12/16/12
Brandon Levy & Baha’a Ahmed added to their season tally to lead CPR Blacks over Bravehearts 2-1.
CPR Blacks end Fall league of season 7-1-2 and sit in 2nd place behind Grenadier Zenith.
CPR Blacks return to action Spring 2013 to continue their season.
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There were just a few games today as we head into the winter break:
Mens White thumped Hoboken FC, 7-1
Mens White Reserves beat Hoboken FC, 2-1
Mens Black beat FCNY Bravehearts, 2-1
Happy Holidays to all, and stay safe!
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just a few games on the slate:
Mens White vs Hoboken FC, 2pm Randalls #75
Mens White Reserves vs Hoboken FC, 12 noon Randalls #75
Mens Black at FCNY Bravehearts, 6pm Randalls #74
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The Whites traveled to Boonton, New Jersey Sunday afternoon to take on NY Croatia. Conditions were less than ideal with a relatively muddy, yet surprisingly slippery pitch and intermittent bouts of showers. It was virtually impossible to cut or make any fast movements, severely hindering the Whites and making the match was about as sloppy as the weather. CPR found it extremely difficult to get the ball down and play, but despite these frustrations battled on. Midway through the first half the Whites began to find some space and were finally able to control possession for some longer spells. The visitors managed to create a few half chances, while Croatia continuously smashed long balls down the field aimed at their pacey strikers in a hit and hope manner. Ben and the CPR back line did well to stay on their feet in the slick conditions while cleaning up the nagging Croatian attacks.
CPR were clearly the better team throughout the second half controlling a significant majority of possession and creating far more chances. Croatia were lucky to escape a few times with hectic scrambles in front of their net to clear the ball after a barrage of CPR shots. The break through finally came when a ball cut back from the end line was driven into the lower corner by Lasse. Just when it looked like CPR would make it off this treacherous field with three points, a NY Croatia forward snuck onto the end of a through ball with a few minutes left. Unfortunately, Ben slipped on his first attempt to rush off the line. The delay cost him as he brought down the Croatia player for a penalty and red card. An unlucky slip put Mike Ne in net, who was not able to stop the ensuing penalty for the unfortunate result. CPR pressed on down a man, with Lasse streaking forward for one last chance, but his effort was stopped by the Croatian keeper. A disappointing 1-1 draw for the Whites.
Squad: Ben (GK), Mike Ne (D), Mike Ni (D), Nick (D), Matt (D), Shane (M), Conor (M), Westy (M), Lasse (M), George (M), Kwesi (F)
Subs: Eli, Carlos, Riso
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The Reserves journeyed into the heart of the Dirty Jerz for a match-up against league bottom dwellers – NYC Croatia. The setting was an eerie fusion of the isolated landscape from the movie ‘Deliverance’ and dated weaponary reminiscent of an Eastern Bloc military barracks. The pitch was equally unsettling, a small, uneven and muddy quagmire. However, the Reserves put together their most complete 90 minutes of football this season and claimed a convincing 2-0 victory.
Albeit against weak opposition, this was a needed confidence boost and 3 points for the Reserve squad. The Reserves endless onslaught of attack disappointingly only produced two goals. Despite the lackluster finishing, the Reserves did show significant progress to implement Eli “Pep” Vovsha’s new formation and possession oriented football. The back line was rarely challenged and any hints of danger were thwarted by a strong back line. The Reserves were composed throughout the match and created numerous dangerous chances building the attack from the backs and pushing play wide to expose the slow Croatia flank defense.
After at least four close chances, including a header careening off the post, two quality stops from the keeper and a goal mouth scrum, our leading scorer, opportunistically followed up on a shot from Brownie that the keeper parried into Norelli’s pathway. The Reserves settled into a state of complacency after the opening goal and nearly sacrificed an equalizer during a wild scramble following a set piece. Before the half-time whistle, the Reserves failed to capitalize on at least two additional close chances.
The Reserves domination continued throughout the second half but were only able to secure one more goal before the final whistle. Norelli again found pay dirt with a nice individual effort, beating a defender at the top of the penalty area before calmly slotting a left footed strike into the side net. Carlos entered the match for the second half and provided a nice offensive boost. Jon and the defense faced little action throughout the second half. The Reserves look to finish up the first half of the season with strong performance against Hoboken F.C.
Starters: Jon (G), Andy Ma (D), Mike C. (D), Pat (D), Joakim (D), Archie (M), Mike D. (M), Devin (M), Andres (M), Chris B. (M), Norelli (F)
Subs: Brian (M), Carlos (M)
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The Legends have been going through a bit of a cold streak, 4 games without a win following 4 consecutive victories. CPR had already triumphed against Hoboken earlier in the season, but had been thrashed by them during the summer and so were leery of whether Dr. Jeckyll or Mr. Hoboken would show up. A damp morning had made the surface slick, and watching the Old Boyz vs Grays derby it was clear that a continuous passing game was going to be hard to maintain.
It turned out that Hoboken had reached that part of the season that many old teams do, with the enthusiasm of the squad waning and increasing difficulty in rousing enough willing participants from what should have been a healthy sized squad. Negotiations with the tardy referee ensued, and despite having almost twice as many players as Hoboken did CPR allayed their concerns by explaining that quantity did not necessarily mean quality, and should the game get out of hand appropriate adjustments would be made to avoid a thrashing that would satisfy no one but the most statistics hungry individual (not that anyone like that was around).
Eventually the game started and to nobody’s surprise CPR dominated possession with their two men advantage. Also not to the Legends surprise the possession could not be turned into clear chances. Hoboken’s defence was clearly well drilled, and they were able to consistently render the Legends offsides with the help of a friendly referee’s whistle and CPR’s passing hesitancy. As the tension started to rise for the Legends and the specter of the ignominious 0-0 draw against similarly undermanned Argo reared its ugly head, Pritchard was on hand to deliver a pressure relieving goal. As the Legends sensed the lack of any offensive threat whatsoever they started piling forward but clear chances were slim. The woodwork was hit twice, although once was directly from a corner. The goalie not only made no mistakes but made a fantastic save from Hodges near the end of the first half.
Although Hoboken’s impotence indicated that 1-0 would hold up, that clearly was not enough for the Legends. With the referee continuing the absurd tradition of slanting decisions in favour of the undermanned team to make it more interesting for the nonexistent spectators, CPR knew that all it would take is one mindboggling decision to fritter away a guaranteed victory. The pressure started ratcheting up, and Hoboken clearly started to tire. The second bubble bursting goal finally came from an unlikely source, Teesdale lofting in a ball to the box with Venkataraman’s diving header leaving the goalie stranded. At this point everybody started buying a ticket for the goal lottery, with Hahn cashing in for a debut goal from center back and Hodges taking advantage of Pritchard’s take down to tap in an empty netter. At this point the referee decided enough was enough, with CPR unable to ascertain just how much time had been cut out of the game due to clockwatching foibles on the sideline. Incompetent referees are the norm and not the exception, but this particular pendant’s churlishness in insisting players must be completely off the field before the substitutes could make it on was the height of idiocy.
The inaugural Legend’s Fall season is at an end, and all in all it can be viewed as a cautious success. 5 Wins, a draw and 4 losses is not bad for a brand new team, and the spine of the team looks to be in good shape. For the most part numbers haven’t been an issue, and good camaraderie has ensued on and off the pitch. The one missing ingredient is a deadly striker, but that could be said for most teams. The Golden Boot at this stage is less of a race than watching old folks in a home jockeying for position in the queue waiting for their pills in the morning.
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| The thrilling race for the Legends Golden Boot continued, with Ochoa cruelly denied by the post and Venkataraman’s acrobatics pushing him ahead |
Competition: Hoboken FC, League opposition
Location: Randalls Island #74, Randalls Island
Conditions: Damp and a little cold, on par for December
Fans: None.
Result: 4-0 (1-0 at H/T)
Goals: 1:0 Pritchard assist Teesdale
2:0 Venkataraman assist Teesdale
3:0: Hahn assist Hodges
4:0 Hodges assist Pritchard
Yellow Cards: None. A couple of hard fouls but in general an even tempered game
Red Card: None.
Mike D’s aka No Shows: None
Conboy’s aka Reverse Mike D’s: Conboy
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| Back in the age of the Metroboyz the sight of Conboy galloping through the midfield was a sight to behold. Now? He was frequently caught from behind by the grumpy old northern left back. That’s a paddling |
”Mr. Glass” Fragility/Old Man Injury Award: Looks like we may have to retire the award if the general healthiness continues.
Old Man of the Match: A solid match for several of the usual suspects, even playing against 9 men. Ochoa was desperately unlucky several times, and the defence barely had anything to do except start cheating forward. However for scoring the opening & winning goal as well as creating several chances Pritchard wins the OMoM award.
Old Man of the Bar: Nothing spectacular or noteworthy.
El Presidente (new award for Old Men who don’t make it to game but come to the bar): None.
Team Bar Showing: 9 out of 16 (56%)
Team Bar Night: 4.75 out of 5: Another banner day with every team from the club represented for both depth & longevity.
Team (No new profiles this week): Jonathan Lerner (GK), Luciano Belizano (DF), Pete Hahn (DF), Andrew Faherty (DF), Lars Murray (DF), Mark Resnik (DF), Steve Teesdale (DF), Dan Bernoske, Dan Ochoa, Willian D’Andrea, Steve Pritchard, John Hodges, Tony Vamvouris, Michael Conboy, Chris Muro, Manohar Venkataraman
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12/9/12
CPR Black’s unloaded 6 goals in 2nd half to lock in much deserved convincing victory over NYPD.
Brandon Levy’s shot from penalty spot in beginning of second half tied match 2-2, from that point it was all offensive power by CPR Blacks.
Match tied at 1-1 going into halftime wasn’t an accurate score line based on dominant possession and fitness by CPR Blacks. Baha’a Ahmed was the sole scorer for Black’s in first half with a near sided strike by NYPD’s goalkeeper.
CPR Blacks controlled the run of play throughout the 90 minutes. Attacking from the opening whistle, Ahmed lated scored his second goal of the match late in 2nd half.
Total scoring tally of the match as follows: Chris Valentine, Brandon Levy, and Baha’a Ahmed all with two goals plus Serge Verdoux beating the goal in his second appearance of the season.
Final score CPR Blacks defeated NYPD 7-2.
CPR Blacks wrap up their fall leg of the season this Sunday, 16-Dec against FC Bravehearts on Randalls74 at 6pm.
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Womens Red had the weekend off
Women’s White drew 0-0 with NY Smoking Aces
Mens White Reserves beat NY Croatia, 2-0
Mens White drew 1-1 with
Mens Red beat Dynamo SC, 2-0
Mens Black beat NYPD FC 7-2
Mens Grays beat the Old Boys 1-0 in the DERBY…click here for photos
Mens Legends beat Hoboken Veterans 4-0
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Minimal details and not much to add. The Eagles entered the game with a startling +40 goal difference (45 scored only 5 conceded) so the Legends knew it was going to be uphill. The Legends once again hit the crossbar but that would have been no more than a consolation. The conservative game plan to hit them on the counter while forcing them out wide still resulted in a few goals conceded from out wide, but at least CPR can gain solace from the fact they shipped the least amount of goals to the Eagles in the 6 games they have won, not counting the top of the table 0-0 draw they had against Mega FC.
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Yup, free gifts… just not for you. 
It’s our Annual Holiday Drinks & Toys for Tots event on Wed, Dec 12th! We’ll be collecting new toys to give to deserving children on behalf of Central Park Rangers.
Last year, we collected over 50 toys. This season, let’s see if we can’t beat that number… and also have a few drinks with teammates and friends to spread some holiday cheer. So swing by after work, starting at 6pm until whenever. I’m sure we’ll be there late. And just because you’ve made Santa’s Nice List, Heinekins and Amstels are only $3!!!
Please spread the word!
(FYI – Toys should be new and in original packaging, and NOT gift-wrapped. No stuffed animals, unless they’re pre-packaged or boxed.)
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