A big part of the run of insipid results for the Legends was the difficulty in rousing a full squad.  The optimum game day number had been determined to be 15, but they had managed that number only once in five games including this one.  Against a seemingly resurgent Banatul it was only a few last minute entreaties that established the bare minimum 11 with Mazzi altering his plans to come to the rescue.  Meanwhile the opposition showed up with a full 16 and ready to play across the vast plains of Field #75, a field that could not be less conducive to trying to preserve energy for 90 minutes.

The team started with a 4-4-1 while waiting for Mazzi to arrive, but fairly quickly discovered that Banatul’s record flattered to deceive as most of their cast of characters remained the same.  One of the only teams in the league that made the Legends look positively youthful, they inexplicably chose to play a high line.  The referee blew the whistle a few times but given the (relative) speed of Accordino and Teesdale on the outside this seemed a full hardy strategy.  Meanwhile just when the Legends looked set with 11, Pattinson pulled his groin and had to move from his string pulling defensive midfielder position to forward, gamely wandering around as much as he could.  There was good news too for the Legends though as Teesdale’s superb strike off the underside of the crossbar from a corner gave the Legends a priceless lead.

At half time it was clear the Legends had a real shot at winning, especially since a couple of years previously they had done just that with only 11 players.  It was not going to be a cake walk on the large field however as Banatul were showing good attacking prowess with through balls.  To counter this the Legends were urged to fall back deeper, leaving less space for the through balls and increasing the congesting within the middle of the pitch.  Banatul started launching long balls from the back which CPR were quite comfortable in clearing.  Although the opposition were getting their fair share of chances there were plenty of chances opening up for CPR as well on the counter attack.  Unfortunately it looked like the rearguard would be all for naught as Teesdale looked to go from hero to villain with contact in the box to a Banatul defender who gleefully went down like he’d been shot.  Although it looked like a very soft penalty, in this league it was too close for comfort.  The first crumb of encouragement for the Legends was the distinct reluctance of any Banatul player to step up to take the penalty.  When one finally did, his weak effort was smothered by Vamvouris and the follow up panicked way over the bar.

The air distinctly ebbed out of Banatul while the Legends were given a new lease of life.  The Banatul goalie had to rush out to narrowly beat Teesdale to a one on one and Accordino missed a sitter, but finally the Legends got what they deserved.  Another breakaway saw D’Andrea in acres of space with only a single defender to beat.  Cutting back and forth while ambling closer to the goal he finally got within shooting range and tucked the ball away as befits the Legends all-time scorer.  This turned out to mercifully be the last kick of the game.

	D’Andrea took all the time he wanted, twisting and turning the hapless defender before slotting the ball away

With all signs pointing to a grim outcome the Legends somehow managed a victory to take them into second place and a playoff position with a game in hand.  One hopes they can keep the momentum up for the next few games left in the Autumn season.

Competition: Banatul, League Opposition

Location: Randall’s Island Field #75, Randall’s Island

Conditions: Gorgeous Sunday morning, almost too warm

Fans: None.

Result: 2-0, HT: 1-0

Goals: 1-0: Teesdale

2-0: D’Andrea Assist Mazzi

Yellow Cards: An irate Steve Roberts after yet another dirty play by a Banatul player

Red Cards: None

Mike D’s aka No Shows: None

Conboy’s aka Reverse Mike D’s: Mazzi with a welcome last minute appearance

”Mr. Glass” Fragility/Old Man Injury Award: Tom Pattinson disobeyed strict orders not to pull anything with a groin pull, but manfully wandered around the pitch and even took a few corners

Old Man of the Match:  Strong arguments to be had, but Teesdale narrowly edged out Telly with not just the goal but a bustling performance all over the pitch.  In addition to Telly’s penalty save, Accordino gets an honorary mention and would have had a stronger case for OMoM if he hadn’t missed an open goal in the second half.

Old Man of the Bar: Resnik put in a valiant performance on the field and at the bar after getting home at 3am the night before.

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

Statistic of the week: Finally the first defensive shutout, one that was thoroughly earned all across the field.

Team Bar Showing: 6 out of 11 (55%)

Team Bar Night: 3.5 out of 5. More than half the team made it to the bar and hung around for a fair bit with CPR Orange. 

Team (No new profiles this week): Telly Vamvouris (GK), Drew Faherty (DF), Mark Resnik (DF), Steve Roberts (DF), Oliver Roberts (DF), Eduardo Mazzi (DF), Steve Teesdale, Manohar Venkataraman, Tom Pattinson, Tom Accordino, Willian D’Andrea

A troubling aspect of the current season is the difficulty in rallying enough squad members for games each week.  This week in particular after much cajoling and persuasion a scant 13 were finally rounded up, including Accordino who had to leave early in the second half.  Meanwhile the opposition only had 11, but certainly seemed in better shape and able to handle the full 90.  Unfamiliarity with positions showed early on with a lack of coordination and team work especially while putting pressure on the opponents.  CPR certainly seemed sluggish compared to their opponents and most of the game was played in the center until an unfortunate mistake at the back led to a simple finish for Barnstonworth.

Despite only playing with 11 Barnstonworth were able to continue putting more pressure on the Legends, who were having trouble maintaining possession in the middle and up front.  Players wandering out of position and not holding the ball up increased the frustration level.  Finally CPR were able to take advantage of the field player playing in goal as Rosenbloom carried the ball 30 yards before calmly slotting the ball into the side netting from outside the box.

At the half CPR still held out hope that an extra substitute would help them but the superior fitness and speed of the opponents negated the advantage.  Although the game looked like a potential stalemate it was another defensive blunder from the Legends that gifted a goal to Barnstonworth.  A hopeful chip in to the area seemed to pose no danger but was inexplicably allowed to bounce at the 3 yard line, the opposition right back nipping in gleefully to score as the several defenders and goalie glaring balefully at each other.  With a distinct lack of speed up front CPR tried to throw more players further up in a numbers game but could not generate any decent chances.  In the end Barnstonworth were the ones who took advantage, a keystone kops comedic sketch in the box finally culminating in a Barnstonworth clincher with the last kick of the game.

It is hard to become too dispirited with the Legends play given the constraints they are playing under.   They won’t get any younger or fitter (or on occasion less hungover).  At this point, they are what they are.

Competition: Barnstonworth Rovers Veterans, League Opposition

Location: Randall’s Island Field #73, Randall’s Island

Conditions: Another lovely Sunday morning.

Fans: Steve Roberts the younger.

Result: 1-3, HT: 1-1

Goals: 1-0: Rosenbloom

Yellow Cards: None.

Red Cards: None

Mike D’s aka No Shows: None

Conboy’s aka Reverse Mike D’s: None.

”Mr. Glass” Fragility/Old Man Injury Award: None despite the paucity of subs

Old Man of the Match:  None, after that dispiriting loss.

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

Statistic of the week: Goals either come in bunches or barely at all.  More alarming is the collapse of the usually solid defence.  Not only have there been no shutouts, but no defensive assists either and not less than a goal conceded per game.  Both aspects of the game have to be improved to avoid a lost year.

Team Bar Showing: 6 out of 15 (40%)

Team Bar Night: 3.5 out of 5. Almost 50% with decent longevity counts as above average nowadays, especially coupled with the Grays hanging out. 

Team (No new profiles this week): Telly Vamvouris (GK), Drew Faherty, Mark Resnik (DF), Steve Roberts (DF), Oliver Roberts (DF), Eduardo Mazzi (DF), Bill Rigby (DF), Steve Teesdale, Manohar Venkataraman, Bevan Rosenbloom, Tom Pattinson, Tom Accordino, John Hodges

Cup games for the Legends typically have all the allure of a walk to the Gallows.  The Marth state cup usually draws the Legends against Over 30’s teams who tend to have a significant competitive advantage.  This has led to an overall cup record of 0-8, a record unlikely to be challenged against a Polonez team from Long Island.  As has been surprisingly prevalent this Autumn, the Legends had to scratch and claw to gather a full squad, but that wasn’t apparent given the energetic start they made to the game.  The Legends went toe to toe with Polonez and indeed had the best chance of the early exchanges, a searching cross from Solinas producing a header from Sobczak that bounced off the top of the crossbar.  After the initial skirmishes Polonez started to tighten the screws with a succession of corners but the Legends were able to scramble the balls out.  Eventually the pressure struck as the opponents were finally able to convert their pressure into a goal.

At half time it looked like it would be an uphill battle, but seeing as it was a cup game the Legends were prepared to throw the kitchen sink at Polonez if it came to that.  Sadly, it didn’t.  The age difference really started to tell, along with the difference is size, skill and stamina.  Hodges was bullied off the ball to convert a second goal.  Pressure on the defence resulted in an unfortunate own goal by Accordino.  Bullish strength held off Belizan and a clinical finish produced yet another goal.  Meanwhile the Legends tried valiantly but could not produce any rewards for their efforts.  Once Pattinson went off with a head injury the quality of their set pieces drastically lowered, with balls barely beating the first defender.  Venkataraman thrashed a ball narrowly wide, the same fate that met a shot from D’andrea.  Sobczak hit a ball with venom but straight at the keeper.  It was to be one of those days.

The 6-0 loss was nothing to be ashamed of against that team, and the silver lining was that the Legends played perhaps some of their best football this season.  If they are able to keep up the tempo against teams more their age then they should have a chance to edge up in the league.

	The Legends can’t wait to start playing teams their own age

Competition: Polonez, State Cup LI Team

Location: Randall’s Island Field #73, Randall’s Island

Conditions: Gorgeous

Fans: None

Result: 0-6, HT: 0-1

Goals:

Yellow Cards: None

Red Cards: None

Mike D’s aka No Shows: None

Conboy’s aka Reverse Mike D’s: None

”Mr. Glass” Fragility/Old Man Injury Award: Telly hurt his leg resulting in kicks needing to be taken by Defenders.  Pattinson suffered a head injury but thanks to the generous Over 37 concussion protocols (walk it off) was able to get back on to the field in the second half.

Old Man of the Match:  With a tense atmosphere after having lost the game and their cool, there was no discussion of OMoM.

Old Man of the Bar: Venkataraman put in a solid shift as one of the Tier 1s, making it to a secondary bar with CPR Orange.

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

Statistic of the week: Although due to two games with extenuating circumstances, the alarming goals conceded by the Legends looks well on the way to breaking a record.  The 21 conceded in 5 games already matches the entire 2013-2014 season and is only one less than the 2012-2013 season.  After a 27 game streak of scoring, the Legends have now been shut out in 2 of their last 3 games.  The ship needs to be righted ASAP.

Team Bar Showing: 2 out of 14 (14%)

Team Bar Night: 2 out of 5. Only two made it out but there was decent longevity with Mad River proving to be a good host.  Welcome representatives of 3 other teams also helped.

Team (No new profiles this week): Telly Vamvouris (GK), Drew Faherty (DF), Mark Resnik (DF), Steve Roberts (DF), Luciano Belizan (DF), Tom Accordino (DF), Steve Teesdale (DF), John Hodges, Tom Pattinson, Manohar Venkataraman, Willian D’Andrea, Sebastian Sobczak, Willian d’Andrea, Jose Castilla