For the first time this year the Legends got to play on their favoured field #74 at Randalls Island, although the 6pm time slot was unfortunate.  Although missing a couple of key players the great squad depth allowed CPR to have 15 available.  The setting sun was ready to be a factor but the delay in procuring the referee from the neighbouring field meant that by the time the game kicked off the winning toss only allowed about 5 minutes of glare before not being relevant anymore.  The Legends had already talked about using the small field to their advantage defensively, and very soon it looked like the key difference between both teams was going to be energy.  Banatul preferred to hold on to the ball, try to dribble and make simple passes while the Legends were looking to steal the ball and then make aggressive runs and attack when they had it.  Despite amassing several chances the Legends went behind against the run of play.  A long free kick found a Banatul player far offsides, but rather than start screaming as one and raising their hands the Legends fitfully chased the striker who took his chance well. 

This setback appeared to have no effect whatsoever on CPR because they were immediately back on the attack.  A lobbed ball saw Pritchard and the defender both physically go after the ball, with CPR this time benefitting from a somewhat charitable penalty decision.  Resnik strode forward purposefully and buried the ball with aplomb.  The Banatul frustration level started to increase, as in addition to feeling aggrieved with the decision they had no time on the ball.  At all parts of the field the moment a Banatul player had it multiple Legends swarmed him, playing the aggressive defensive style preached by management for that particular field to perfection.  The opposition didn’t help themselves by constantly trying to dribble out of trouble instead of making quick passes, and from such a turnover the Legends launched a lethal counterattack that resulted in Jee crossing the ball over for Pritchard to finally take advantage of one of his chances in front of goal to take the lead.

At half time the Legends were reminded that although they needed to keep up the frenetic energy defensively there was no reason to keep scampering after balls into touch, since the clock was their friend.  The second half put the Siege of Troy to shame as wave after wave of Legends wore out the defensive Banatul players.  Having hit the woodwork once in the first half they were to do it a couple more times, and the Banatul keeper valiantly did all he could, making some tremendous saves.  The siege was breached once (the equivalent of the death of Patroclus) by another offsides goal, but the Legends imperiously brushed aside this insult by breaching the defenses from distance, another tactic long requested.  Having said that, the 3 goals launched from distance by D’Andrea and Bernoske (2) were more than worthy to pierce the Banatul armor.  Although the majority of the opposition treated the game with equanimity as always there were a couple of dirty characters who started taking their frustration out with late tackles.  The referee apparently had a dozen final double secret probation talks with players without actually dipping into his pocket for a card.  This time the Legends did have someone on their side more than happy to equal the hard tackle score (well played El Presidente, #WIDTEO).

	The Legends surrounded the Banatul goal and didn’t stop the siege until it was sacked 5-2

Despite Banatul’s lack of mobility it was still one of best aggressively defensive performances ever made by the Legends.  If the back four can just become more aggressive physically and vocally regarding borderline offsides decisions they can make sure that CPR isn’t always on the short end of offsides decisions on both sides of the pitch.  Also, congrats to Steve O’Connell who missed the game due to becoming a Father on Friday.

Competition: Banatul, League Opposition

Location: Randalls Island #74, Randalls Island

Conditions: Pleasant fall evening

Fans: None

Result: 5-2 (2-1 at H/T)

Goals:  1:1 Resnik (Pen), Assist Pritchard

2:1 Pritchard Assist Jee

3:1 Bernoske

4:2 Bernoske

5:2 D’andrea Assist Jee

Yellow Cards: None, the referee electing to go the entire opposite direction of last week’s inconsistent disgrace and even ending the game early because of some members of the other team’s increasing bad temper

Red Card: None

Mike D’s aka No Shows: None

Conboy’s aka Reverse Mike D’s: None.

”Mr. Glass” Fragility/Old Man Injury Award: None.

Old Man of the Match: A very tight contest between Bernoske with two goals struck from distance as well as D’andrea who frustrated the opponents in the middle with his fancy footwork.  Bernoske edged the vote to win.  Both debutants Street & Kovel were extremely energetic and could easily have scored.

Old Man of the Bar: None

El Presidente (new award for Old Men who don’t make it to game but come to the bar): None.

Team Bar Showing: 8 out of 15 (53%)

Team Bar Night:  3 out of 5: Good amount of people showing up despite the distance, late hour and Breaking Bad counterprogramming at the same time.

Team (No new profiles this week): Ethan Keswin (GK), Mark Resnik (DF), Drew Faherty (DF), Lars Murray (DF), Steve Teesdale (DF), Dan Bernoske (DF), Paul Stephan, Sean Street, David Kovel, Dan Ochoa, Tony Vamvouris, Chris Jee, Manohar Venkataraman, Willan D’Andrea, Steve Pritchard

Two games were played against Argo Silver last year, both of them ending in 0-0 draws.  Having finally beaten Gjoa at Gjoa last week, the Legends were looking to break the deadlock this time as well, especially with a full complement of substitutes.  With the previous game delayed and the referee taking his time with the paperwork it was past twilight before the Rangers took the field.  With a 6:40pm scheduled start time the field was assumed to have lights, but what the field actually had could only be considered adequate by the most charitable description possible. The far side of the field almost disappeared in the shadows and passing for any distance took on a Russian roulette tinge, with the purple of Argo and red of CPR merging into one.

Although CPR started brightly (unlike the field), once the ball got to the final third Argo were able to successfully stymie all shots and passes.  They were quick and physical, nipping in front of the Rangers on numerous occasions.  They slowly started to assert themselves, but much like CPR were lacking in killer instinct or ideas in the penalty box save for one accidental shot/cross that Becker did well to save.

	Yes, the conditions were as dark as they looked

At half time the Legends discussed matching Argo’s intensity and making a change for the better.  Unfortunately during the same break the referee had decided to make a change of his own, from being upper mediocre to bad to horrendous.  The “quality” of referees in the Over 30’s league has been well documented, so a competent referee like that from the game against Gjoa allows both teams to play at their best.  At the far end of the scale was the contradictory reasoning buffoon from this game.  After allowing increasingly physical play the referee started yelling at players for falling over from the hard contact.  The inexplicable decisions were legion, starting with a mounted header from behind that resulted in a dislocated shoulder for Venkataraman with a mild talking to, then in the next 5 minutes an ordinary foul by Muro resulting in a stunning straight red.  This was soon followed by a booking for a 70-30 play won by two clear steps by Stephan that the referee blamed the ball winner for (something I’ve never seen in decades of watching football).  This degenerated a tough hard fought contest into a farce, something completely avoidable by a half decent referee.  Although the game opened up with fewer players there weren’t many more clear cut chances being created, and the game ended up in yet another 0-0 draw.

	The card shown to Stephan was the worst in memory to a CPR Over 30’s team on the pitch (off the pitch the booking to Gavin Hamilton for protesting the Referee’s self implemented ban on smoking will never be beaten)

What started as an absorbing contest will long be remembered for referee inconsistent one sided stupidity and a game that should have required night vision goggles to play in.  The Legends fervently hope they don’t see this refereeing clown any time soon.

Competition: Argo Silver, League Opposition

Location: E. 6^th street, Manhattan

Conditions: Chilly fall evening

Fans: Edmunds

Result: 0-0 (0-0 at H/T)

Goals:  N/A

Yellow Cards: Casanova, Stephan

Red Card: Technically Muro, although it was such a bad decision it scarcely warrants tracking

Mike D’s aka No Shows: None

Conboy’s aka Reverse Mike D’s: None.

”Mr. Glass” Fragility/Old Man Injury Award: Venkataraman, although hard to call it fragile when a huge galoot comes right over your back with barely a warning from the referee.

Old Man of the Match: Difficult to judge as the overall play was decent but few standouts.  Pete edged Luciano for his defensive ability combined with providing a lot of offensive support, something we should look to capitalize on in the future.

Old Man of the Bar: None this night, given the lateness of the game and the still lingering frustration with the buffoonish referee

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 17 (53%)

Team Bar Night:  3 out of 5: Given the lateness of the hour it was good that a decent amount of squad members showed up.

Team (No new profiles this week): Mark Becker (GK), Mark Resnik (DF), Pete Hahn (DF), Luciano Belizan (DF), Drew Faherty (DF), Lars Murray (DF), Paul Stephan, Dan Ochoa, Chris Muro, John Hodges, Tony Vamvouris, Chris Jee, Steve O’Connell, Manohar Venkataraman, Willan D’Andrea, Manuel Casanova, Steve Pritchard

	Team Photo before the game