running down every ball now that we lost Jan to the summer move cycle...Jan will be trying to play soccer down with the alligators and crawfish in Louisiana…not likely he will find a match. Greg started as right fullback. Luke arrived just at kickoff and had to wait his turn to enter the match. George B started as right half-back, Alfredo was left half-back leaving Mooch to play in the mid-field with Tedd and Dave N to start up-top with Tommy.
Playing Mt Vernon is never easy, Jon and Tasso take the game seriously and you’ll never see Mt Vernon backing down from a challenge even though we did take the slide tackle off the table. Their big defenders, including Alex, were all on hand for the battle.
Orangemen settled into the match and controlled the first 15 minutes with really good passing and then we got tired early or Mt. Vernon stepped it up. They pressed hard for the next twenty minutes but were unable to break through our defense, in part because we let Luke join the game and he’s like a defensive Hoover Dam when he steps into a challenge.
But after those fifteen minutes of pressure Mt. Vernon backed off a little and we were able to break out of our end. Tommy played a exceptional ball straight up the middle to Mooch who found himself alone with the ball running straight at the keeper. At the top of the box he looked up and saw the keeper still on the line. He was still alone and had precious nano-seconds to make a decision. Because the keeper was still on his line the entire far post was becoming so instead of throwing any feigns the keepers way, Mooch just put his head down and struck the ball far post. The keeper read every intention and has sufficient position to make the save, but only to block the ball down in the marauding straight line run of George, who unfortunately used is adrenaline to crush the ball high and over the net. But the stage was set as Mt Vernon realized they would have to defend and couldn’t commit so many men forward into the attack because we were too strong through the midfield and could easily counter.
We continued to push forward and had several more breaks. Another one came through the center with the ball being played forward to Wilie’s feet(who joined us from his ranch finally) and then back to Tommy. Tommy had the option to play it wide to Mooch but choose instead to have a strike. He played the perfect shot which he floated to the far top right post corner with most on the field thinking it would go over the crossbar, but it drop just over the keepers fingertips and into the back of the net. Tommy would score one more just before half time, again with a series of passing that found in the box, his first shot the he scuffed, but the ball was deflected bounced into space, which Tommy found he had a second chance to finish, and this time he did.
Mt Vernon was able score their first goal before half-time but we took the break being up 3 to 1.
Second half Mt Vernon demonstrated they were not gonna go down without a fight and threw everything they had at us. The bagged one off a set piece after a Luke left his feet and the ref felt he was sliding. The shot came in and Gene deflected it and the Mt Vernon played scored an easy goal, however it was called back because the Mt. Vernon player was in an offsides position. We got lucky on that one, but Mt Vernon wasn’t finished. They clearly had momentum and we need to alleviate the pressure. We had several opportunities but the goal came off a corner kick. There was a scramble the ball came into Tommy at the top of the 6 yard box. It bounced up and Tommy turned on it and buried it in the net. Mt Vernon called out for a handball saying Tommy controlled it with his hand. The Ref was hearing none of it. Mooch who was looking straight at the play didn’t see Tommy control it with his hand but ran up to Tommy to ask him if he handled the ball given the thunderous appeal coming from Mt Vernon team members. As Tommy was telling him that the ball brushed the back of his hand, and indicated that to the Ref as well, Tasso issued a few choice words out of frustration lodged at Mooch for his complete lack of integrity. Mooch immediately turned to Tasso and told him what he thought in no uncertain terms. The ref had to intervene, however made the decision that the goal would stand because there was no intentional handling of the ball, it was inadvertent and didn't change the direction of the ball, it was just bouncing straight up and even with no hands, Tommy was going to make that shot. Tasso, apologized for his outburst and him and Mooch hugged into out as they went back for the kick-off.
Orange was not up 4 to 1, but Mt Vernon was still not through. They were coming for us and were able to score a second and then a third as the Orangemen committed numbers back to defense to try to preserve a victory. Special thanks to Willy who recognized a tiring defense and came all the way back to help Jorge in the box.
When the final whistle came the Orangemen had defeated Mt Vernon on their home field 4 to 3. A well fought victory which was a fun and fair match...which was even acknowledged by Mt Vernon in a very sportsmanlike manner. Well done Orangemen.
