CPR whites faced a much improved Stal Mielec team on the return to their old haunting ground, Icahn stadium. The new look team showed some promise in the first half, especially going forward, and it was from one of these attacks that they took a deserved lead with Shane getting down the right well before crossing for Kwesi to slot home. Unfortunately despite some opportunities, CPR failed to build on that and sat back and allowed Stal to get back in the game with a goal late in the first. CPR improved their intensity in the 2nd half and were soon back in front after new boy Damian made good progress on the right and crossed to Conor to slot into an empty net. The third was all Damian as he picked up the ball outside the box, muscled his way past 3 and slotted past the keeper. There was plenty of other drama as the match continued with Stal striking the post and the ref not awarding a penalty for a clear body check on Damian but the points were sealed with a goal very similar to the 2nd, this time Dan Z slotted home from Damian. A nice start to the season with Pancyprians likely to be a sterner test next week.

The CPR Whites season ended with the reserves succumbing to a 3-1 loss to Stal Mielic in the League Cup semi-final. The lads played excellently throughout except for a 10 minute patch at the start of the second period when we conceded twice, and more than matched their first team opponents. We started controlling the ball and just having to field some dangerous long balls. A soft free-kick outside our area was well placed in the corner and we were 1 down after about 30 minutes. Soon after we were awarded a penalty but were unable to convert as the keeper saved well. But we did enter the break level as on the stroke of half time Tom latched onto a through ball and making a deep run from the half held of a defender and coolly slotted it into the top corner – a top class goal!
We came out the second half lethargically and were quickly made to pay as 2 goals in succession with long balls beating our defence and shots well finished meant we had a mountain to climb. Still, we kept plugging away and had a couple of opportunities to peg back a goal that would have made for an interesting final period. Alas, we could not find the net again and so ended our season. The guys gave everything and were a match for a first team, even with some of our more dangerous players out injured.  With everyone back fresh again next season we’ll surely make another title challenge.

Team: Jon, Andy, Sean, Alberto, Tom, Brian, Mike D, Greg, Norelli, Archie, Tomer, Haakon, Evan

The reserves put up a strong performance in the league playoff, but unfortunately couldn’t put away the game after a strong start and ended up losing 3-2. Norelli got us going with a great strike, beating two defenders and slotting into the corner under pressure. Minutes later Alex capitalized on a defensive slip and sneaked into score our second. We continued to control much of the play, but a poor freekick call led to a goal that brought us into the break with only a one goal lead.

We started the second period very strongly and had two clear cur chances with only the keeper to beat from close range, but we missed one and the keeper reacted well for the second. We were made to pay for these misses as a defensive mix up led to Clarkstown’s equalizer and then with 10 minutes to go we went down to a well taken goal from a ball that popped out to the striker 25 yards out and the goal exposed. To compound this, Dan C took a hard fall and broke his wrist. It was a disappointing end to the league season, but the performance and the fact that we were the better team means we should be proud of our achievements in the league and look forward to another challenge for the title next year.

Team: Jon, Tomer, Haakon, Dan C, Andy, Mike D, Brent, Alex, Evan, Archie, Shane, Norelli, Mike N, Ben H

Team: Ben, Eli, Conor, Shane, Mike N, Nick, Alex, Haakon, Sean, Tom, ?

The CPR Reserves kicked off their final league game of the season knowing exactly what was at stake;  lose by no more than 2 goals, and they were in the playoffs. With this being said, they started with an attacking line up but struggled to find the early breakthrough they were looking for to calm the nerves. CPR eventually settled in the latter stages of the first half, getting the ball wide into some good crossing positions and keeping Barnstonworth firmly on their heels. The Reserves sustained the momentum they had gathered before the break and found the opener after an excellent pull-back cross, which looked easier to hit, was nonchalantly lofted to the back post where Brent rose above the defender to nod home from 2 yards. Conserving legs in the blistering heat, Reserves made some changes which allowed Barnstonworth to creep back in to the game and eventually equalize after Ben inadvertently brought down their attacker inside the box. The penalty was awarded (despite Andy Ma’s adamant gesticulation) and duly dispatched to make it 1-1. CPR suffered a further blow, when main threat winger Ben Hirsch limped off with a ‘hammy’ soon after a mesmerizing run that almost resulted in the Reserves regaining the lead. The opportunity went begging after being cleared off the line. With 15 left to go, and Barnstonworth now in the ascendancy, it was much a case of playing smart and seeing out the draw for CPR. However, a cheap free kick and misjudged cross made it 2-1 to Barnstonworth to make for a nervy ending but job done nonetheless for CPR Reserves who advance to the playoffs.

Ben, Tomer , Mike D, Dan C, Greg, Tom, Ben H, Norelli, Brent, Haakon, Alberto, Alex, Andy, Archie

Short-handed yet again, the Whites travelled to face NYAC with both teams out of playoff contention. Despite having several players doing double duty after playing for the reserves, the Whites played a solid 1st half limiting NYAC to sporadic half-chances. Admittedly it was a very poor NYAC team compared to previous years, playing some ugly futbol and intent of hitting wayward long balls.
The Whites did not create too many chances themselves, but one good ball over the top
found Kwesi who got there ahead of the keeper and chipped the ball towards goal, the wind held it back from going in, but Alex who was racing into the penalty area was cluttered by a clumsy defender before he could score. Typical for this level, the ref pulled
a scared turtle and only handed out a yellow to the offending defender. Conor converted the penalty and the Whites led 1-0 at the half.
The Whites visibly tired in the 2nd half but held firm (thanks to a ridiculous miss from close range) until a questionable penalty call for a handball was converted to equalize the score.
From that point on, there was little fight or energy left in the team, and if not for Ben making another save on a breakaway, could have conceded more than two goals. Final score 3-1.

Lineup:   Ben(GK); Shane, Mike Ni, Nick, Greg; Conor, Dan Z, Eli, Dan C, Alex; Kwesi.
Subs: Mike D, Andy, Evan

In yet another game with playoff implications, the Whites faced a solid NYAC team leading the group by 3 points. It was supposed to be a classic top of the table clash, but instead  it turned into a wind-aided pummeling in what was a 1st half to forget. Relying on two quality players up-front, NYAC capitalized on several turnovers and poor defending (and the wind) to lead 4-0 at the break.
The Whites played the 2nd half with more energy and soon pulled a goal back through a Mike D cross/shot which the wind carried over the keeper. The team continued to create chances with Norelli, Alberto and Mike D all coming close to reduce the deficit, but could not convert. Final score 4-1.

Lineup:   Jon (GK); Andy, Greg, Haakon, Evan; Archie, Tomer, Brent, Dan C, Alex; Alberto.
Subs: Mike D, Norelli

This weekend saw another lack luster performance by the firsts against a very weak Stal Melic team, already relegated to the 2^nd division and seeking to get their 1^st win of the season. Initial hopes that we could rack up a cricket score were tempered by our lack of movement and intensity and although we still dominated possession, Stal Melic had some of the best opportunities as their left midfielder (and best player) put Justin through his paces. The first goal came out of a bit of fortune for Stal Melic as a tackle on one of their players popped the ball up into the air on the edge of the box, their right midfielder ran on and somehow managed to slice a shot up over Ben and in off the post. We had several clear cut chances in the 1^st half, including a couple one v. ones, and a free header from a corner that we failed to capitalize on.

The second half started a bit more brightly and CPR were rewarded for their efforts with a couple goals, first when Riso pounced on a Mike’s spilled shot and then a penalty from Conor after Riso was blatantly pushed in the back while going for a cross. At this point we lost our intensity once again and ended up conceding an equalizer and then a third in quick succession (the 3^rd off a controversial corner rewarded despite an obvious foul on Matt). We pressed hard for more goals and were assisted when their right back got a deserved second yellow (as the same guy always seems to) in the last 10 mins and with the last kick of the game George converted a cross for an equalizer. Overall it was a disappointing day and well below the standard we set for ourselves. Post match entertainment was provided by some crack head lady/Polish fan and some manic grey bearded Polish fan who came out of their shell to improve all of our vocabularies with a wide range of obscenities aimed at the ref and our team.
Line up: Ben, Justin, Nick, Matt, Shane, Josh, Conor, Edgar, Mike, Riso, George.