After last week’s minimum squad numbers against a top flight team, this week showed a larger contingent ready to play a team more at their level. Manhattan Celtic were always a tough opponent and the Legends had lost to them by a solitary goal in the spring. With the unfortunate early retirement of their goalie Miller it was once again a scramble to find someone to play between the posts. Morse had volunteered from the Old Boys but one look at him when he eventually arrived showed he was in no shape to play in that important position. With few other solutions Resnik had prepared himself with a new pair of gloves and was ready to go at game time. The Legends won the toss to take the sun protected bridge side for the first half but were immediately on the back foot. The team pressed well but Manhattan Celtic were showing themselves as formidable offensively. A couple of scrambles in the box but no lethal touch let the Legend get some breathing room. With the ball out to the midfield CPR were able to pass the ball around and had some chances of their own before a lovely flowing move had Pattinson find Casanova wide open at the top of the box and he made no mistake, finishing and then celebrating in his typically exuberant Chilean way.
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| The referee was a nice guy whose been around the block, but he’s certainly susceptible to suggestion when it comes to offside calls |
The second half started exactly the same as the first, with Celtic pouring the pressure on but leaving themselves vulnerable to the counter attack. For the most part the Legends had been able to calmly handle the ball out from the back, but in this instance discretion would have been the better part of valor. Rather than hoof the ball up to the forwards they attempted to daintily play it out at the top of the box only to be dispossessed and have Celtic finish from the scramble from near the penalty area. Now that they had their tails up it was all the Rangers could do to withstand the onslaught while trying to make something happen on their own. Some good defensive work at the top took possession of the ball and spread it wide. Morales took a shot from wide that the keeper was able to parry, but Rosenbloom was on hand to tap the ball into the empty goal.
Celtic tried to thread the needle with frustrating effect, the Referee having shown himself all game susceptible to “encouragement” regarding off side calls. Whereas the Rangers had been unfairly punished on occasion Celtic certainly seemed to be more frustrated with some of the calls. With his own unique style the referee was calling out how long remained in the game, giving the Legends some extra impetus to do what they needed to close the game down. A welcome win against a tough opponent was just the tonic after last week’s embarrassment.
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| Morse did deserve kudos for showing up relatively on time to an 8am game after a 16 hour bender, but lost points for not coming to the bar post game |
Competition: Manhattan Celtic Masters, League Opposition
Location: Randall’s Island #72, Randall’s Island
Conditions: Lovely spring morning
Fans: 0
Result: 1:0 HT: 2-1
Goals: 1-0: Casanova, Assist Pattinson
2-1: Rosenbloom, Assist Morales
Yellow Cards: None, as Frazier is still on sabbatical and Celtic happened to be physical but fairly so.
Red Cards: None
Mike D’s aka No Shows: As always, having a large number the day before does not necessarily lead to having that number at game time. Teesdale was sick and Denari had late domestic issues, but at least the team had a full 15.
Conboy’s aka Reverse Mike D’s: None.
”Mr. Glass” Fragility/Old Man Injury Award: None.
Old Man of the Match: An overall good performance by everyone, with good defensive pressure and nice passing. Belizan came close once again shutting down the back along with Oli Roberts. However the award goes to Resnik who reluctantly sacrificed himself for the team to go in goal when it was clear that Morse should be anywhere else but goal. The aggressive sweeper keeper was expected from those who have seen him back in the day, but the game long deep kicks were a welcome surprise that took pressure off the players at the back.
Old Man of the Bar: N/A
El Presidente (Old Men who don’t make it to game but come to the bar): None.
Statistic of the week: Resnik won his first OMoM, mostly due to playing at outside back which has an additional degree of difficulty to win that award. Tom Pattinson took sole possession of second place in the all time assists table.
Team Bar Showing: 4 out of 15 (27%)
Team Bar Night: 3 out of 5. Extending the regular stay while hanging out with the Grays for a decent time interval.
Team (No new profiles this week): Mark Resnik (GK), Oliver Roberts (DF), Luciano Belizan (DF), Willian D’Andrea, Steve Roberts (DF), Bevan Rosenbloom, Manohar Venkataraman, Simon Mckeown, Tom Pattinson, Steve Morse, Eduardo Mazzi (DF), Manuel Casanova, Santiago Morales, Mark Edmunds (DF), Marc Walby (DF)
