With many guys already missing, things were not looking good for the reserves with only 10 players at the field before kickoff. To the detriment of our first team chances, we had to play Kwesi for the first 25 minutes (somehow he also lasted 90 in the later game despite having a fever all week). Everton (formerly Clarkstown) turned out to be a rather weak and disorganized side, and we should have taken the lead after 5 minutes, Kwesi easily outran his defender on the left and squared the ball to captain-for-the-1st-time Norelli who made a 60 yard run and was just a fraction too late to tap it in. Everton went on the counter immediately, and Shane made a great save to keep us level. This episode was reflective of the entire first half. Everton were putting no pressure on us in the midfield whatsoever and we were easily creating chances, at the same time, we were exposed more than once when a striker would outpace our back 4 from a long ball. Midway through the half we finally got our lead when Norelli squeezed the ball to Mike Boas in the center of the box for his first of the day. He then almost found the corner flag when through 1-on-1 (Eli who shouldn’t have been playing either set him up), but atoned for it later for his 2nd when Vitaliy beat a couple of guys and found Ricki whose cross Mike turned in with aplomb.
Unlike the Rovers game, we didn’t lose a 2-0 lead this time, but it was not pretty. Everton who were playing with 10 men for most of this half, let us create chance after chance which we kept wasting until finally with some neat combination play Brent squared the ball to Mike again, the keeper made a fine stop, but the rebound fell to Vitaliy, and his follow up was stopped on the line by an Everton hand. Mike stepped up to complete his trick with a well taken penalty to the top right corner. There was time for one more, Mike turned provider with a cross to Fahad at the far post, and the latter’s shot found the bottom near corner. Final score 4-0.
Opposition: FC Everton Eagles Reserves
Date: 09.27.15
Field: Ichan Stadium
Lineup: Reid, Abubakar, Doheny, Kilb, Grey, Abikzer, Firsov, Friede, Boas, Mills, Norelli
Subs: Vovsha, Ferguson, Alshamsan
Score: W 4-0 (2-0 HT)
Goals: Boas (3), Alshamsan
Assists: Norelli, Friede, Boas
