BACK TO WINNING

After the disappointment of being knocked out of the state cup the Grays sought to get back to their winning ways by taking the field against Branstonworth Rovers Premier. The game started off brightly enough with plenty of chances and a fairly even back and forth match. Grays had the better of the goal chances but the Barnstonworth goalie proved a class act and was able to get his hands on both shots and corners with Gray’s Keeper/Captain Dan Mejias only forced to make one save right before the break.

After getting more of the chances in the first half, and the prospect of playing with the wind in the second, the future looked bright for the Grays. So it was as new signing Stephen McNally hit a stinger off the crossbar. Adil and Bahaa were able to challenge the keeper on numerous occasion but he always found himself up to the task. With pressure mounting the Gray’s defense began pushing forward into the Barnstonworth half with outside back Chuck getting called for a hard foul on a Rovers midfielder. While Chuck was being reprimanded by the referee Barnstonworth sent a long pass to their forward line who were able to beat the Gray’s defense who were playing down a man. Astonishingly, the ref let the goal stand after much protestation by the CPR players (Captain Dan got a little heated but always referred to the referee as “Sir” so no offense was taken, DA Charlie vehemently objected and threatened to file a brief). The goal was to stand and the Grays found themselves down 1-0 with 15 minutes to go.

Continuing their dominance from throughout the second half the Grays piled on the pressure and truly put the Rovers against the wall.  With ten minutes remaining James Dolan (that’s non-Knick owning James Dolan) sent in a pass to Bahaa who was able to beat the Rover’s keeper with a clever chip. The goal put the score level but the Grays weren’t done yet. Five minutes from time Bahaa again found himself at the top of the box and beat his defender on the dribble; with the goalie coming out Bahaa curled a low shot to the net… which Marko Guzijan decided to tap in for good measure. Would it have gone on anyway? Absolutely. Did Marko have a goal stolen from him the same way last week? Definitely. Does that make it all even? Not until Bahaa steals a goal form Danny Azzo this coming Sunday. Stay tuned for the story of karma.

Some good times back at the pub where celebratory beers were had and plans of NYC bar domination planned (to be discussed later).

Final Score

CPR 2 – Rovers 1

Goals: Bahaa, Marko (sort of)

Assists: James, Bahaa (and whoever sent in the ball to Bahaa in the first place but I don’t remember their name)

Sate Cup Match Report

In recent years the grays have found some league success but not a single state cup game has ever gone their way. That record would not be broken in sunny Jamaica Queens against a skillful Integral team. Integral seemed happy to keep possession in their half with the Grays keeping drawing a highline and watching the outside backs one touch passes amongst themselves. Finally, pressure by Mike Sevchek lead to a turnover and break away for Adil which the Integral goalie was able to save with a dive to his right. The Integral defense decided that perhaps getting across the half line would be a good idea; it was not. As Integral opened up play the Grays were able to win the ball and counterattack often. Mike Sevchek came closest with a header that went over the bar before Adil continued his run of good form and was able to finish on a breakaway off a nice setup from Sevchek. The goal seemed to set off the team with the Grays controlling the play and tempo consistently attacking the Integral defense. Before halftime Jan sent in a trademark corner which Marko found at the far corner of the six yard box. Marko hit the ball towards the corner of the goal only for Danny Azzo to steal chest it across the line. Against the run of play Integral were able to grab a goal right before the halftime whistle.

Going into half 2-1 up with the majority of play and very few Integral chances the Gray’s might have been a bit over confident. The second half started with some sloppy play and Integral were able to get the tying goal before the 50^th minute mark. With the tying goal scored the Grays found themselves up against a wall. Not being able to hold onto the ball as they did in the first half and the Integral midfielders gaining in confidence it wasn’t a total shock when Integral hit a third goal to take a 3-2 lead. So it seemed the state cup games go for the Grays and valiant efforts were either saved by the Integral keeper or sent agonizingly wide. In the last minute of the match the Gray’s had a final chance off another corner. With Jan again sending in a trademark cross; Marko decided to bypass Danny Azzo and just hit it in the goal himself. Cheers and jubilation as the game was tied 3-3. Immediately after kickoff the whistle blew and off to PKs we went.

Grays lost in penalties.  Nothing more to be said. Now move along.

Goals: Adil, Danny Azzo, Marko

Assists: Sevchek, Marko/Jan, Jan

Stay tuned for next week where Marko steals a goal for himself.

To recap the first three games for the Grays:

Grays 2 – Megas 1

The season started off brightly enough for the Grays with a hard fought win over Megas Alexandros. Dominating much of the possession from the start the Grays couldn’t seem to find the net. Finally, the Grays took the lead in the first half with a nice goal from Rich on an assist from Barry. Having finally broken through it would seem the walls would come crumbling down and goals would come in waves. Unfortunately, no one told the Megas goalie that goals should come and he proceeded to block everything coming his way. A counterattack by Megas before the end of the half resulted I a 1-1 halftime score line.

The second half started with more pressure by the Grays offense and limited looks on goal by the Megas players. Still a combination of wayward finishing and the Megas goalie playing Jorge Campos meant a tie seemed in the future. That is until UK Matt used his massive thighs to muscle the ball off a Megas defender before beating another Megas player to the end line and firing a waist high pass across the Megas 6 yard line. Unfortunately, no offensive Gray’s player was anywhere near the 6 yard line. Fortunately, a defender was and outside back Marko Guzijan was able to volley in the game winning goal in the dying minutes of the game.  Grays took the 3 points and headed back to the bar.

An 8am kickoff meant morning drinking for the Grays but due to liquor laws (that Charlie couldn’t get excused) the Grays were forced to drink in an alleyway from the kitchen staff’s kegerator.  Good times had by all.

Gotta love a bar with a kegerator in the kitchen!

Grays 2 – Megas 1

The second game of the season saw the Grays take on last year’s regular season champion Manhattan Celtic. The large pitch at Brooklyn Bridge Park meant that fitness would come into play if the game was close. Luckily, that wasn’t going to happen with the Grays jumping to a halftime lead of 2-0 off of a first half brace from Kareem (assisted by Bahaa and Danny). At 1-0 the game could have been tied after a harsh PK call but the soccer gods saw to it that the PK was denied (Dan Meijas had a little part to play in that with an outstretched save to his left). At halftime the Grays knew that Manhattan Celtic were going to come out strong and press; they proceeded to throw everything they had at the Grays in hopes of cutting into the score line. A few saves from Dan Meijas and a couple of saves from the goal post made sure Celtic stayed off the score sheet. After 15 minutes of playing with their backs against the wall a defender (sprightly Jack Hartman) decided to put the icing on the cake and become the second defender in a week to score a goal; he met a well taken corner by Jan with his head to put the score at 3-0 and seemingly out of reach.  Celtic not content to leave the field down 3-0 continued to play on though and kept pressing the Gray defense. Keeper/Captain Dan Meijas annoyed with his field players inability to hold onto the ball decided to take matters it his own hands and sent a 70 yard punt down field to the waiting feet of new forward Bahaa. Bahaa opened his Gray scoring account after calmly trapping the ball beating one defender and chipping it over the Celtic goalie. Quite pleased with himself Dan decided to do it again 10 minutes later and got himself his second assist of the day on another 70 yard punt this time to the other new Gray forward Adil. The game seemingly out of reach the ref blew the whistle 8 minutes early allowing the team to explore the soccer friendly bars of BK.

Grays 5 – Manhattan Celtic 0

Finally:

As a defender you are taught at a fairly young age to watch the forward’s hips when dribbling to determine which way the player will cut or to watch a midfielder’s eyes to anticipate a pass. This works well until you are up against a player completely unskilled who views the fundamentals as a hindrance with the basic foot eye coordination of a new born deer on ice. This guy isn’t any good. He’ll never be any good. But sure enough that guy is going to score on you. Last Sunday the Gray’s played the cosmopolitan league team version of that guy.

Now, in truth FC Dinamo had plenty of talent on the field. They had fast skillful players who could tackle, trap, and pass a ball with ease. The issue was they played a formation and style of a bunch of hung-over college kids in a Saturday morning pickup game (also known as the last 30 minutes of a CPR Monday night training session); i.e. 6 forwards – 4 defenders – don’t worry about the midfield.

The sooner this game is forgotten the better. Dinamo went up by 3. Adil scored a consolation goal at the end of the second half (off an assist from Danny). Grays missed chances. Dinamo scored on 4 v 2s and 6 v 4s. They showed up 15 minutes late with a sub who was at least 62 years old. All in all… a tough day out.

Grays 1 – Dinamo 3

We are the best

In the last twenty minutes.

Too little, too late.

Rovers score early;

Our strikes thwarted. Once again,

Three points elude us.

A Fall morning in Red Hook,

Linehan back in the side:

Three points! (Just sayin’.)