CSSC 1 - 3 NW United
Win and you're in. The MMSL went to a more restricted playoff format this season. Rather than the more forgiving six team post season, the league went with a cut throat four team playoff. Despite a bit of a lack luster second half of the season, a big Grunthal victory over Portage meant that CSSC would leap two positions and squeak into the playoffs on goal difference if it managed to beat second place NW United on a crisp, late night fall game at the Complex. It was time for the manager to implement some creative tactics of the highest order to make up for the absence of much of CSSC's speed without Tyler, Niall, Eli, Matt Brett and Emilio.
It all started out so well. CSSC was knocking the ball around the large carpet at the complex and had already got into some promising positions when Matt Loxley picked up a give and go from K. Chioua to launch a long range drive that clanged off the far post. Soon after, a looping Kinsella cross from the left fell kindly for Wazoo snuffling around the United box and he smashed home a volley high into the center of the goal. Tragically, CSSC was hanging its head soon after as a hopeful United punt downfield was contested by the last two CSSC defenders, who were keen on illustrating the "too many cooks" analogy. The resulting scramble fell kindly to a marauding United forward who lashed the ball low into the bottom corner from a tight angle. United's second was, admittedly, a fine bit of skill. Mr First Goal took the ball about 25 yards out, with his back to goal, used his considerable size to hold off three CSSC defenders trying to poke the ball away, swiveled and hammered an unstoppable drive into the top corner. 2-1 down in a must win game. It was time for every member of the team to give "maximum effort."
Unlike Deadpool, CSSC couldn't overcome adversity. United played a deep defensive line and broke fast on the counter. CSSC had plenty of the ball and worked some nice passing moves up to the final third but didn't have the speed or trickery to break through. There were a couple of close calls. Loxley's long range shooting reputation was further burnished with another sighter but this one clipped the top of the bar. Dylan sent sibling Devon sprinting through from the right but his thoughtful layoff to Charaoui was blasted into the Winnipeg night from close range. CSSC playoff hopes were killed when they failed to heed the oldest coaching advice in the world: "play to the whistle." It did appear as though United had committed a pretty obvious foul, but rather than playing on until they heard the shrill tweet of the ref, CSSC players stopped and waived their arms in the universal signal for referee injustice while the United forward raced through alone on goal and slotted home. Avoidable losses against Portage and Les Blues may have got CSSC in this position, but a win would have got them out of it. But it wasn't to be.
Sorrows were drowned in our post match beers by consoling ourselves with the fact that at least we don't live in the US right now. None of the assembled opinions quite captured the US political landscape like Kodos and Kang.
Man of the Match: Wazoo gutted his way though a nagging groin strain to give CSSC fans hope early with a well taken goal. But the award goes to Matt Loxley's turn at center back, which was not only an all action defensive masterpiece but also created two of CSSC's best offensive moments. And this performance came the night before his trip to save some portion of Panama's natural heritage. Impressive on all fronts.
Win and you're in. The MMSL went to a more restricted playoff format this season. Rather than the more forgiving six team post season, the league went with a cut throat four team playoff. Despite a bit of a lack luster second half of the season, a big Grunthal victory over Portage meant that CSSC would leap two positions and squeak into the playoffs on goal difference if it managed to beat second place NW United on a crisp, late night fall game at the Complex. It was time for the manager to implement some creative tactics of the highest order to make up for the absence of much of CSSC's speed without Tyler, Niall, Eli, Matt Brett and Emilio.
It all started out so well. CSSC was knocking the ball around the large carpet at the complex and had already got into some promising positions when Matt Loxley picked up a give and go from K. Chioua to launch a long range drive that clanged off the far post. Soon after, a looping Kinsella cross from the left fell kindly for Wazoo snuffling around the United box and he smashed home a volley high into the center of the goal. Tragically, CSSC was hanging its head soon after as a hopeful United punt downfield was contested by the last two CSSC defenders, who were keen on illustrating the "too many cooks" analogy. The resulting scramble fell kindly to a marauding United forward who lashed the ball low into the bottom corner from a tight angle. United's second was, admittedly, a fine bit of skill. Mr First Goal took the ball about 25 yards out, with his back to goal, used his considerable size to hold off three CSSC defenders trying to poke the ball away, swiveled and hammered an unstoppable drive into the top corner. 2-1 down in a must win game. It was time for every member of the team to give "maximum effort."
Unlike Deadpool, CSSC couldn't overcome adversity. United played a deep defensive line and broke fast on the counter. CSSC had plenty of the ball and worked some nice passing moves up to the final third but didn't have the speed or trickery to break through. There were a couple of close calls. Loxley's long range shooting reputation was further burnished with another sighter but this one clipped the top of the bar. Dylan sent sibling Devon sprinting through from the right but his thoughtful layoff to Charaoui was blasted into the Winnipeg night from close range. CSSC playoff hopes were killed when they failed to heed the oldest coaching advice in the world: "play to the whistle." It did appear as though United had committed a pretty obvious foul, but rather than playing on until they heard the shrill tweet of the ref, CSSC players stopped and waived their arms in the universal signal for referee injustice while the United forward raced through alone on goal and slotted home. Avoidable losses against Portage and Les Blues may have got CSSC in this position, but a win would have got them out of it. But it wasn't to be.
Sorrows were drowned in our post match beers by consoling ourselves with the fact that at least we don't live in the US right now. None of the assembled opinions quite captured the US political landscape like Kodos and Kang.
Man of the Match: Wazoo gutted his way though a nagging groin strain to give CSSC fans hope early with a well taken goal. But the award goes to Matt Loxley's turn at center back, which was not only an all action defensive masterpiece but also created two of CSSC's best offensive moments. And this performance came the night before his trip to save some portion of Panama's natural heritage. Impressive on all fronts.
Interlake 4 - 0 CSSC
Speed. Unless you're playing golf it's always a difference maker. CSSC was without its four fastest players, Emilio, Kamal, Eli and Matt Loxley taking on the speediest, and not coincidentally, first place, team in the division. The only ray of sunshine on the CSSC team sheet was the return of the bedrock of the CSSC defense, Stef Fischer from his conditioning stint cycling around Germany in an effort to regain fitness after his nasty broken rib.
And what a difference those four absences made. CSSC would have been in tough even with a full strength line up against a team that is deservedly top of the table. They have a nice ground passing game and have a couple of players, especially little number 7, who have the best bag of tricks in the division. With its slightly slower line up CSSC relied heavily on a water tight back line to keep out wave after wave of lightening quick Interlake attacks. And for the first part of the game Sean Brown was marshaling a back line that did just that. However, CSSC resistance was broken late in the half when a direct free kick was carefully placed around the CSSC wall and in off the near post. CSSC appeared to be holding out until the half when we made our own trouble. Sean Brown swept across to clean up yet another through ball deep in the CSSC corner. Readers of previous match reports will remember Sean's admirable commitment to playing it out from the back, so rather than whacking it agriculturally upfield, he opted for a more eye pleasing square ball. Unfortunately, it rolled right by the covering defender, but not quite to our keeper, but fell very nicely for their onrushing forward who finished. Right before the half. The worst time to concede.
The second half was pretty much a carbon copy of the first. Interlake were fast and dangerous with the ball, CSSC defended resolutely, but conceded two more. The first arrived when tricky number seven jinked his way to the end line and cut the ball across goal for an onrushing forward to slide the ball home. CSSC's defense made a heroic attempt at a goal line clearance but could only tragically slice the ball into its own net. The second came when an adventurous dribble took an Interlake forward through the entire CSSC team for a calm chip over the onrushing Aiken. Careful readers will have noted the lack of comment on CSSC chances at the other end. The Interlake keeper could have been a cardboard cutout and the score would have been the same.
Despite the loss, it was a big and surprisingly content crowd that piled into the Grove at midnight. As usual there was education a plenty as we learned about the atom and old timey sitcoms, which did nothing to dispel the notion that CSSC has a few players well past their best before date.
Man of the Match: Ed Gonzales played a burner out on the wing, but the award has to go to a member of the overworked CSSC back line. Fischer has missed about six weeks of footie, but he didn't put a foot wrong in a fantastic defensive performance. Does he every loose a tackle? I haven't seen it.
Speed. Unless you're playing golf it's always a difference maker. CSSC was without its four fastest players, Emilio, Kamal, Eli and Matt Loxley taking on the speediest, and not coincidentally, first place, team in the division. The only ray of sunshine on the CSSC team sheet was the return of the bedrock of the CSSC defense, Stef Fischer from his conditioning stint cycling around Germany in an effort to regain fitness after his nasty broken rib.
And what a difference those four absences made. CSSC would have been in tough even with a full strength line up against a team that is deservedly top of the table. They have a nice ground passing game and have a couple of players, especially little number 7, who have the best bag of tricks in the division. With its slightly slower line up CSSC relied heavily on a water tight back line to keep out wave after wave of lightening quick Interlake attacks. And for the first part of the game Sean Brown was marshaling a back line that did just that. However, CSSC resistance was broken late in the half when a direct free kick was carefully placed around the CSSC wall and in off the near post. CSSC appeared to be holding out until the half when we made our own trouble. Sean Brown swept across to clean up yet another through ball deep in the CSSC corner. Readers of previous match reports will remember Sean's admirable commitment to playing it out from the back, so rather than whacking it agriculturally upfield, he opted for a more eye pleasing square ball. Unfortunately, it rolled right by the covering defender, but not quite to our keeper, but fell very nicely for their onrushing forward who finished. Right before the half. The worst time to concede.
The second half was pretty much a carbon copy of the first. Interlake were fast and dangerous with the ball, CSSC defended resolutely, but conceded two more. The first arrived when tricky number seven jinked his way to the end line and cut the ball across goal for an onrushing forward to slide the ball home. CSSC's defense made a heroic attempt at a goal line clearance but could only tragically slice the ball into its own net. The second came when an adventurous dribble took an Interlake forward through the entire CSSC team for a calm chip over the onrushing Aiken. Careful readers will have noted the lack of comment on CSSC chances at the other end. The Interlake keeper could have been a cardboard cutout and the score would have been the same.
Despite the loss, it was a big and surprisingly content crowd that piled into the Grove at midnight. As usual there was education a plenty as we learned about the atom and old timey sitcoms, which did nothing to dispel the notion that CSSC has a few players well past their best before date.
Man of the Match: Ed Gonzales played a burner out on the wing, but the award has to go to a member of the overworked CSSC back line. Fischer has missed about six weeks of footie, but he didn't put a foot wrong in a fantastic defensive performance. Does he every loose a tackle? I haven't seen it.
Polonia 2 - 3 CSSC
CSSC management railed against a fixture list that forced them to play two games in less than 72 hours, especially when CSSC was fighting for its playoff life with three games to go. To make CSSC's weary muscles all the more achy after Friday night's clash, it was a sweltering Sunday afternoon with the sun baking off the many rubber pellets embedded in the turf of Shaunessey field. The only up side was the return to the CSSC line up of the Penners and Tyler Johnson to provide some much needed subs.
On the off chance that CSSC needed a wake up call, it arrived early when a Polonia midfielder's drag back move left Ian Hudson for dead deep in the Polonia end. Mr. fancy moves took about six steps forward and released speedy number 20 in behind CSSC's back line for a clear break, but A. Chioua "made himself big" as the commentators like to say and blocked the shot. Then, it was CSSC's turn to create chances. First, a Sean Brown free kick found Eli Robinson all alone about six yards from goal, but his attempted redirect scuffed off the bottom of his cleats and into the keeper's grateful arms. Then Van Penner took down a lovely cross field ball but his attempt to go "bar down" went "bar out." To add to the tragedy, Polonia picked up the rebound, raced straight down the other end and scored on about their third attempt during a wild scramble inside the CSSC box. Then even more disaster for CSSC when S. Brown's attempt to become the new John Stones (or perhaps it's Sean Brown who is the original John Stones) resulted in a last man back give away that Polonia punished despite Ali getting an acrobatic hand to the close range shot. At 2-0 down, having only scored one goal in the past two games things didn't look good.
Step up Bob Walden. Out of nowhere CSSC produced two goals of seeming effortless quality. Van Penner picked up a ball in midfield strode into the middle of the park and played a lovely, defense splitting pass to release Eli behind the Polonia back line. As the keeper charged out to close him down Eli laid off a simple square ball to full back turned emergency striker Bob Walden for a tap in. Only a couple of minutes later Hudson slid a diagonal ball to Niall Harney, loose on the wing, whose low one time cross was turned in at the near post by that man Walden again. The second half started with more CSSC pressure. Hudson lobbed a bouncing ball over the Polonia line for the speedy Emilio Garrido, who took the ball down with a lovely first touch and blasted inches wide of the far post. Despite CSSC pressure, a tie looked on the cards when Hudson again slid a ball through the Polonia back line to Van, cutting in from the wing and he blasted the ball right through the keeper and into the net. 3-2 - it's one of soccer's greatest scores. Ali's shouts of post match joy could be heard all the way to the Westbrook, where we went for post match beers to discuss: Polonia's dirty number 24's rodeo style neck take down of Emilio in the first half; their keeper's bizarre confession that we had better not come near him because, he's "hurt people before"; and the assessment of some members of the crowd that one particular member of the CSSC midfield was a bit "long in the tooth" but not in a good sabre tooth kind of way.
Man of the Match: There were only two choices really. Van's winning goal settled the match and he played an absolute stormer in the midfield. However, MotM loves a player out of position. Bob Walden moved up from his regular spot at the back and looked great. His movement off the ball was tremendous. His first goal may have been a tap in but other members of CSSC would have just cooled their heels and relied on Eli to beat the keeper instead of making the crucial supporting run. The second goal was the sweetest of touches to tuck a near post cross into the bottom right corner. He's versatile like a fried egg.
CSSC management railed against a fixture list that forced them to play two games in less than 72 hours, especially when CSSC was fighting for its playoff life with three games to go. To make CSSC's weary muscles all the more achy after Friday night's clash, it was a sweltering Sunday afternoon with the sun baking off the many rubber pellets embedded in the turf of Shaunessey field. The only up side was the return to the CSSC line up of the Penners and Tyler Johnson to provide some much needed subs.
On the off chance that CSSC needed a wake up call, it arrived early when a Polonia midfielder's drag back move left Ian Hudson for dead deep in the Polonia end. Mr. fancy moves took about six steps forward and released speedy number 20 in behind CSSC's back line for a clear break, but A. Chioua "made himself big" as the commentators like to say and blocked the shot. Then, it was CSSC's turn to create chances. First, a Sean Brown free kick found Eli Robinson all alone about six yards from goal, but his attempted redirect scuffed off the bottom of his cleats and into the keeper's grateful arms. Then Van Penner took down a lovely cross field ball but his attempt to go "bar down" went "bar out." To add to the tragedy, Polonia picked up the rebound, raced straight down the other end and scored on about their third attempt during a wild scramble inside the CSSC box. Then even more disaster for CSSC when S. Brown's attempt to become the new John Stones (or perhaps it's Sean Brown who is the original John Stones) resulted in a last man back give away that Polonia punished despite Ali getting an acrobatic hand to the close range shot. At 2-0 down, having only scored one goal in the past two games things didn't look good.
Step up Bob Walden. Out of nowhere CSSC produced two goals of seeming effortless quality. Van Penner picked up a ball in midfield strode into the middle of the park and played a lovely, defense splitting pass to release Eli behind the Polonia back line. As the keeper charged out to close him down Eli laid off a simple square ball to full back turned emergency striker Bob Walden for a tap in. Only a couple of minutes later Hudson slid a diagonal ball to Niall Harney, loose on the wing, whose low one time cross was turned in at the near post by that man Walden again. The second half started with more CSSC pressure. Hudson lobbed a bouncing ball over the Polonia line for the speedy Emilio Garrido, who took the ball down with a lovely first touch and blasted inches wide of the far post. Despite CSSC pressure, a tie looked on the cards when Hudson again slid a ball through the Polonia back line to Van, cutting in from the wing and he blasted the ball right through the keeper and into the net. 3-2 - it's one of soccer's greatest scores. Ali's shouts of post match joy could be heard all the way to the Westbrook, where we went for post match beers to discuss: Polonia's dirty number 24's rodeo style neck take down of Emilio in the first half; their keeper's bizarre confession that we had better not come near him because, he's "hurt people before"; and the assessment of some members of the crowd that one particular member of the CSSC midfield was a bit "long in the tooth" but not in a good sabre tooth kind of way.
Man of the Match: There were only two choices really. Van's winning goal settled the match and he played an absolute stormer in the midfield. However, MotM loves a player out of position. Bob Walden moved up from his regular spot at the back and looked great. His movement off the ball was tremendous. His first goal may have been a tap in but other members of CSSC would have just cooled their heels and relied on Eli to beat the keeper instead of making the crucial supporting run. The second goal was the sweetest of touches to tuck a near post cross into the bottom right corner. He's versatile like a fried egg.
Les Bleus 1 - 0 CSSC
The early sunset of approaching fall and an 8:00 kickoff meant that it really was Friday night lights in the battle of mid table also rans CSSC and Les Bleus. Neither were going up, neither were going down, but if you're a big fan of jockeying for playoff position, there was a lot on the line. CSSC had a very short bench and it would have been even more dire if defender Mark Meuwese didn't have to cut short his vacation in Minnesota because his new dog bit the dog sitter, forcing him to return to town just in time for the big game. It is perhaps the greatest ever canine influence on a match since this cheerful nipper.
Les Bleus are a tidy squad with a very solid spine of nice passers and hard nosed defenders down the middle of their formation. However, their desire to play up from the back almost spelled disaster when Ian Hudson intercepted a short goal kick, nutmegged the covering defender and teed up Eli Robinson who blazed just over from the top of the box. Then Emilio showed why he's the terror of opposing defenses when he latched on to a sloppy back pass, and strode in all alone on goal only to roll the ball wide of the far post. Then disaster for CSSC when a give and go at the edge of the CSSC box resulted in a Les Bleus forward tumbling to the ground with a couple of CSSC defenders in close proximity. While CSSC declared its collective innocence, the ref pointed to the spot and a Bleu forward planted the penalty in the top corner. To add to CSSC's sense of woeful injustice at the other end, Ian Hudson, having grown up on quaint lectures about not diving and sportsmanship, kept his footing during a late hack only to be dispossessed as he tried to keep his balance. As his team mates would tell him at half time. "Just be smart about it."
The rest of the game was CSSC chances and CSSC misses. Without even really trying to chronicle every last wasted chance, there were: two more breakaways, two close range chances with only the keeper to beat, one volley skied over an open net and a header from perhaps two yards out that somehow the Les Blues keeper kept from crossing the line. You'll notice the name free nature of the litany of misses in an effort to keep up the confidence levels of CSSC's attackers. At the other end, keeper A. Chioua was a virtual spectator, casually leaning against the post until he was called into action to miraculously stop a breakaway in Les Bleus second and last shot on net all game. No one could fault CSSC's effort or even their work leading up the crucial application of that final touch, but finishing was an issue. CSSC is like a villain in a Hollywood gunfight. Lots of shots, and not a single one that counted.
Man of the Match: As the collected post match drinkers shook their heads in bewilderment about how this one got away, conversation failed to wander over to the MotM. Since the on field performance was an efficiency experts nightmare, we'll go for CSSC fans extraordinaire Kelsey and Mark, who seem to have started a welcome tradition of downing a beer or two in the bleachers. Like all great innovations, you wonder why it took so long.
The early sunset of approaching fall and an 8:00 kickoff meant that it really was Friday night lights in the battle of mid table also rans CSSC and Les Bleus. Neither were going up, neither were going down, but if you're a big fan of jockeying for playoff position, there was a lot on the line. CSSC had a very short bench and it would have been even more dire if defender Mark Meuwese didn't have to cut short his vacation in Minnesota because his new dog bit the dog sitter, forcing him to return to town just in time for the big game. It is perhaps the greatest ever canine influence on a match since this cheerful nipper.
Les Bleus are a tidy squad with a very solid spine of nice passers and hard nosed defenders down the middle of their formation. However, their desire to play up from the back almost spelled disaster when Ian Hudson intercepted a short goal kick, nutmegged the covering defender and teed up Eli Robinson who blazed just over from the top of the box. Then Emilio showed why he's the terror of opposing defenses when he latched on to a sloppy back pass, and strode in all alone on goal only to roll the ball wide of the far post. Then disaster for CSSC when a give and go at the edge of the CSSC box resulted in a Les Bleus forward tumbling to the ground with a couple of CSSC defenders in close proximity. While CSSC declared its collective innocence, the ref pointed to the spot and a Bleu forward planted the penalty in the top corner. To add to CSSC's sense of woeful injustice at the other end, Ian Hudson, having grown up on quaint lectures about not diving and sportsmanship, kept his footing during a late hack only to be dispossessed as he tried to keep his balance. As his team mates would tell him at half time. "Just be smart about it."
The rest of the game was CSSC chances and CSSC misses. Without even really trying to chronicle every last wasted chance, there were: two more breakaways, two close range chances with only the keeper to beat, one volley skied over an open net and a header from perhaps two yards out that somehow the Les Blues keeper kept from crossing the line. You'll notice the name free nature of the litany of misses in an effort to keep up the confidence levels of CSSC's attackers. At the other end, keeper A. Chioua was a virtual spectator, casually leaning against the post until he was called into action to miraculously stop a breakaway in Les Bleus second and last shot on net all game. No one could fault CSSC's effort or even their work leading up the crucial application of that final touch, but finishing was an issue. CSSC is like a villain in a Hollywood gunfight. Lots of shots, and not a single one that counted.
Man of the Match: As the collected post match drinkers shook their heads in bewilderment about how this one got away, conversation failed to wander over to the MotM. Since the on field performance was an efficiency experts nightmare, we'll go for CSSC fans extraordinaire Kelsey and Mark, who seem to have started a welcome tradition of downing a beer or two in the bleachers. Like all great innovations, you wonder why it took so long.
Portage Cobras 2 - 1 CSSC
Portage boasts the best soccer fields in the province hands down. The grass is lush and kept at a perfect length. The surface is billiard top flat. The only downside is that it's an hour drive out of Winnipeg. The distance combined with an early 6:45 start time and some directional difficulties that particularly affected the younger members of CSSC meant that the 11 available at kick off time had a combined age of about 1000.
The predictably static play that resulted from a bunch of ageing non runners deciding which 10 yards they could most effectively cover to conserve their energy in the sapping 30 degree heat meant that Portage ran riot in the first 15 minutes. Their dominance paid off when three attempted clearances were fluffed allowing the ball to fall kindly to a Portage forward who bent an admittedly delightful shot into the top corner past the despairing dive of temporary keeper Walden. The game appeared to turn with the introduction of the youthful trio of Loxley, Robsinson and Gonzales. All of a sudden challenges were being won, runs were being made, and chances were being created. First, Nial Harney was presented with a golden chance when he outpaced the Portage back line to a ball over the top. Unfortunately, the spinning ball took a wicked bounce to wrong foot him and the snatched shot was palmed away by the keeper. Then a remarkable scramble in front of the Cobra net resulted in a blocked shot, a remarkable save and a goal line clearance by a defender with his keeper stranded. Finally, from the ensuing corner, Walden worked a short corner to Hudson whose driven cross was turned in from close range by the imposing figure of Robinson. A half of two halves if you will.
The start of the second half was much more even with CSSC enjoying some classy passing but not creating too many chances and Portage having a few good chances on the counter. The stalemate was broken when a Portage striker loose on the right drove a low shot across the face of goal that late arriving regular keeper Aiken did well to get a hand to, but the ball sat invitingly for the colossus of a Portage forward to lumber on to and smash home from close range. Despite throwing any sort of defensive formation out the window for the last 15 minutes CSSC could only get the ball into advanced wide positions and then repeatedly fail to do anything with the opportunity. In the end CSSC couldn't quite overcome its shortage of young men for those first 15 minutes.
Man of the Match: It had to be one of the Gonzales, Robinson, Loxley trio that ended that early game agony. Robinson and Gonzales were fantastic but Loxley's tireless running and thoughtful passing in midfield were especially impressive considering he survived a first half reducer that was so late it came from a different time zone. In true Loxley fashion he just dusted himself off and got back to winning tackles.
Portage boasts the best soccer fields in the province hands down. The grass is lush and kept at a perfect length. The surface is billiard top flat. The only downside is that it's an hour drive out of Winnipeg. The distance combined with an early 6:45 start time and some directional difficulties that particularly affected the younger members of CSSC meant that the 11 available at kick off time had a combined age of about 1000.
The predictably static play that resulted from a bunch of ageing non runners deciding which 10 yards they could most effectively cover to conserve their energy in the sapping 30 degree heat meant that Portage ran riot in the first 15 minutes. Their dominance paid off when three attempted clearances were fluffed allowing the ball to fall kindly to a Portage forward who bent an admittedly delightful shot into the top corner past the despairing dive of temporary keeper Walden. The game appeared to turn with the introduction of the youthful trio of Loxley, Robsinson and Gonzales. All of a sudden challenges were being won, runs were being made, and chances were being created. First, Nial Harney was presented with a golden chance when he outpaced the Portage back line to a ball over the top. Unfortunately, the spinning ball took a wicked bounce to wrong foot him and the snatched shot was palmed away by the keeper. Then a remarkable scramble in front of the Cobra net resulted in a blocked shot, a remarkable save and a goal line clearance by a defender with his keeper stranded. Finally, from the ensuing corner, Walden worked a short corner to Hudson whose driven cross was turned in from close range by the imposing figure of Robinson. A half of two halves if you will.
The start of the second half was much more even with CSSC enjoying some classy passing but not creating too many chances and Portage having a few good chances on the counter. The stalemate was broken when a Portage striker loose on the right drove a low shot across the face of goal that late arriving regular keeper Aiken did well to get a hand to, but the ball sat invitingly for the colossus of a Portage forward to lumber on to and smash home from close range. Despite throwing any sort of defensive formation out the window for the last 15 minutes CSSC could only get the ball into advanced wide positions and then repeatedly fail to do anything with the opportunity. In the end CSSC couldn't quite overcome its shortage of young men for those first 15 minutes.
Man of the Match: It had to be one of the Gonzales, Robinson, Loxley trio that ended that early game agony. Robinson and Gonzales were fantastic but Loxley's tireless running and thoughtful passing in midfield were especially impressive considering he survived a first half reducer that was so late it came from a different time zone. In true Loxley fashion he just dusted himself off and got back to winning tackles.
CSSC 3 - 0 Polonia
It can't be August. With the return of Sean Brown, Andrew Woolford, Adam Wazny, Niall Harney, and even long lost Aiken, CSSC fielded a full seven subs against Polonia on a warm and muggy evening. Polonia could have done with some of CSSC's organizational depth as they started the game short staffed when one of the players took a luxuriously long time to emerge from what must certainly be deceptively palatial bathroom facilities at the side of Buhler field.
CSSC took advantage of the numerical superiority early on when Bob Walden strode forward from left back and absolutely hammered a long range cannon into the top corner. As the Polonia squad arrived in dribs and drabs toward their full compliment of 11, Ed Gonzales extended the CSSC lead with an almost identical rocket from the right hand side. Fans will debate which was better. Walden's was slightly longer range, Gonzales' was inch perfect in the top corner. Both were of the highest beer league quality. CSSC dominated the play for the rest of the half and carved out two more golden chances. First Emilio cut in from the right of midfield bounced off two attempted tackles to put himself clear in on goal but poked the ball wide. Then Devin Doerksen teed up Ian Hudson at the top of the box but Hudson opted for power over precision and blazed just high.
The second half was much like the first. CSSC owned the ball against an understandably tiring Polonia side with no subs but couldn't find the final touch. Hudson teed up Wazoo inside the Polonia box but he fired wide, the Polonia keeper had to be at full stretch to tip a Robinson header over the bar and Woolford put a delightful ball over the top to find Hudson's late run into the box but Hudson's visions of net bursting volleys turned to ash as his close range shot screwed wide of the near post. Against a team that hadn't already been run ragged for 75 minutes, K. Chioua's sending off for a bit of ref back chat might have proved disastrous, but CSSC's ten men managed to not only hold on, but add an insurance goal when some good midfield passing between Gonzales and Hudson released Dylan Doerksen in behind the Polonia defense down the left. He rode one robust challenge and delivered a dangerous low cross that a Polonia defender turned into his own net under pressure from Devin. A comfortable win, but perhaps not completely convincing.
Man of the Match: Hudson had a composed game at center mid, but in a closer game those two glaring misses would have haunted his sleepless nights. Instead the award goes to the equally composed midfielder who could actually finish, Ed Gonzales. Hopefully his dad, who watched the game from the shade of the utility shed in an effort to beat the August heat, had a nice angle to view Ed's pick that out moment.
It can't be August. With the return of Sean Brown, Andrew Woolford, Adam Wazny, Niall Harney, and even long lost Aiken, CSSC fielded a full seven subs against Polonia on a warm and muggy evening. Polonia could have done with some of CSSC's organizational depth as they started the game short staffed when one of the players took a luxuriously long time to emerge from what must certainly be deceptively palatial bathroom facilities at the side of Buhler field.
CSSC took advantage of the numerical superiority early on when Bob Walden strode forward from left back and absolutely hammered a long range cannon into the top corner. As the Polonia squad arrived in dribs and drabs toward their full compliment of 11, Ed Gonzales extended the CSSC lead with an almost identical rocket from the right hand side. Fans will debate which was better. Walden's was slightly longer range, Gonzales' was inch perfect in the top corner. Both were of the highest beer league quality. CSSC dominated the play for the rest of the half and carved out two more golden chances. First Emilio cut in from the right of midfield bounced off two attempted tackles to put himself clear in on goal but poked the ball wide. Then Devin Doerksen teed up Ian Hudson at the top of the box but Hudson opted for power over precision and blazed just high.
The second half was much like the first. CSSC owned the ball against an understandably tiring Polonia side with no subs but couldn't find the final touch. Hudson teed up Wazoo inside the Polonia box but he fired wide, the Polonia keeper had to be at full stretch to tip a Robinson header over the bar and Woolford put a delightful ball over the top to find Hudson's late run into the box but Hudson's visions of net bursting volleys turned to ash as his close range shot screwed wide of the near post. Against a team that hadn't already been run ragged for 75 minutes, K. Chioua's sending off for a bit of ref back chat might have proved disastrous, but CSSC's ten men managed to not only hold on, but add an insurance goal when some good midfield passing between Gonzales and Hudson released Dylan Doerksen in behind the Polonia defense down the left. He rode one robust challenge and delivered a dangerous low cross that a Polonia defender turned into his own net under pressure from Devin. A comfortable win, but perhaps not completely convincing.
Man of the Match: Hudson had a composed game at center mid, but in a closer game those two glaring misses would have haunted his sleepless nights. Instead the award goes to the equally composed midfielder who could actually finish, Ed Gonzales. Hopefully his dad, who watched the game from the shade of the utility shed in an effort to beat the August heat, had a nice angle to view Ed's pick that out moment.
CSSC 2 - 0 Azzurri
It must be August. CSSC had trouble competing with the Tragically Hip concert and the other delights that Winnipeg has to offer on a lovely Friday summer evening. As a result there was no starting or backup keeper and the defense was decimated without stalwarts Sean Brown, Andrew Woolford, Stef Fischer, Tyler Johnson, Matt Brett and Matt Loxley. For those of you counting that's pretty much the entire back line. Despite the timely return of Mark Meuwese from his scouting trip Holland (result - no signings), it was a case of square pegs in round holes as sweeper Bob Walden attempted to hold together a make shift back line in front of 4th string keeper Ian Hudson. Not since Boris Johnson was stuck hanging from a zip line or made minister of foreign affairs has someone been so out of position.
And Walden more or less succeeded. The first half featured chances and misses. Azzurri had some excellent chances but couldn't quite find the target from some very good areas. CSSC worked a few excellent passing moves and showed a commendable commitment to shooting from distance but, much to the disappointment of their watching younger brother, the Doerksen brothers couldn't find the net despite about 7 shots. The half appeared to be petering out for an honourable draw, when Emilio took a pass at the top of the box spun past his defender with a lovely turn and slotted home across the keeper and into the bottom corner from close range. 1-0 up and against a stiff breeze.
Fans of missed chances would have really enjoyed the second half. In an effort to chase the game Azzurri threw caution and any sense of defensive formation to the wind. As a result, they had a lot of the ball and created a great deal of scrambling inside the CSSC box. The downside to their strategy was the four clear cut breakaways they conceded to CSSC. Not to name any names but if Rick Penner, Ed Gonzales, Eli Robinson and Ian Hudson had managed to finish their golden chances the game could have been done and dusted pretty early. The increasingly nervous home crowd at Buhler 3 breathed a little easier when K. Chioua steamed down the right and delivered an inch perfect cross onto the diving melon of Ian Hudson, who crashed the ball home. Skeptics might question whether the dive was strictly necessary or if it was a bit of fancy showboating for the cameras but the ball went in the back of the net. An increasingly desperate Azzurri launched attack after attack but were repelled by Garrido's steady keeping and K. Chioua's amazing goal line clearance. Such was the Azzurri attacking instinct that their keeper was coming up for corners with a full five minutes to play. After CSSC cleared one of these K. Chioua raced down the other end but chose to try and beat the final defender instead of rolling the ball into the the empty net. An all action game ends with another clean sheet for the boys in green.
After the match K. Chioua spurned a chance to join us at the Jolly Friar, and so he missed a lively discussion about the end of the Atlantic slave trade in 1807 while listening to the classic rock stylings of Damn Straight and their sweet cover of Bad Case of Lovin' You. Kinsella couldn't keep his head from bobbing.
Man of the Match: There were four strong contenders. Van Penner volunteered to fill in for the absentee back line and put in a fantastic all action shift winning tackle after tackle. However, he insisted on getting subbed off in the closing stages of the game after blocking a shot with his testicle, so no award for him. Ian Hudson and Emilio Garrido must have set some sort of footballing record by having both keepers score goals and keep clean sheets, which must be a rarity at the higher levels of the game. But MOTM goes to sweeper Bob Walden who did a masterful job of both organizing the largely untrained and unfamiliar back four as well as covering up for their occasional understandable mistakes. Was Waldens' footwork better than the gentleman in the white pants at 3:30? You be the judge.
It must be August. CSSC had trouble competing with the Tragically Hip concert and the other delights that Winnipeg has to offer on a lovely Friday summer evening. As a result there was no starting or backup keeper and the defense was decimated without stalwarts Sean Brown, Andrew Woolford, Stef Fischer, Tyler Johnson, Matt Brett and Matt Loxley. For those of you counting that's pretty much the entire back line. Despite the timely return of Mark Meuwese from his scouting trip Holland (result - no signings), it was a case of square pegs in round holes as sweeper Bob Walden attempted to hold together a make shift back line in front of 4th string keeper Ian Hudson. Not since Boris Johnson was stuck hanging from a zip line or made minister of foreign affairs has someone been so out of position.
And Walden more or less succeeded. The first half featured chances and misses. Azzurri had some excellent chances but couldn't quite find the target from some very good areas. CSSC worked a few excellent passing moves and showed a commendable commitment to shooting from distance but, much to the disappointment of their watching younger brother, the Doerksen brothers couldn't find the net despite about 7 shots. The half appeared to be petering out for an honourable draw, when Emilio took a pass at the top of the box spun past his defender with a lovely turn and slotted home across the keeper and into the bottom corner from close range. 1-0 up and against a stiff breeze.
Fans of missed chances would have really enjoyed the second half. In an effort to chase the game Azzurri threw caution and any sense of defensive formation to the wind. As a result, they had a lot of the ball and created a great deal of scrambling inside the CSSC box. The downside to their strategy was the four clear cut breakaways they conceded to CSSC. Not to name any names but if Rick Penner, Ed Gonzales, Eli Robinson and Ian Hudson had managed to finish their golden chances the game could have been done and dusted pretty early. The increasingly nervous home crowd at Buhler 3 breathed a little easier when K. Chioua steamed down the right and delivered an inch perfect cross onto the diving melon of Ian Hudson, who crashed the ball home. Skeptics might question whether the dive was strictly necessary or if it was a bit of fancy showboating for the cameras but the ball went in the back of the net. An increasingly desperate Azzurri launched attack after attack but were repelled by Garrido's steady keeping and K. Chioua's amazing goal line clearance. Such was the Azzurri attacking instinct that their keeper was coming up for corners with a full five minutes to play. After CSSC cleared one of these K. Chioua raced down the other end but chose to try and beat the final defender instead of rolling the ball into the the empty net. An all action game ends with another clean sheet for the boys in green.
After the match K. Chioua spurned a chance to join us at the Jolly Friar, and so he missed a lively discussion about the end of the Atlantic slave trade in 1807 while listening to the classic rock stylings of Damn Straight and their sweet cover of Bad Case of Lovin' You. Kinsella couldn't keep his head from bobbing.
Man of the Match: There were four strong contenders. Van Penner volunteered to fill in for the absentee back line and put in a fantastic all action shift winning tackle after tackle. However, he insisted on getting subbed off in the closing stages of the game after blocking a shot with his testicle, so no award for him. Ian Hudson and Emilio Garrido must have set some sort of footballing record by having both keepers score goals and keep clean sheets, which must be a rarity at the higher levels of the game. But MOTM goes to sweeper Bob Walden who did a masterful job of both organizing the largely untrained and unfamiliar back four as well as covering up for their occasional understandable mistakes. Was Waldens' footwork better than the gentleman in the white pants at 3:30? You be the judge.
Landmark 0 - 2 CSSC
CSSC went old school to dig out a victory at the friendly, lawn chair fringed field at Landmark. A couple of years ago CSSC could be relied on to a. have trouble with numbers in mid summer b. create but not convert scoring chances and c. rely on water tight defense to eke out narrow wins. All three were in full display. It took four late arrivals to get CSSC up to having two subs on the bench, the game probably should have been out of reach at half time and the defense endured some lengthy second half pressure.
The first half was quite even, with Landmark's number nine marauding down the left and firing in dangerous crosses that keeper Chioua did well to deal with. At the other end, K. Chioua harried his defender into coughing up the ball but couldn't place his low shot wide of the keeper, who appeared to be wearing an "Arctic Cat" jersey. Later in the half Dylan Doerksen chased down a high bouncer into the box and lobbed the Arctic Cat, but the height he needed to get on the lob allowed first the Landmark defense and then the keeper to get back and keep the ball from crossing the line. But then CSSC nerves were eased when Dylan took advantage of a midfield turnover to slide Robinson through on goal and he made no mistake, side footing past the keeper.
The second half featured many, many chances but none were converted until manager John Loxley showed why he should have been pulling the strings for England at the Euro instead of Roy Hodgson when he subbed Emilio Garrido on to take a long range free kick and Garrido promptly floated it into the top corner for a 2-0 lead. More chances then went begging, the best of which involved some lovely build up play down the CSSC left to free up Robinson just outside the box. He took a touch and shook the underside of the bar with a rocket. The rebound fell to K. Chioua but the keeper managed to get in the way of his close range effort. It was only two goals but with Matt Loxley and Andrew Woolford putting in commanding performances at the back it was always going to be enough.
Man of the Match: There were really only three choices. All put in magnificent games in unfamiliar positions. Robinson was asked to play center mid and Loxley was shifted from center mid to center back to left back as the game went on. The award goes to Woolford, however, whose towering performance standing in for the suspended Sean Brown at the heart of the CSSC defense ensured that the CSSC goal was never really threatened. I'd like to say that his prize would be an afternoon of hard labor by a grateful CSSC in Woolford's disaster of a front lawn, but it'll never happen.
CSSC went old school to dig out a victory at the friendly, lawn chair fringed field at Landmark. A couple of years ago CSSC could be relied on to a. have trouble with numbers in mid summer b. create but not convert scoring chances and c. rely on water tight defense to eke out narrow wins. All three were in full display. It took four late arrivals to get CSSC up to having two subs on the bench, the game probably should have been out of reach at half time and the defense endured some lengthy second half pressure.
The first half was quite even, with Landmark's number nine marauding down the left and firing in dangerous crosses that keeper Chioua did well to deal with. At the other end, K. Chioua harried his defender into coughing up the ball but couldn't place his low shot wide of the keeper, who appeared to be wearing an "Arctic Cat" jersey. Later in the half Dylan Doerksen chased down a high bouncer into the box and lobbed the Arctic Cat, but the height he needed to get on the lob allowed first the Landmark defense and then the keeper to get back and keep the ball from crossing the line. But then CSSC nerves were eased when Dylan took advantage of a midfield turnover to slide Robinson through on goal and he made no mistake, side footing past the keeper.
The second half featured many, many chances but none were converted until manager John Loxley showed why he should have been pulling the strings for England at the Euro instead of Roy Hodgson when he subbed Emilio Garrido on to take a long range free kick and Garrido promptly floated it into the top corner for a 2-0 lead. More chances then went begging, the best of which involved some lovely build up play down the CSSC left to free up Robinson just outside the box. He took a touch and shook the underside of the bar with a rocket. The rebound fell to K. Chioua but the keeper managed to get in the way of his close range effort. It was only two goals but with Matt Loxley and Andrew Woolford putting in commanding performances at the back it was always going to be enough.
Man of the Match: There were really only three choices. All put in magnificent games in unfamiliar positions. Robinson was asked to play center mid and Loxley was shifted from center mid to center back to left back as the game went on. The award goes to Woolford, however, whose towering performance standing in for the suspended Sean Brown at the heart of the CSSC defense ensured that the CSSC goal was never really threatened. I'd like to say that his prize would be an afternoon of hard labor by a grateful CSSC in Woolford's disaster of a front lawn, but it'll never happen.
BFRAC 3 - 1 CSSC
The season has just passed its half way mark and the signs don't look great for CSSC going into the second half of the schedule. A season opening 2-1 victory over Grunthal in the first half of the season, a 6-3 drubbing at the hands of Grunthal to start the second half of the year. To add to the trepidation of CSSC's traveling fans, AKA Matt Brett's girlfriend, CSSC was without linchpins Colin Kinsella, Emilio Garrido and Matt Loxley as kickoff approached due to late night dinner engagements and lawn mowing obligations at grandma's.
Unlike the previous game, CSSC came out gun's blazing - if by gun's blazing we mean K. Chioua hounding a succession of defenders and eventually the goal keeper into repeatedly coughing up the ball leaving Chioua with a goal for all his hard work. It didn't last long. A BFRAC cross from the right found a very unmarked forward who passed it back across goal into the far corner leaving A. Chioua in the CSSC net no chance. It was chances denied at both ends as first Ali made a stunning full stretch diving save to tip away a long range BFRAC effort and then K. Chioua earned a penalty when he was clipped in the box after being sent sprinting clear. There seemed to be a little confusion about who was going to take the penalty but K. Chioua, on a day off from charming the Winnipeg Fringe as the dancing bad boy, backed himself to slot home. Unfortunately, the BFRAC keeper guessed the right way and smothered the shot. Then disaster as just before the half CSSC half cleared a corner only to have it returned into their own box to two BFRAC players who were standing in acres of space, like solitary trees in a clear cut, and very offside. One of them half halfheartedly nodded the ball into the CSSC net. The ref appeared to call the play offside but then changed his mind and awarded a goal, much to the rage of CSSC's one fan. A bit unlucky to be 2-1 down at the half.
As people who can read headlines know, there was no heroic comeback, although the scoreline ignores two golden chances that went begging. CSSC started off the half with excellent ball movement and even a few reasonable long range attempts at goal from I Hudson and Dylan Doerksen but both flew just wide of the left post. Then a BFRAC counter resulted in a shot across goal rebounding off a post to an onrushing forward whose point blank shot was parried by Ali right to another forward whose chip to the far post was cleared by a combination of Sean Brown's acrobatic leaping kick and the post. At the other end a low Ed Gonzales cross found Garrido all alone at the far post but his close range shot clanged off the post and when the rebound again fell to him his shot rose over the bar. The game was over as a contest when Sean Brown, who had been involved with a bit of verbals with the ref all game was shown a questionable second yellow for a foul just outside the box. Not only were CSSC down to ten men, but the resulting free kick bent right into the top corner to make it 3-1. CSSC played reasonably well and had some good passing, but were let down by wayward finishing and, like any good manager in the Premiership will claim, the ref.
Man of the Match: Before the game, K. Chioua asked what he had to do to get man of the match. Apparently scoring CSSC's one goal and earning a penalty isn't enough if his father A. Chioua is going to produce block buster goal tending heroics to keep the game close until its final stages. However, for this game even Ali's turn in goal was outshone by Matt Brett, who recovered from a bit of a pregame tummy ache to put in a stalwart game at the back.
The season has just passed its half way mark and the signs don't look great for CSSC going into the second half of the schedule. A season opening 2-1 victory over Grunthal in the first half of the season, a 6-3 drubbing at the hands of Grunthal to start the second half of the year. To add to the trepidation of CSSC's traveling fans, AKA Matt Brett's girlfriend, CSSC was without linchpins Colin Kinsella, Emilio Garrido and Matt Loxley as kickoff approached due to late night dinner engagements and lawn mowing obligations at grandma's.
Unlike the previous game, CSSC came out gun's blazing - if by gun's blazing we mean K. Chioua hounding a succession of defenders and eventually the goal keeper into repeatedly coughing up the ball leaving Chioua with a goal for all his hard work. It didn't last long. A BFRAC cross from the right found a very unmarked forward who passed it back across goal into the far corner leaving A. Chioua in the CSSC net no chance. It was chances denied at both ends as first Ali made a stunning full stretch diving save to tip away a long range BFRAC effort and then K. Chioua earned a penalty when he was clipped in the box after being sent sprinting clear. There seemed to be a little confusion about who was going to take the penalty but K. Chioua, on a day off from charming the Winnipeg Fringe as the dancing bad boy, backed himself to slot home. Unfortunately, the BFRAC keeper guessed the right way and smothered the shot. Then disaster as just before the half CSSC half cleared a corner only to have it returned into their own box to two BFRAC players who were standing in acres of space, like solitary trees in a clear cut, and very offside. One of them half halfheartedly nodded the ball into the CSSC net. The ref appeared to call the play offside but then changed his mind and awarded a goal, much to the rage of CSSC's one fan. A bit unlucky to be 2-1 down at the half.
As people who can read headlines know, there was no heroic comeback, although the scoreline ignores two golden chances that went begging. CSSC started off the half with excellent ball movement and even a few reasonable long range attempts at goal from I Hudson and Dylan Doerksen but both flew just wide of the left post. Then a BFRAC counter resulted in a shot across goal rebounding off a post to an onrushing forward whose point blank shot was parried by Ali right to another forward whose chip to the far post was cleared by a combination of Sean Brown's acrobatic leaping kick and the post. At the other end a low Ed Gonzales cross found Garrido all alone at the far post but his close range shot clanged off the post and when the rebound again fell to him his shot rose over the bar. The game was over as a contest when Sean Brown, who had been involved with a bit of verbals with the ref all game was shown a questionable second yellow for a foul just outside the box. Not only were CSSC down to ten men, but the resulting free kick bent right into the top corner to make it 3-1. CSSC played reasonably well and had some good passing, but were let down by wayward finishing and, like any good manager in the Premiership will claim, the ref.
Man of the Match: Before the game, K. Chioua asked what he had to do to get man of the match. Apparently scoring CSSC's one goal and earning a penalty isn't enough if his father A. Chioua is going to produce block buster goal tending heroics to keep the game close until its final stages. However, for this game even Ali's turn in goal was outshone by Matt Brett, who recovered from a bit of a pregame tummy ache to put in a stalwart game at the back.
Grunthal 6 - 3 CSSC
What has happened to CSSC? In previous years CSSC was renowned far and wide for its ability to churn out low scoring, close fought games in which the opposition could never quite understand how they had lost. This year CSSC has gone from the dour protestant to the wild catholic, with a devil may care approach to anything approaching defensive responsibilities. A condom? Not for us. It didn't help that CSSC was down to its fourth string keeper Ian Hudson and a very makeshift back line without Fischer, Walden or Woolford. A quick glance at past results shows that the single greatest predictor of CSSC defeat is Ian Hudson in goal. Is he letting them in deliberately? Sometimes it appears that way.
Grunthal jumped out to an early lead within the first two minutes when three different Grunthal players shrugged off the half hearted defending of three CSSC players resulting in a close range toe poke past the nervy keeper. However, like the last game CSSC showed some first half steel by equalizing in lightening fashion. A wind assisted goal kick cleared the last defender sending Robinson sprinting clear. He thoughtfully help up the ball to the right of the Grunthal box and slid a pass to the marauding Kinsella, who sent K. Chioua free on the left to slide home. Goal keeping frailties placed CSSC behind again when a misplayed Grunthal cross floated into the top corner, Again CSSC fought back. First a glorious four person beating run by Dylan came to a crashing halt when he was fouled in the box. He dusted himself off but was too emotionally scarred to beat the Grunthal keeper. Still undaunted CSSC leveled just before the half when Wazoo flicked up a low corner at the near post and volleyed acrobatically across the keeper and into the far corner. Pick that out. Despite looking quite frail at the back it was all square in a first half goal festival.
Just like last game the second half proved CSSC's undoing. It was like a Paul Walker sequel, with Grunthal goals coming too fast, too furious and CSSC ending up like a fiery wreck (ed. that may be in bad taste). It all started with a free, point blank, uncontested header from a corner. The second of the half when a clearance by keeper Hudson failed to get the elevation he was looking for and a low rocket smacked into defender Sewart, falling straight to a Grunthal forward all alone in the CSSC half. He made no mistake. The last two were admittedly absolute scorchers into the top corner, but in both cases the Grunthal forwards were given plenty of unmolested time to consider what they were going to do with their golden scoring opportunity. It could have been more. Grunthal had plenty of other chances, hitting the post, the bar and Hudson may have even gotten in the way once or twice. K. Chioua added a gloss of respectability with a late goal.
Man of the Match: It was not a day to be handing out awards to players dressed in green, although Matt Brett played his heart out and K. Chioua tried to keep us in the game with two goals. Perhaps it should be God since some force turned the slightest breath of wind favouring CSSC in the first half into a roaring gale favouring Grunthal in the second. It's that or some Grunthal player but they all looked the same after a while.
What has happened to CSSC? In previous years CSSC was renowned far and wide for its ability to churn out low scoring, close fought games in which the opposition could never quite understand how they had lost. This year CSSC has gone from the dour protestant to the wild catholic, with a devil may care approach to anything approaching defensive responsibilities. A condom? Not for us. It didn't help that CSSC was down to its fourth string keeper Ian Hudson and a very makeshift back line without Fischer, Walden or Woolford. A quick glance at past results shows that the single greatest predictor of CSSC defeat is Ian Hudson in goal. Is he letting them in deliberately? Sometimes it appears that way.
Grunthal jumped out to an early lead within the first two minutes when three different Grunthal players shrugged off the half hearted defending of three CSSC players resulting in a close range toe poke past the nervy keeper. However, like the last game CSSC showed some first half steel by equalizing in lightening fashion. A wind assisted goal kick cleared the last defender sending Robinson sprinting clear. He thoughtfully help up the ball to the right of the Grunthal box and slid a pass to the marauding Kinsella, who sent K. Chioua free on the left to slide home. Goal keeping frailties placed CSSC behind again when a misplayed Grunthal cross floated into the top corner, Again CSSC fought back. First a glorious four person beating run by Dylan came to a crashing halt when he was fouled in the box. He dusted himself off but was too emotionally scarred to beat the Grunthal keeper. Still undaunted CSSC leveled just before the half when Wazoo flicked up a low corner at the near post and volleyed acrobatically across the keeper and into the far corner. Pick that out. Despite looking quite frail at the back it was all square in a first half goal festival.
Just like last game the second half proved CSSC's undoing. It was like a Paul Walker sequel, with Grunthal goals coming too fast, too furious and CSSC ending up like a fiery wreck (ed. that may be in bad taste). It all started with a free, point blank, uncontested header from a corner. The second of the half when a clearance by keeper Hudson failed to get the elevation he was looking for and a low rocket smacked into defender Sewart, falling straight to a Grunthal forward all alone in the CSSC half. He made no mistake. The last two were admittedly absolute scorchers into the top corner, but in both cases the Grunthal forwards were given plenty of unmolested time to consider what they were going to do with their golden scoring opportunity. It could have been more. Grunthal had plenty of other chances, hitting the post, the bar and Hudson may have even gotten in the way once or twice. K. Chioua added a gloss of respectability with a late goal.
Man of the Match: It was not a day to be handing out awards to players dressed in green, although Matt Brett played his heart out and K. Chioua tried to keep us in the game with two goals. Perhaps it should be God since some force turned the slightest breath of wind favouring CSSC in the first half into a roaring gale favouring Grunthal in the second. It's that or some Grunthal player but they all looked the same after a while.
CSSC 2 @ Interlake Impact 5
No one would confuse CSSC with the plucky squad from Iceland, though our first half against the top-of-the-table impact gave the impression that the squad in green possessed a measure of heart. First off, despite the thunder and lightening, every team member who promised to show appeared at Buhler 3 for game time. It was a night for celebrating small victories.
The Impact opened the scoring earlier when an unnamed defender carried the ball back toward his net and was stripped by the Impact’s speedy number 9, who placed his shot nicely into the bottom corner of the goal. CSSC fought back when a precision cross from Robinson found the youngster Van in front of the goal and he directed the ball into the open net for his first men’s league goal. Not long after, an Emilio run toward the goal resulted in him being cut down inside the 18. The Impact keeper did well to get a hand on Robinson’s penalty kick, but the ball made it across the line.
At this point, CSSC appeared equal to the mighty Impact and carried its share of possession. Perhaps CSSC possessed the spirit of a notable Interlake Viking warrior? Maybe not. Minutes after CSSC took the lead, an Impact header into the our 18-yeard box resulted in a swing and a miss by another unnamed defender (whose name rhymes with Bullford), allowing crafty number 9 to score his second of the game.
Despite gifting two goals to the Impact, CSSC left the half feeling good about our effort. Too good, it seems, since we came out in the second and proved that we are no Iceland. The Impact took the lead when an uncontested midfielder launched a well-placed shot out of the reach of Chioua. And then all went to pot. An unnecessary foul at the top of our 18 gave the Impact a penalty kick goal. And then our man Bullford whiffed on another ball, this time scoring an own goal (he claimed later a pinched nerve was making it hard for him to turn his neck and face the ball properly, but Vikings make no excuses!). The ref kindly recorded the own goal as the fourth of the night for number 9, but we all know what really happened.
Man of the Match: Bob Walden and Matt Brett had their fine defensive efforts overshadowed by the mistakes of others, but are still worthy of note. But Eli generated the first half goals that made us, for a short period, competitive in this game. So the award goes to Robinson. Bullford owes him a Vínarterta.
No one would confuse CSSC with the plucky squad from Iceland, though our first half against the top-of-the-table impact gave the impression that the squad in green possessed a measure of heart. First off, despite the thunder and lightening, every team member who promised to show appeared at Buhler 3 for game time. It was a night for celebrating small victories.
The Impact opened the scoring earlier when an unnamed defender carried the ball back toward his net and was stripped by the Impact’s speedy number 9, who placed his shot nicely into the bottom corner of the goal. CSSC fought back when a precision cross from Robinson found the youngster Van in front of the goal and he directed the ball into the open net for his first men’s league goal. Not long after, an Emilio run toward the goal resulted in him being cut down inside the 18. The Impact keeper did well to get a hand on Robinson’s penalty kick, but the ball made it across the line.
At this point, CSSC appeared equal to the mighty Impact and carried its share of possession. Perhaps CSSC possessed the spirit of a notable Interlake Viking warrior? Maybe not. Minutes after CSSC took the lead, an Impact header into the our 18-yeard box resulted in a swing and a miss by another unnamed defender (whose name rhymes with Bullford), allowing crafty number 9 to score his second of the game.
Despite gifting two goals to the Impact, CSSC left the half feeling good about our effort. Too good, it seems, since we came out in the second and proved that we are no Iceland. The Impact took the lead when an uncontested midfielder launched a well-placed shot out of the reach of Chioua. And then all went to pot. An unnecessary foul at the top of our 18 gave the Impact a penalty kick goal. And then our man Bullford whiffed on another ball, this time scoring an own goal (he claimed later a pinched nerve was making it hard for him to turn his neck and face the ball properly, but Vikings make no excuses!). The ref kindly recorded the own goal as the fourth of the night for number 9, but we all know what really happened.
Man of the Match: Bob Walden and Matt Brett had their fine defensive efforts overshadowed by the mistakes of others, but are still worthy of note. But Eli generated the first half goals that made us, for a short period, competitive in this game. So the award goes to Robinson. Bullford owes him a Vínarterta.
Landmark 1 - 0 CSSC
The Hudson brothers could have brought their flying squirrel suits to ride the Transcona winds on this blustery day at Buhler. The cold rain may have detracted from their base-jumping enjoyment, however. It certainly left the 12 miserable and somewhat angry men of CSSC looking to the ref for a last-minute cancellation. Speaking of last minute cancellations… we could have used a spare or two tonight.
CSSC started the game with the wind at our backs, but still managed to gift Landmark a few chances through ill-timed back passes that simply stopped in a puddle or were held up by the wind. Landmark’s shooters fortunately had some trouble finding their range. CSSC’s attack fared no better, as long lead passes intended to spring our forwards were caught up in the wind and grabbed by the keeper while shots went high and wide. Despite winning several corners, most simply blew out of bounds in the unpredictable wind, aside from an Ed Gonzales rocket that found Eli’s head, forcing the Landmark keeper to make a nice jump to tap the ball to safety over the net.
With the wind at their backs, Landmark was able to make better use of their speedy forwards, as well as the too often uncontested space in the middle of the field. But it appeared they were intent on bungling all chances, even those handed to them on a platter. At the other end, CSSC managed the odd flurry. The most promising was an intense several minutes that featured at least two corner kicks and promising crosses from Emilio and Ed. The pressure reached its climax with a brilliant Robinson header that would have been behind any regular division 6 goalie. But on this Sunday, the good Lord guided the Landmark keeper in grabbing the wet ball before it crossed the line.
With only 4 minutes remaining the scrambling was all in the CSSC end of the field. Somehow space kept opening up just outside of our 18-yard box for Landmark to try shots. Most ended up in swampy weeds far behind the net, but the final chance glanced off a CSSC buttocks and skipped on the wet grass to elude our very busy back-up keeper, Bob Walden, who once again proved himself Mr. CSSC worthy for donning the gloves.
Men of the Match: Stef deserves a lot of credit for coming in from the lake and playing with bruised ribs. Eli did great work in the midfield and got his head on some excellent crosses. If anyone went to the damn pub anymore there might be a more democratic way to decide. But since we did not, it’s my pick, and I give the title to the Penners (the CSSC ones, that is). Van did not look at all out of place playing his first game against men and Rick, in the words of Sean Brown, played the best game Sean has ever seen him play. It’s no wonder the Penner name is renowned in the Landmark sports hall of fame.
The Hudson brothers could have brought their flying squirrel suits to ride the Transcona winds on this blustery day at Buhler. The cold rain may have detracted from their base-jumping enjoyment, however. It certainly left the 12 miserable and somewhat angry men of CSSC looking to the ref for a last-minute cancellation. Speaking of last minute cancellations… we could have used a spare or two tonight.
CSSC started the game with the wind at our backs, but still managed to gift Landmark a few chances through ill-timed back passes that simply stopped in a puddle or were held up by the wind. Landmark’s shooters fortunately had some trouble finding their range. CSSC’s attack fared no better, as long lead passes intended to spring our forwards were caught up in the wind and grabbed by the keeper while shots went high and wide. Despite winning several corners, most simply blew out of bounds in the unpredictable wind, aside from an Ed Gonzales rocket that found Eli’s head, forcing the Landmark keeper to make a nice jump to tap the ball to safety over the net.
With the wind at their backs, Landmark was able to make better use of their speedy forwards, as well as the too often uncontested space in the middle of the field. But it appeared they were intent on bungling all chances, even those handed to them on a platter. At the other end, CSSC managed the odd flurry. The most promising was an intense several minutes that featured at least two corner kicks and promising crosses from Emilio and Ed. The pressure reached its climax with a brilliant Robinson header that would have been behind any regular division 6 goalie. But on this Sunday, the good Lord guided the Landmark keeper in grabbing the wet ball before it crossed the line.
With only 4 minutes remaining the scrambling was all in the CSSC end of the field. Somehow space kept opening up just outside of our 18-yard box for Landmark to try shots. Most ended up in swampy weeds far behind the net, but the final chance glanced off a CSSC buttocks and skipped on the wet grass to elude our very busy back-up keeper, Bob Walden, who once again proved himself Mr. CSSC worthy for donning the gloves.
Men of the Match: Stef deserves a lot of credit for coming in from the lake and playing with bruised ribs. Eli did great work in the midfield and got his head on some excellent crosses. If anyone went to the damn pub anymore there might be a more democratic way to decide. But since we did not, it’s my pick, and I give the title to the Penners (the CSSC ones, that is). Van did not look at all out of place playing his first game against men and Rick, in the words of Sean Brown, played the best game Sean has ever seen him play. It’s no wonder the Penner name is renowned in the Landmark sports hall of fame.
Les Bleus 2 - 3 CSSC
While coach Ian Hudson gads about Europe watching this competition, in between discussing Brexit with his fellow England fans, CSSC had a game to play.
Despite Kinsella’s crafty game plan, along with Woolford’s deft managerial needling that brought 17 players to the pitch, CSSC continued its trend of playing to the level of their opponent. This allowed Les Bleus to strike first, even if the word strike might be giving them too much credit -- a shot that otherwise would have reached our keeper was chested into our own net. CSSC quickly responded when budding criminologist Emilio darted to and fro through “the Blues” 18-yard box, forcing an opposing defender to cut him down. Charaf tricked the keeper on the ensuing penalty kick by placing it precisely where he dove, confounding him as the ball slipped through his mitts and into the net.
Later in the half, the team yelled at our giant forward and lone goal scorer to get off the field, as it appeared a heated argument with the ref over whether or not a ball on the sideline was out might get him carded. Feeling the pulse of the match, he wisely ignored us and made his way down the field to slot in his second of the night on a fine Ed Gonzalez cross.
Chances continued to come for CSSC up to the end of the half but the score remained 2-1. The second half brought out a lackluster green squad that seemed unable to count the number of blue attackers coming into our end of the field. The score was eventually evened when defender Woolford, who like his dog Annie ignores the command “leave it”, swung for and missed a ball, causing it to change direction enough to bounce away from keeper Aiken, clip off the post, and land at the foot of a charging Les Bleus striker, who easily stuffed it into the goal.
It looked as though the game might end in a tie – but Emilio was sprung late in the game and managed to squeak behind the goalie to find a wide open net. CSSC then hung on for the remaining minutes, but managed to give the Les Bleus shooters several chances to boot the ball into defending bodies, while also forcing keeper Aiken to make a timely reaction save.
Man of the Match: I’m tempted to name myself, since I was the only one prepared to go out for a beer after the victory. Charaf put in a great effort with his two goals, but it was Emilio who rose up when we needed him and created goals. He will not win the Lady Byng for his feisty play, but he’s getting out ahead in the MotM standings.
While coach Ian Hudson gads about Europe watching this competition, in between discussing Brexit with his fellow England fans, CSSC had a game to play.
Despite Kinsella’s crafty game plan, along with Woolford’s deft managerial needling that brought 17 players to the pitch, CSSC continued its trend of playing to the level of their opponent. This allowed Les Bleus to strike first, even if the word strike might be giving them too much credit -- a shot that otherwise would have reached our keeper was chested into our own net. CSSC quickly responded when budding criminologist Emilio darted to and fro through “the Blues” 18-yard box, forcing an opposing defender to cut him down. Charaf tricked the keeper on the ensuing penalty kick by placing it precisely where he dove, confounding him as the ball slipped through his mitts and into the net.
Later in the half, the team yelled at our giant forward and lone goal scorer to get off the field, as it appeared a heated argument with the ref over whether or not a ball on the sideline was out might get him carded. Feeling the pulse of the match, he wisely ignored us and made his way down the field to slot in his second of the night on a fine Ed Gonzalez cross.
Chances continued to come for CSSC up to the end of the half but the score remained 2-1. The second half brought out a lackluster green squad that seemed unable to count the number of blue attackers coming into our end of the field. The score was eventually evened when defender Woolford, who like his dog Annie ignores the command “leave it”, swung for and missed a ball, causing it to change direction enough to bounce away from keeper Aiken, clip off the post, and land at the foot of a charging Les Bleus striker, who easily stuffed it into the goal.
It looked as though the game might end in a tie – but Emilio was sprung late in the game and managed to squeak behind the goalie to find a wide open net. CSSC then hung on for the remaining minutes, but managed to give the Les Bleus shooters several chances to boot the ball into defending bodies, while also forcing keeper Aiken to make a timely reaction save.
Man of the Match: I’m tempted to name myself, since I was the only one prepared to go out for a beer after the victory. Charaf put in a great effort with his two goals, but it was Emilio who rose up when we needed him and created goals. He will not win the Lady Byng for his feisty play, but he’s getting out ahead in the MotM standings.
Portage Cobras 3 - 2 CSSC
Due to CSSC's web content developer swanning off to watch a couple of super awesome games at Euro 16, including Ireland and its thoroughly modern manager Martin O'Neil beating Italy's B side, this report is being filed so long after the game, it's all a bit of a blur.
No one's too sure how CSSC fell behind, but the equalizer came when K. Chioua turned his defender in the box and went down thanks to a shove in the back. He calmly stepped up and slotted home the penalty. The ref attempted the classic even up call by awarding a very dubious penalty against CSSCs new Beckenbauer, Colin Kinsella but justice prevailed when the penalty clanked off the bar. However, CSSC's defense was looking shakier than a bowl of soup and they fell behind when a corner created a scramble in the box, which fell to a Cobra striker who had an unacceptable amount of time to blast a rocket from 10 yards that keeper Walden probably would have had covered were it not for I Hudson actually obeying his tough as nails father's insistence never to flinch or duck. Standing firm meant that the ball glanced off his melon and into the net past a despairing Walden. CSSC again clawed its way back to level terms when Ed Gonzales worked some magic along the byline to dig out a cross that fell to Hudson about 12 yards out who controlled off his thigh and thumped a volley into the goal. Sadly, Hudson's euphoria at having actually scored only lasted about a minute. The CSSC defense seemed to have snuffed out a Cobra through ball but Woolford's new footwear let him down at an inopportune moment and his slip allowed the Cobras to strike (see what I did there? with the Cobra?) a late winner.
Man of the Match: Irishman Colin Kinsella was asked to step into a new role as center back and he looked great. Conscientious defending coupled with calm possession and insightful passing. It was no coincidence that the two late goals came after he was subbed off to the disbelief of the tactically astute among the home support.
Due to CSSC's web content developer swanning off to watch a couple of super awesome games at Euro 16, including Ireland and its thoroughly modern manager Martin O'Neil beating Italy's B side, this report is being filed so long after the game, it's all a bit of a blur.
No one's too sure how CSSC fell behind, but the equalizer came when K. Chioua turned his defender in the box and went down thanks to a shove in the back. He calmly stepped up and slotted home the penalty. The ref attempted the classic even up call by awarding a very dubious penalty against CSSCs new Beckenbauer, Colin Kinsella but justice prevailed when the penalty clanked off the bar. However, CSSC's defense was looking shakier than a bowl of soup and they fell behind when a corner created a scramble in the box, which fell to a Cobra striker who had an unacceptable amount of time to blast a rocket from 10 yards that keeper Walden probably would have had covered were it not for I Hudson actually obeying his tough as nails father's insistence never to flinch or duck. Standing firm meant that the ball glanced off his melon and into the net past a despairing Walden. CSSC again clawed its way back to level terms when Ed Gonzales worked some magic along the byline to dig out a cross that fell to Hudson about 12 yards out who controlled off his thigh and thumped a volley into the goal. Sadly, Hudson's euphoria at having actually scored only lasted about a minute. The CSSC defense seemed to have snuffed out a Cobra through ball but Woolford's new footwear let him down at an inopportune moment and his slip allowed the Cobras to strike (see what I did there? with the Cobra?) a late winner.
Man of the Match: Irishman Colin Kinsella was asked to step into a new role as center back and he looked great. Conscientious defending coupled with calm possession and insightful passing. It was no coincidence that the two late goals came after he was subbed off to the disbelief of the tactically astute among the home support.
Azzurri 3 - 5 CSSC
In addition to the much chronicled goal tending controversy surrounding CSSC, the team had to make do without two outfield players for very different reasons. Mainstay left back Andrew Woolford was out of town on a secret team sanctioned trip to generate oversees investors in the wake of his wildly successful journey to Armenia, where he obtained funding promises from both the President and palace guest George Clooney after wowing them at an international genocide conference (Andrew took the "against" genocide position). Newly signed midfielder Niall Harney, on the other hand, has fled town in the dead of night leaving CSSC management hoping that he's not off on an irresponsible bender that's going to end up on the front page of the Winnipeg tabloids.
CSSC scores goals shocker! Those who regularly follow CSSC have come to appreciate or at least tolerate their brand of low scoring, back to the wall play. What the fans made of the three goal explosion in the first 20 minutes is anyone's guess. CSSC's new midfield signing Emilio Garrido made a fantastic first impression on CSSC supporters. He sped past an Azzurri defender who thought the ball was rolling out of play and squared back to a waiting Robinson, who made a fantastic no look pass to the far post where K. Chioua was lurking to fire home for an early lead. The second arrived in the finest route 1 style. A Bob Walden punt out from goal was flicked on by Dylan to Robinson who was in a dead sprint with the last Azzurri defender. He slid a pass across the top of the box to Garrido, who had sprinted up in support to slot home from close range. It was three when Dylan's mazy dribble just inside the Azzurri box came to a crashing halt courtesy of a late slide tackle. It was all Dylan and no ball. A stone cold penalty, although the defender may have been confused about where the 18 yard box was given the number of conflicting lines on the newly marked out Buhler field. Robinson stepped up to calmly convert the penalty. Just when CSSC looked like they were coasting, they conceded two uncharacteristically sloppy goals. One was an own goal, which will not be described in any detail, and the second the result of a poorly defended corner. Never has a side trudged so miserably off at the half time whistle after scoring three goals.
CSSC managed to alleviate some the pressure of a one goal lead early in the second half. I Hudson beat the Azzurri keeper to a Charaoui ball over the top. Although his first touch took him wide of the goal right on the byline, he managed to square it back to Devon waiting at the far post for an empty net tap in to open his CSSC account. Never a team to get comfortable, CSSC let Azzurri back in the game with a penalty that neutrals would have to admit was a miscarriage of justice of perhaps not genocide proportions, but large enough, when Tyler Johnson poked the ball away from an Azzurri forward who promptly kicked Tyler in the calf and fell over. Despite some nervous moments the game was made safe when Dylan's delicate chip hit the underside of the crossbar and Robinson was on hand to tap in the rebound. It could have been more if K. Chioua had brought his shooting boots. He drilled a laser off the crossbar, sent a wild one timer into row Z and not only missed a clear breakaway but also the gift rebound. CSSC management takes Kamal's claim that he's, "saving it for when it counts" as accurate. 5-3. Goodness, that's not old time CSSC soccer.
Man of the Match: The awards committee was in a surly mood because the cook at the Jolly Friar had done a runner from work, leaving hungry post match stomachs grumbling for relief. Robinson's two goal, two assist performance was excellent as was Dylan's command of the midfield. But the award, and a basket of non existent wings, went to Emilio for scoring one and setting up another in CSSC's biggest goal explosion in recent memory.
In addition to the much chronicled goal tending controversy surrounding CSSC, the team had to make do without two outfield players for very different reasons. Mainstay left back Andrew Woolford was out of town on a secret team sanctioned trip to generate oversees investors in the wake of his wildly successful journey to Armenia, where he obtained funding promises from both the President and palace guest George Clooney after wowing them at an international genocide conference (Andrew took the "against" genocide position). Newly signed midfielder Niall Harney, on the other hand, has fled town in the dead of night leaving CSSC management hoping that he's not off on an irresponsible bender that's going to end up on the front page of the Winnipeg tabloids.
CSSC scores goals shocker! Those who regularly follow CSSC have come to appreciate or at least tolerate their brand of low scoring, back to the wall play. What the fans made of the three goal explosion in the first 20 minutes is anyone's guess. CSSC's new midfield signing Emilio Garrido made a fantastic first impression on CSSC supporters. He sped past an Azzurri defender who thought the ball was rolling out of play and squared back to a waiting Robinson, who made a fantastic no look pass to the far post where K. Chioua was lurking to fire home for an early lead. The second arrived in the finest route 1 style. A Bob Walden punt out from goal was flicked on by Dylan to Robinson who was in a dead sprint with the last Azzurri defender. He slid a pass across the top of the box to Garrido, who had sprinted up in support to slot home from close range. It was three when Dylan's mazy dribble just inside the Azzurri box came to a crashing halt courtesy of a late slide tackle. It was all Dylan and no ball. A stone cold penalty, although the defender may have been confused about where the 18 yard box was given the number of conflicting lines on the newly marked out Buhler field. Robinson stepped up to calmly convert the penalty. Just when CSSC looked like they were coasting, they conceded two uncharacteristically sloppy goals. One was an own goal, which will not be described in any detail, and the second the result of a poorly defended corner. Never has a side trudged so miserably off at the half time whistle after scoring three goals.
CSSC managed to alleviate some the pressure of a one goal lead early in the second half. I Hudson beat the Azzurri keeper to a Charaoui ball over the top. Although his first touch took him wide of the goal right on the byline, he managed to square it back to Devon waiting at the far post for an empty net tap in to open his CSSC account. Never a team to get comfortable, CSSC let Azzurri back in the game with a penalty that neutrals would have to admit was a miscarriage of justice of perhaps not genocide proportions, but large enough, when Tyler Johnson poked the ball away from an Azzurri forward who promptly kicked Tyler in the calf and fell over. Despite some nervous moments the game was made safe when Dylan's delicate chip hit the underside of the crossbar and Robinson was on hand to tap in the rebound. It could have been more if K. Chioua had brought his shooting boots. He drilled a laser off the crossbar, sent a wild one timer into row Z and not only missed a clear breakaway but also the gift rebound. CSSC management takes Kamal's claim that he's, "saving it for when it counts" as accurate. 5-3. Goodness, that's not old time CSSC soccer.
Man of the Match: The awards committee was in a surly mood because the cook at the Jolly Friar had done a runner from work, leaving hungry post match stomachs grumbling for relief. Robinson's two goal, two assist performance was excellent as was Dylan's command of the midfield. But the award, and a basket of non existent wings, went to Emilio for scoring one and setting up another in CSSC's biggest goal explosion in recent memory.
North Winnipeg FC 1 - 1 CSSC
CSSC's unprecedented commitment to showing up at games continued with a full squad going through its casually static warm up routine well before the ref blew his whistle for kick off. There was a fevered atmosphere in the cauldron of Buhler 4 and all but one (pictured on the left) of the 20 odd fans were clearly not supporting the good guys in forest green. To add to the intimidating atmosphere, during the coin toss, the NWFC captain confidently declared that they had not lost this season and "they weren't going to lose tonight." Perhaps CSSC's rejoinder that the "creme always rises to the top," was lost on the youthful captain, so here's a little education for all those who were too young for the glory days of wrestling (and it's a little something for the youngest of the Chioua brothers).
The first half was relatively even with both keepers largely unworked. CSSC managed to carve out a half chance when I. Hudson sent Kamal Chioua sprinting in on goal, but a last ditch tackle denied the chance. NW's best chance resulted in a frantic goal mouth scramble that first half keeper Ali and the massed ranks of the CSSC defense somehow kept from crossing the line.
CSSC was pinned back for most of the second half. NW managed to create another desperate scramble on the CSSC goal line and had another clear cut chance drive off the under side of the bar before they opened the scoring. Again, it was panic in the CSSC box as a second ball off a corner fell kindly to a NW striker with the CSSC defense rooted to their collective spots like pre angered Ents (too much with the geek? ed.). While last year that would have been the cue for a CSSC capitulation, this year it sparked a frantic comeback. First Ed Gonzales was thwarted by a remarkable closing tackle. Then from the resulting corner, Bruce Sewart and Chioua Sr. worked our training ground proven short corner. The resulting cross was nutted into the top corner by an appropriately overjoyed Chioua Jr. for a father-son combination the likes of which hasn't been seen since the Loxleys. I suppose the NW captain was right, although I'm not sure he was predicting a draw.
Man of the Match: The play of the match was either second half keeper Bob Walden's dramatic stretch to get the tips of his fingers to a header that was creeping just under the bar or the Chioua to Chioua connection for the tying goal. However, those enjoying their buffalo wings at the Jolly Friar figured that the best player award should go to the all action defending of Tyler Johnson, whose turn of speed and well timed tackles turned back countless NW attacks. Club management was expecting big things from this raw talent in his second year, and early signs look good.
CSSC's unprecedented commitment to showing up at games continued with a full squad going through its casually static warm up routine well before the ref blew his whistle for kick off. There was a fevered atmosphere in the cauldron of Buhler 4 and all but one (pictured on the left) of the 20 odd fans were clearly not supporting the good guys in forest green. To add to the intimidating atmosphere, during the coin toss, the NWFC captain confidently declared that they had not lost this season and "they weren't going to lose tonight." Perhaps CSSC's rejoinder that the "creme always rises to the top," was lost on the youthful captain, so here's a little education for all those who were too young for the glory days of wrestling (and it's a little something for the youngest of the Chioua brothers).
The first half was relatively even with both keepers largely unworked. CSSC managed to carve out a half chance when I. Hudson sent Kamal Chioua sprinting in on goal, but a last ditch tackle denied the chance. NW's best chance resulted in a frantic goal mouth scramble that first half keeper Ali and the massed ranks of the CSSC defense somehow kept from crossing the line.
CSSC was pinned back for most of the second half. NW managed to create another desperate scramble on the CSSC goal line and had another clear cut chance drive off the under side of the bar before they opened the scoring. Again, it was panic in the CSSC box as a second ball off a corner fell kindly to a NW striker with the CSSC defense rooted to their collective spots like pre angered Ents (too much with the geek? ed.). While last year that would have been the cue for a CSSC capitulation, this year it sparked a frantic comeback. First Ed Gonzales was thwarted by a remarkable closing tackle. Then from the resulting corner, Bruce Sewart and Chioua Sr. worked our training ground proven short corner. The resulting cross was nutted into the top corner by an appropriately overjoyed Chioua Jr. for a father-son combination the likes of which hasn't been seen since the Loxleys. I suppose the NW captain was right, although I'm not sure he was predicting a draw.
Man of the Match: The play of the match was either second half keeper Bob Walden's dramatic stretch to get the tips of his fingers to a header that was creeping just under the bar or the Chioua to Chioua connection for the tying goal. However, those enjoying their buffalo wings at the Jolly Friar figured that the best player award should go to the all action defending of Tyler Johnson, whose turn of speed and well timed tackles turned back countless NW attacks. Club management was expecting big things from this raw talent in his second year, and early signs look good.
CSSC 2 - 0 BFRAC
The continued, unexplained absences of CSSC's starting keeper Chris Aiken is beginning to cause some concern among management. Where is Aiken? It's like "what rhymes with orange." No one knows the answer. On the non goal tending front, however, things looked good, with a full seven subs out to make sure that tired CSSC legs could always get a rest.
The game started out very even, but as the half wore on, CSSC began to assert more control. New signing Dylan Doerksen was getting a first run out on the wing and he looked very good early on, cutting in off the right wing to latch on to a defense splitting pass from K. Chioua, only to bounce his shot off the near post. About mid way through the half Ed Gonzales hunted down the BFRAC right back, starting a Loxley to Hudson passing combination across the field that resulted in releasing new man Niall Harney, who took one touch inside the BFRAC box and, ice cold, slid it in the far corner for his first goal for the club. The game really turned CSSC's way when a BFRAC corner resulted in an overly aggravated BFRAC forward throwing an elbow at an unquestionably completely innocent Kamal. The ref produced a straight red and there could be few complaints. A goal up, a man up, and all this against a howling wind.
At half time the team medical department declared Eli Robinson unfit to play due to a hamstring pull. Fortunately, CSSC has invested in some first rate healing facilities during the off season, so ace target man Robinson will have the benefit of recuperating with all the modern conveniences like twin baths for TV interviews and fancy things with dials. With the wind, and against a depleted BFRAC side, CSSC enjoyed plenty of possession. They could only really make it pay once though. Fischer marauded down the right side and flung and in what was either a remarkable bender into the top corner or a cross that got caught in the wind. Either way there was little else note as the half wore on, with the possible exception of some rough house tactics by BFRAC that made man mountain Charaf Charaoui get involved in a literal tete a tete with the offending party. A two goal lead as the game wares on is much more relaxing than CSSC's customary panic inducing one. Or being down a couple of goals. That's not too relaxing either.
Man of the match: Usually this is decided by the crowd assembled for post game beers, but we were too busy speculating about Aiken's potential whereabouts (kidnapped? eloped? failed medical experiment?) to concern ourselves with insignificant matters like the best CSSC player. So, without much thought going into it, let's give it to the massed CSSC fans who turned out in the driving wind and rain to huddle on the leeward side of what I believe is euphemistically termed the "press box" at the Waverly Complex. Admission to the next game is on the team.
The continued, unexplained absences of CSSC's starting keeper Chris Aiken is beginning to cause some concern among management. Where is Aiken? It's like "what rhymes with orange." No one knows the answer. On the non goal tending front, however, things looked good, with a full seven subs out to make sure that tired CSSC legs could always get a rest.
The game started out very even, but as the half wore on, CSSC began to assert more control. New signing Dylan Doerksen was getting a first run out on the wing and he looked very good early on, cutting in off the right wing to latch on to a defense splitting pass from K. Chioua, only to bounce his shot off the near post. About mid way through the half Ed Gonzales hunted down the BFRAC right back, starting a Loxley to Hudson passing combination across the field that resulted in releasing new man Niall Harney, who took one touch inside the BFRAC box and, ice cold, slid it in the far corner for his first goal for the club. The game really turned CSSC's way when a BFRAC corner resulted in an overly aggravated BFRAC forward throwing an elbow at an unquestionably completely innocent Kamal. The ref produced a straight red and there could be few complaints. A goal up, a man up, and all this against a howling wind.
At half time the team medical department declared Eli Robinson unfit to play due to a hamstring pull. Fortunately, CSSC has invested in some first rate healing facilities during the off season, so ace target man Robinson will have the benefit of recuperating with all the modern conveniences like twin baths for TV interviews and fancy things with dials. With the wind, and against a depleted BFRAC side, CSSC enjoyed plenty of possession. They could only really make it pay once though. Fischer marauded down the right side and flung and in what was either a remarkable bender into the top corner or a cross that got caught in the wind. Either way there was little else note as the half wore on, with the possible exception of some rough house tactics by BFRAC that made man mountain Charaf Charaoui get involved in a literal tete a tete with the offending party. A two goal lead as the game wares on is much more relaxing than CSSC's customary panic inducing one. Or being down a couple of goals. That's not too relaxing either.
Man of the match: Usually this is decided by the crowd assembled for post game beers, but we were too busy speculating about Aiken's potential whereabouts (kidnapped? eloped? failed medical experiment?) to concern ourselves with insignificant matters like the best CSSC player. So, without much thought going into it, let's give it to the massed CSSC fans who turned out in the driving wind and rain to huddle on the leeward side of what I believe is euphemistically termed the "press box" at the Waverly Complex. Admission to the next game is on the team.
CSSC 2 - 1 Grunthal
Pre game chaos strikes CSSC shocker! Due to many CSSC players' inexcusable non soccer commitments, CSSC has, for years now, signed a few more players than we could put on the game sheet. Not once during all this period have we had a surplus of players at any game. Yet enthusiasm for the new season was at such a fever pitch that we actually had to ask for a volunteer to sit this one out. Bruce Sewart's noble sacrifice in stepping aside did nothing to reduce his chances of winning this year's nice guy of the year award. Then, predictably, as kick off approached, CSSC's full line up failed to materialize. Mid field wizard Emilio couldn't find his ID, Ed's car broke down and Chris Aiken just forgot about the game. Next to CSSC, cats are a well drilled machine of discipline and order.
CSSC started with Robinson, Fischer and Hudson on the bench to see how the new signings had bedded in. Early signs didn't look too promising. A wind favored Grunthal was applying a great deal of pressure and CSSC had stand in keeper Ali Chioua to thank for maintaining a clean sheet when he absolutely stoned a bewildered Grunthal forward who is still wondering how his well struck volley from six yards out failed to find the back of the net. Even the mighty Chioua could not keep out a dubious penalty a few minutes later. It might not have been a foul and it might have been just outside the box but the Grunthal midfielder was allowed to run much too far unmolested before being dumped by sweeper Sean Brown. CSSC managed a confidence boosting equalizer when I. Hudson picked up a deep thrown in and laid it off to Eli Robinson, who took one touch before firing a low drive that the keeper did very well to get a hand to, but it squeezed just over the line.
With the wind in the second half CSSC looked quite a bit more settled. Early in the half, new signing Niall Harney sent a lovely ball over the top to a figuratively streaking Robinson who gathered himself and fired a scorcher into the top far corner before the excellent Grunthal keeper could even move. CSSC could have put the game away but couldn't finish two more than presentable chances. First, Kamal was in clear on the keeper but, like Geraldo Rivera on Dancing with the Stars, his composure let him down a little and he poked the ball wide. Then Wazoo was sent sprinting clear but he was still tired from his frantic punk rock drumming at the big Kick Me Kate show the night before so the Grunthal defense managed to scuffle the ball away just as he was shooting. That just set up the kind of drama that A. Chioua loves and he again came to CSSC's rescue by palming away a close range drive destined for goal. Goodness, a season opening win. Optimism abounds.
Man of the Match: There were three big contenders. Andrew Woolford played a splendid game at the back featuring a perfectly timed goal saving tackle that left the Grunthal striker so disconsolate he had a bit of a lie on the ground for a while. Eli's two goals in a 2-1 win were kind of a big deal and goal number two will take a bit of topping for goal of the year. Still, Ali's one fine and one miraculous save wins the season opening man of the match.
Pre game chaos strikes CSSC shocker! Due to many CSSC players' inexcusable non soccer commitments, CSSC has, for years now, signed a few more players than we could put on the game sheet. Not once during all this period have we had a surplus of players at any game. Yet enthusiasm for the new season was at such a fever pitch that we actually had to ask for a volunteer to sit this one out. Bruce Sewart's noble sacrifice in stepping aside did nothing to reduce his chances of winning this year's nice guy of the year award. Then, predictably, as kick off approached, CSSC's full line up failed to materialize. Mid field wizard Emilio couldn't find his ID, Ed's car broke down and Chris Aiken just forgot about the game. Next to CSSC, cats are a well drilled machine of discipline and order.
CSSC started with Robinson, Fischer and Hudson on the bench to see how the new signings had bedded in. Early signs didn't look too promising. A wind favored Grunthal was applying a great deal of pressure and CSSC had stand in keeper Ali Chioua to thank for maintaining a clean sheet when he absolutely stoned a bewildered Grunthal forward who is still wondering how his well struck volley from six yards out failed to find the back of the net. Even the mighty Chioua could not keep out a dubious penalty a few minutes later. It might not have been a foul and it might have been just outside the box but the Grunthal midfielder was allowed to run much too far unmolested before being dumped by sweeper Sean Brown. CSSC managed a confidence boosting equalizer when I. Hudson picked up a deep thrown in and laid it off to Eli Robinson, who took one touch before firing a low drive that the keeper did very well to get a hand to, but it squeezed just over the line.
With the wind in the second half CSSC looked quite a bit more settled. Early in the half, new signing Niall Harney sent a lovely ball over the top to a figuratively streaking Robinson who gathered himself and fired a scorcher into the top far corner before the excellent Grunthal keeper could even move. CSSC could have put the game away but couldn't finish two more than presentable chances. First, Kamal was in clear on the keeper but, like Geraldo Rivera on Dancing with the Stars, his composure let him down a little and he poked the ball wide. Then Wazoo was sent sprinting clear but he was still tired from his frantic punk rock drumming at the big Kick Me Kate show the night before so the Grunthal defense managed to scuffle the ball away just as he was shooting. That just set up the kind of drama that A. Chioua loves and he again came to CSSC's rescue by palming away a close range drive destined for goal. Goodness, a season opening win. Optimism abounds.
Man of the Match: There were three big contenders. Andrew Woolford played a splendid game at the back featuring a perfectly timed goal saving tackle that left the Grunthal striker so disconsolate he had a bit of a lie on the ground for a while. Eli's two goals in a 2-1 win were kind of a big deal and goal number two will take a bit of topping for goal of the year. Still, Ali's one fine and one miraculous save wins the season opening man of the match.