Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE The fourth game of the new season brought a familiar foe in Argo Silver, a team CPR lost to last fall in a 2-1 game in which the referee conspired to give Argo three points when it deserved none.  With a much deeper unit this time around and a coming off a promising seven points through three games, CPR was right to feel optimistic about their chances.

 

For the first time all season, the referee showed up on schedule and it was a shocking on-time kickoff for the Old Boyz.  And immediately it was evident the boys in red had cause to be optimistic.  CPR held good possession for the opening ten minutes and with Adi proving to be a constant nuisance to the Argo defense (even on one leg) CPR created a few decent scoring chances early.  There was also solid composure in the back with Gavin and Edmonds switching the ball and distributing with aplomb.  It was no surprise then that CPR created the first dangerous scoring chance.  Creighton delivered a perfectly placed long ball to the corner flag over the head of the last defender to a streaking Conboy who was in an unaccustomed right midfield position.  Conboy settled with one touch and then played a low square ball into the penalty area to an on-racing Morse.  With a defender on his shoulder Morse flicked the ball just wide on the near post side.  And then a whistle. 

 

In eight years playing for CPR and close to 100 appearances, I cannot remember one terrible call that resulted in a goal going our way (despite maybe 20 going the other), but alas there's a first time for everything.  A ridiculous decision by the referee resulted in a penalty kick awarded to CPR.  Morse, never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, stepped up to the spot and delivered a perfect PK- waiting for the keeper to move to his right and then slotting the ball neatly into the left corner.  1-0 CPR.  Although the PK itself was undeserved, the lead surely was.  And it was nearly 2-0 just two minutes later under almost identical circumstances.  A long ball to Conboy down the right side, this time Conboy taking it all the way to the touch line before pulling it back to a wide open Fink who just went wide from eight yards out.

 

CPR couldn't have looked better the first 20 minutes- you never would have guessed what the next seventy minutes of football would bring.

Maybe it was fatigue from the uncharacteristic October heat, maybe it was overconfidence, but whatever it was CPR fell apart both physically and mentally.  Possession started to even out and then eventually it was Argo taking their chances.  CPR's control of the midfield waned and the previous calm distribution from the back was replaced by turnovers that lead to odd-man rushes.  One such turnover led to the equalizer.  A bad ball from the back slipped out to an Argo player on the wing who floated a dangerous ball into the penalty mark.  The tall target man for Argo had position and was ready to strike a header on net when CPR fouled him from behind.  The referee correctly pointed to the spot and Argo also made no mistake with its PK.

 

Halftime came shortly after and the CPR huddle certainly had no shortage of coaches.  As has become a painful halftime ritual, CPR had 14 guys with opinions and yet no guiding voice.  For CPR to be successful going forward, one has to believe that there needs to be one sideline voice and not 15 assistant coaches. 

 

With no cohesive strategy to attack the second half, CPR started the second half much the way it ended the first- with slightly better of the possession and abundantly more talent, but very little to show for it.

Hakan went close twice in the second half, Morse and Creighton both created chances and Conboy and Cassanova managed to bungle a 2-on-1, but it was Argo who had the clearest scoring chance of the second half.

Resnik, always the calming presence, decided a bit of comedy was needed to lighten the dreary mood among the Old Boyz.  With a slow ball coming at him Resnik charged out of his net to handily beat the Argo strikers to the ball.  Unfortunately, he ventured a bit outside of his box, but instead of kicking the ball away, the flashy Resnik decided to head the bounding ball aside.  The touch was not exactly perfect and instead he sent the Argo striker on the empty net.  Shockingly, the Argo striker missed the empty goal and the draw was preserved. 

 

Besides those chances, the game was largely played in the middle two-thirds of the pitch.  CPR's best offense often came off Argo goal kicks as Argo's keeper could barley clear the penalty area with his kicks.  Kind of took me back to youth soccer when everyone would crowd around the penalty area waiting for the slowing down ball to escape the penalty box so it could legally be touched.  Yes, when the opposing team's goal kicks are your best scoring chances, you know things aren't going well.  Mercifully, the referee blew the second half dead at 43 minutes.

 

Almost nothing positive to take away from this one.  CPR completely lost its composure the second half and was reduced to fighting with the other team and bickering among themselves.  This was an extremely winnable game that was lost by a lack of teamwork and effort.  It's very easy sometime in May of 2010 to imagine CPR really regretting the two points it left on the pitch to Argo on this day.

 

Also, as a footnote, I decided after the game that it's time for my CPR career to come to an end.  I think the combination of getting to the field two hours too early and then with a minute left in the game getting drilled in the face in the wall and then elbowed in the head only to come home to a pissed off wife and screaming toddler made it tough to justify the time spent away from family to continue playing any longer.  I want to thank everyone for such a tremendous eight years.

I've made some life long friends and had some truly great teammates over the years and I'm definitely going to miss the playing and the camaraderie of the club.  Best of luck the rest of the season and if you guys are in a pinch for players ever, I'm sure I can get the green light at home for a game or two.  All the best, Mike Conboy.

 

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Competition: Argo Silver, League Opposition

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

Conditions: Sunny, mid 70’s.

Fans: 4 (manuels mom, hakans wife, somebodys friend, and injured Andy Jones)

Result: 1-1 (1-1 at H/T)

Goals: 1-0: Morse (pk)

Yellow Cards: Hamilton, ?

Red Card: None

Mike D’s aka No Shows:  None.

Conboy’s aka Reverse Mike D’s:  None

Old Man of the Match:  None selected.  Honorable mention to Teesdale.

Old Man of the Bar:  None.  No one went directly after game.  Edmunds, Resnik, and Jones went after the Women’s Derby.

Team Bar Showing: 2+1 out of 15  (resnik, edmunds, jones)

Team Bar Night:  0.5 out of 5

Team (No new profiles this week):  

Mark Resnik (GK), Lars Murray (DF), Steve Teesdale (DF), Gavin Hamilton (DF), Marc Walby (DF), Drew Faherty (DF), Mark Edmunds (DF), Creighton Mershon, Adi Gallagher, Hakan Nizam, Kevin Fink, Manuel Casanova, Mike Conboy, Steve Morse, Luke Gaspard

Keeper:           Seemed pretty bad, but we never tested him.

Defense:          League average, not a lot of speed, but decent

tackling                skills- never got forward into the

attack

Midfield:         Again, pretty average.  Number 9 might be the

biggest tool                  in the league.  And that is saying a lot

Forwards:         Strength of the team.  Big and strong with

decent touch

 

Man of the match: Hard to give one out in such a bad effort, but

unlike                  Manny, I always think you can find one man's

effort to               applaud even in defeat, and no doubt

this week it was              Steve Teesdale.  Another

tremendous effort and great work                rate from a guy

who always seems to play well and always              gives

his hardest

 

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Posted Mon, Oct 12 2009 5:05 PM by Manohar Venkataraman