2023 Match Reports
Playoff Final CSSC 2 – 1 Azzurri
It was a dark and stormy night. The wind was blowing a howling gale, driving the rain across a soaking turf field. But there was good news on two fronts for CSSC. First a strong contingent of fans showed up to roar CSSC on to victory, including JDB’s grandparents (pictured below) and playoff stalwart Sue Hudson. Second, CSSC’s four players injured in the semi showed recovery powers not seen since Hugh Grant’s career because all four returned for the final, most importantly tough as nails keeper Jules Martins. The recoveries were crucial because CSSC were without Matt, Alain, Erwan, Tyler, and Sean – absences that would have sunk a lesser team.
The game started with an impressive CSSC pushing the ball around the midfield with a tasty series of short passing moves. Such was the CSSC dominance that Azzurri had barely crossed center with possession when a well worked passing move down the right resulted in a pass to Eltee just inside the Azzurri box. His first touch took it past his marker and the second drove it low into the back of the net. If this start were a fruit it would be a peach. The goal seemed to spark Azzurri to life and they really clamped down on the midfield, turning it into a scrappy battle that Azzurri was just shading. Jules was kept on his toes and was forced into a tremendous diving save to tip an Azzurri free kick around the post to preserve the lead.
The second half was not for the footie purest, with the rain slanting across the night lights of Waverly both teams dug in but there was little in the way of magic.
However, the game was turned by Eltee’s electric pace that forced the last Azzurri defender to drop his shoulder and knock him down rather than see him beat the Azzurri keeper to the ball. The ref reached into his pocket and proved he knew his way around the primary colours, and the rules of footie, by pulling out a red. Only two minutes later Eltee successfully tested his speed against the Azzurri left back, beat him to the byline, and delivered a teasing cross to the far post that was finished off by Bryce with a textbook downward header. 2 – 0 and a man up. Surely, CSSC had one hand on the trophy.
But it was a slippery grip as well. Playing up a man CSSC could not make their numbers count and Azzurri’s "throw caution to the wind" approach was paying off. Somehow a long ball over the top cleared the entire CSSC D but the Azzurri forward sprinting clear was foiled by the gigantic form of Jules who slowed the shot down enough for Walden to hack it off the line. Five minutes later, an identical through ball again cut open the CSSC middle and this time Jules' block was a bit too out of the box for his hands to be legal. Again, the ref pulled out the red, forcing CSSC down to 10 men and Walden between the sticks. Azzurri stepped up and bent a beautiful free kick into the bottom corner. CSSC nerves were jangling but they managed to hold on with Walden only having to make one punch clear from a corner.
Back to back baby, said Captain Kamal while hoisting the trophy.
Man of the Match: If this final were a university class, it would be calculus. You more soldier through more than enjoy it. And CSSC soldiered through on the back of Jules Martins’ wonderful display of keeping, especially with two fingers taped together for sturdiness.
It was a dark and stormy night. The wind was blowing a howling gale, driving the rain across a soaking turf field. But there was good news on two fronts for CSSC. First a strong contingent of fans showed up to roar CSSC on to victory, including JDB’s grandparents (pictured below) and playoff stalwart Sue Hudson. Second, CSSC’s four players injured in the semi showed recovery powers not seen since Hugh Grant’s career because all four returned for the final, most importantly tough as nails keeper Jules Martins. The recoveries were crucial because CSSC were without Matt, Alain, Erwan, Tyler, and Sean – absences that would have sunk a lesser team.
The game started with an impressive CSSC pushing the ball around the midfield with a tasty series of short passing moves. Such was the CSSC dominance that Azzurri had barely crossed center with possession when a well worked passing move down the right resulted in a pass to Eltee just inside the Azzurri box. His first touch took it past his marker and the second drove it low into the back of the net. If this start were a fruit it would be a peach. The goal seemed to spark Azzurri to life and they really clamped down on the midfield, turning it into a scrappy battle that Azzurri was just shading. Jules was kept on his toes and was forced into a tremendous diving save to tip an Azzurri free kick around the post to preserve the lead.
The second half was not for the footie purest, with the rain slanting across the night lights of Waverly both teams dug in but there was little in the way of magic.
However, the game was turned by Eltee’s electric pace that forced the last Azzurri defender to drop his shoulder and knock him down rather than see him beat the Azzurri keeper to the ball. The ref reached into his pocket and proved he knew his way around the primary colours, and the rules of footie, by pulling out a red. Only two minutes later Eltee successfully tested his speed against the Azzurri left back, beat him to the byline, and delivered a teasing cross to the far post that was finished off by Bryce with a textbook downward header. 2 – 0 and a man up. Surely, CSSC had one hand on the trophy.
But it was a slippery grip as well. Playing up a man CSSC could not make their numbers count and Azzurri’s "throw caution to the wind" approach was paying off. Somehow a long ball over the top cleared the entire CSSC D but the Azzurri forward sprinting clear was foiled by the gigantic form of Jules who slowed the shot down enough for Walden to hack it off the line. Five minutes later, an identical through ball again cut open the CSSC middle and this time Jules' block was a bit too out of the box for his hands to be legal. Again, the ref pulled out the red, forcing CSSC down to 10 men and Walden between the sticks. Azzurri stepped up and bent a beautiful free kick into the bottom corner. CSSC nerves were jangling but they managed to hold on with Walden only having to make one punch clear from a corner.
Back to back baby, said Captain Kamal while hoisting the trophy.
Man of the Match: If this final were a university class, it would be calculus. You more soldier through more than enjoy it. And CSSC soldiered through on the back of Jules Martins’ wonderful display of keeping, especially with two fingers taped together for sturdiness.
St. James 1 – 3 CSSC
As CSSC lethargically strolled onto the marquee field number one at Waverly just before kickoff, they received the very good news that St. James was missing their midfield firecracker number 14 because of accumulated yellow cards. Not that CSSC was at full strength - with its own midfield linchpin Matt Loxley away chasing a frizbee around the US. CSSC’s D was also stretched to the breaking point with Sean Brown out after shoulder surgery, Tyler Johnson off exploring the North, and Aaron Doerksen touring the colleges of Manitoba.
Those crowding in the stands at Waverly were treated to an end to end thrill fest. Neither team was interested in anything even vaguely resembling midfield play, preferring to get the ball forward quickly and dangerously. Chances came and went for both sides. With only a minute gone St. James’ speedy striker got in behind the center of the CSSC D but screwed his close range shot wide. CSSC managed to steady the ship and proceeded to create several golden chances. KD had the keeper at full stretch with a low drive from the top of the box, Bryce smacked one off the top of the bar, Eltee couldn’t quite pull the trigger after racing through clean, Stef drove it right into the keeper when teed up about 10 yards out, and I. Hudson smashed just wide after the ball fell to him when JDB was unceremoniously dumped in the box (“penalty in the regular season but not in the playoffs” said the ref, which doesn’t seem like how rules should work unless you’re in the NHL). When it’s all typed out, CSSC probably should have scored more. They would get the goal that had been coming when JDB collected a through ball out wide and pushed it past the keeper who clattered him to the ground just outside the box on the right. CSSC’s stat wizard and set piece coach, Bill Gerrard, had carefully created a play which could be roughly described as “hit the tallest player in the head with the ball,” and the training ground routine was executed to perfection as I. Hudson hit a flat cross that that Mr. Tall, Niall Harney nodded into the roof of the net. Last year CSSC’s playoff win was spearheaded by Harney goals in the semi final and final. It looks like Playoff Niall is a real thing.
The second half was, if anything even more scrappy and chaotic with both teams struggling to string together anything resembling a passing move. St. James was winning corner after corner but either Alain or Jules, in the CSSC net, were managing to just about get them clear. CSSC was desperately trying to find a second that would calm the nerves but Eltee, who was running the St. James D ragged, twice cut into the box onto his left foot – once bending it just over from distance and then not quite getting the power on a low shot to beat the keeper. Then Erwan worked a delicious 1 – 2 at the top of the St. James box to put himself in the clear but his one time volley just rocketed the wrong side of the post. Finally, with about 10 minutes to go, Eltee raced clear on the right and squared across the box to a hard charging Harney who put the Niall in the St. James coffin (nice one Dan!) with his second of the night. Playoff Niall!!!
The drama was not even close to over. Jules came out bravely to smother a loose ball in the box only to have his finger dislocated in a very unsightly and painful way. Amazingly St. James had a second year med student who yanked it back into place, but although tough as nails Jules was ready to go back in after a quick finger taping, CSSC put heroic back up Bob Walden between the sticks. CSSC made the game even safer when Eltee again turned set up man by sliding Zach in behind the St. James D and he held his nerve to smash an unstoppable low drive into the far corner and give number 8 a bit of “there you go.” CSSC fans were singing so loudly about going off to the final that they barely noticed when St. James converted one of their seemingly endless string of corners despite Woolford’s tremendous effort to make a goal line clearance. However, that was pretty much it, except for a string of pretty niggly fouls on JDB that were encouraged by the ref’s relaxed and erratic attitude to what constituted a foul.
Man of the Match: CSSC was joined in the bar by former super star defender Riley DeBlonde, who controversially had the rest of the team googling polyamory and being a bit concerned about the results (there’s 9 types!!). Amidst the uproar, the return of Playoff Niall wins MotM, although the whole team put in a wonderful shift with special mention to Mark Hudson and Stef Hodges who played lights out covering at outside back. The only concern for the finals was CSSC’s growing injury list with Amorim (ankle), Hudson (quad) and Hudson (hamstring) joining Jules in the maybe able to play category.
As CSSC lethargically strolled onto the marquee field number one at Waverly just before kickoff, they received the very good news that St. James was missing their midfield firecracker number 14 because of accumulated yellow cards. Not that CSSC was at full strength - with its own midfield linchpin Matt Loxley away chasing a frizbee around the US. CSSC’s D was also stretched to the breaking point with Sean Brown out after shoulder surgery, Tyler Johnson off exploring the North, and Aaron Doerksen touring the colleges of Manitoba.
Those crowding in the stands at Waverly were treated to an end to end thrill fest. Neither team was interested in anything even vaguely resembling midfield play, preferring to get the ball forward quickly and dangerously. Chances came and went for both sides. With only a minute gone St. James’ speedy striker got in behind the center of the CSSC D but screwed his close range shot wide. CSSC managed to steady the ship and proceeded to create several golden chances. KD had the keeper at full stretch with a low drive from the top of the box, Bryce smacked one off the top of the bar, Eltee couldn’t quite pull the trigger after racing through clean, Stef drove it right into the keeper when teed up about 10 yards out, and I. Hudson smashed just wide after the ball fell to him when JDB was unceremoniously dumped in the box (“penalty in the regular season but not in the playoffs” said the ref, which doesn’t seem like how rules should work unless you’re in the NHL). When it’s all typed out, CSSC probably should have scored more. They would get the goal that had been coming when JDB collected a through ball out wide and pushed it past the keeper who clattered him to the ground just outside the box on the right. CSSC’s stat wizard and set piece coach, Bill Gerrard, had carefully created a play which could be roughly described as “hit the tallest player in the head with the ball,” and the training ground routine was executed to perfection as I. Hudson hit a flat cross that that Mr. Tall, Niall Harney nodded into the roof of the net. Last year CSSC’s playoff win was spearheaded by Harney goals in the semi final and final. It looks like Playoff Niall is a real thing.
The second half was, if anything even more scrappy and chaotic with both teams struggling to string together anything resembling a passing move. St. James was winning corner after corner but either Alain or Jules, in the CSSC net, were managing to just about get them clear. CSSC was desperately trying to find a second that would calm the nerves but Eltee, who was running the St. James D ragged, twice cut into the box onto his left foot – once bending it just over from distance and then not quite getting the power on a low shot to beat the keeper. Then Erwan worked a delicious 1 – 2 at the top of the St. James box to put himself in the clear but his one time volley just rocketed the wrong side of the post. Finally, with about 10 minutes to go, Eltee raced clear on the right and squared across the box to a hard charging Harney who put the Niall in the St. James coffin (nice one Dan!) with his second of the night. Playoff Niall!!!
The drama was not even close to over. Jules came out bravely to smother a loose ball in the box only to have his finger dislocated in a very unsightly and painful way. Amazingly St. James had a second year med student who yanked it back into place, but although tough as nails Jules was ready to go back in after a quick finger taping, CSSC put heroic back up Bob Walden between the sticks. CSSC made the game even safer when Eltee again turned set up man by sliding Zach in behind the St. James D and he held his nerve to smash an unstoppable low drive into the far corner and give number 8 a bit of “there you go.” CSSC fans were singing so loudly about going off to the final that they barely noticed when St. James converted one of their seemingly endless string of corners despite Woolford’s tremendous effort to make a goal line clearance. However, that was pretty much it, except for a string of pretty niggly fouls on JDB that were encouraged by the ref’s relaxed and erratic attitude to what constituted a foul.
Man of the Match: CSSC was joined in the bar by former super star defender Riley DeBlonde, who controversially had the rest of the team googling polyamory and being a bit concerned about the results (there’s 9 types!!). Amidst the uproar, the return of Playoff Niall wins MotM, although the whole team put in a wonderful shift with special mention to Mark Hudson and Stef Hodges who played lights out covering at outside back. The only concern for the finals was CSSC’s growing injury list with Amorim (ankle), Hudson (quad) and Hudson (hamstring) joining Jules in the maybe able to play category.
Playoff Quarterfinal CSSC 5 - 2 Purple Cobras
On a fantastic fall evening under the bright lights of Waverly, CSSC had an unfamiliar problem. Although they had a healthy 7 subs, they had no balls, and had to rely on the generosity of the Cobras for one solitary warm up ball. Some random, light jogging was perhaps not the ideal preparation for a big sudden death playoff encounter.
And yet, CSSC's casual pregame seemed to have worked because they jumped out to a 2 goal lead before the game was 10 minutes old. Zach won a free kick about 25 yards out. He dusted himself off and bent a beautiful free kick off the corner of crossbar and post that may or may not have gone in. Eager to avoid a VAR controversy, Erwan stooped low to nod the rebound into the gaping net. For the second, Zach slipped an incisive diagonal ball in behind the Cobra's back line to a hard charging Bryce, whose shot was 80 percent blocked by the keeper but 20 percent was just enough to roll it over the line and into the back of the net. Although the CSSC defense was keeping the Cobras largely at bay, a close range drive destined for the short side forced Jules into an acrobatic save to maintain the two goal advantage. About 20 minutes in (21:40 on the MMSL feed) I. Hudson picked off a wayward Cobra pass out of the back, exchanged a tidy 1 2 with JDB and smashed a shot off a covering defender. It bounced high into the Cobra box and Eltee was on it like a flash, leaping to tap the bouncing ball past stranded keeper. 3 nil at the half. While the CSSC half time talk was all about avoiding complacency, the Cobras were getting a real tongue lashing with many unflattering comparisons with "how champions play!!!"
The hair dryer treatment didn't seem to take. The second half opened with Matt Loxley pulling the strings from midfield. Taking possession at the top of the Cobra box, he faked one way then the other before slipping a perfect through ball to Dan, overlapping from right back. Dan's first time, driven low cross was slightly behind Eltee, but he managed to reach back and divert it into the net. An unbelievable fifth came after CSSC's wing back on the other side, Tyler, danced his way past two defenders on the end line and poked a cut back to that man Eltee who again made no mistake, blasting a low one timer into the net for a natural hat trick. It could have been even more. Both JDB and Aaron were in one on one against the keeper only to be thwarted by his well positioned legs. Things were so comfortable that even a late game sag, which resulted in two Cobra goals, was met with a mere shrug of the shoulders. A comfortable win and off to the semis to face second place St. James.
MotM: Parking lot beers were followed by a visit to the hated VLT room at the Grove, where there was a great deal of discussion of how long CSSC could last in a Yellowjackets style plane crash scenario. Woolford's confidence in his Machiavellian ability to bend the rest of the team to his will was both surprising and alarming. If anyone finds themself in a harrowing situation accompanied by a seemingly friendly sociologist be on your guard. No one could deny Eltee MotM - a natural hat trick!!! CSSC hasn't seen one of those in years.
On a fantastic fall evening under the bright lights of Waverly, CSSC had an unfamiliar problem. Although they had a healthy 7 subs, they had no balls, and had to rely on the generosity of the Cobras for one solitary warm up ball. Some random, light jogging was perhaps not the ideal preparation for a big sudden death playoff encounter.
And yet, CSSC's casual pregame seemed to have worked because they jumped out to a 2 goal lead before the game was 10 minutes old. Zach won a free kick about 25 yards out. He dusted himself off and bent a beautiful free kick off the corner of crossbar and post that may or may not have gone in. Eager to avoid a VAR controversy, Erwan stooped low to nod the rebound into the gaping net. For the second, Zach slipped an incisive diagonal ball in behind the Cobra's back line to a hard charging Bryce, whose shot was 80 percent blocked by the keeper but 20 percent was just enough to roll it over the line and into the back of the net. Although the CSSC defense was keeping the Cobras largely at bay, a close range drive destined for the short side forced Jules into an acrobatic save to maintain the two goal advantage. About 20 minutes in (21:40 on the MMSL feed) I. Hudson picked off a wayward Cobra pass out of the back, exchanged a tidy 1 2 with JDB and smashed a shot off a covering defender. It bounced high into the Cobra box and Eltee was on it like a flash, leaping to tap the bouncing ball past stranded keeper. 3 nil at the half. While the CSSC half time talk was all about avoiding complacency, the Cobras were getting a real tongue lashing with many unflattering comparisons with "how champions play!!!"
The hair dryer treatment didn't seem to take. The second half opened with Matt Loxley pulling the strings from midfield. Taking possession at the top of the Cobra box, he faked one way then the other before slipping a perfect through ball to Dan, overlapping from right back. Dan's first time, driven low cross was slightly behind Eltee, but he managed to reach back and divert it into the net. An unbelievable fifth came after CSSC's wing back on the other side, Tyler, danced his way past two defenders on the end line and poked a cut back to that man Eltee who again made no mistake, blasting a low one timer into the net for a natural hat trick. It could have been even more. Both JDB and Aaron were in one on one against the keeper only to be thwarted by his well positioned legs. Things were so comfortable that even a late game sag, which resulted in two Cobra goals, was met with a mere shrug of the shoulders. A comfortable win and off to the semis to face second place St. James.
MotM: Parking lot beers were followed by a visit to the hated VLT room at the Grove, where there was a great deal of discussion of how long CSSC could last in a Yellowjackets style plane crash scenario. Woolford's confidence in his Machiavellian ability to bend the rest of the team to his will was both surprising and alarming. If anyone finds themself in a harrowing situation accompanied by a seemingly friendly sociologist be on your guard. No one could deny Eltee MotM - a natural hat trick!!! CSSC hasn't seen one of those in years.
Storm FC 1 - 1 CSSC
With the end of summer CSSC's bench groaned under weight of returning vacationers, including Stef Hodges, fresh off his cycling tour of what he assures us was a very sunny Scotland and the Hudson brothers back from their pilgrimage to see CSSC's name inspiration Sheffield Wednesday play. Would CSSC deliver a victory to secure a share of a three way tie for first place on the eve of zucchini aficionado Andrew Woolford's birthday?
Storm are a young and fast team, but early on they struggled to cross centre as CSSC had them pinned in with an aggressive press. Unfortunately, for CSSC the pressure yielded few clear cut changes until JDB was played in with a lovely through ball, but his shot was a bit too close to the well positioned Storm keeper - a trend that would repeat itself throughout the match. Storm took the lead on a fast break through a stretched CSSC midfield. The ball ended up on the feet of a Storm striker, who cut inside and had his shot blocked by covering defender Woolford. Tragically, the ball fell to a fellow Storm striker all by himself and he knocked it into the empty net. CSSC's equalizing goal arrived after Zach Chioua dribbled into the Storm box and squared to Erwan who had one shot blocked but then managed to have the defender's clearance ricochet off his shin and into the net. Not one for the highlight reel but they all look the same on the scoreboard.
The second half was one way traffic, leaving Jules in the CSSC net with relatively little to do. Unfortunately, most of CSSC's chances were long range efforts fired in by Bryce, Zach and Niall Harney that either whistled just on the wrong side of the post or too close to the keeper, who was displaying a safe set of hands. There were two chances that perhaps should have been converted. Matt Loxley, danced his way out of the corner and along the byline and delivered a teasing cross over the keeper, taking a slight touch off the crossbar, and right to defender of public health Niall Harney, but the defection wrong footed the well positioned midfielder and he couldn't force it over the line. The second came off a JDB near post corner that nicked off a defender and spun up to Hudson who neglected striker heading lesson number one and opted not to head it down, instead flicking it over the bar. And that was pretty much that. A tie means third place for CSSC. Although, a win would have also meant third place for CSSC, albeit on goal difference rather than actual points.
Man of the Match: An excellent turnout for post game drinks at the Yellow Dog featured three full beers landing on the unfortunate Kamal - Woolford duo and a patron claiming that she had seen Stef Hodges perform the music at Pamela Anderson's wedding, which begged a very large number of questions - not the least of which was how she got invited to Anderson's wedding. CSSC's defense should take a lot of credit for Jules' relatively calm evening, but because this photo of Erwan, looking like a real footballer from the 70s was sitting on my phone - and he scored CSSC's only goal, he gets MotM.
With the end of summer CSSC's bench groaned under weight of returning vacationers, including Stef Hodges, fresh off his cycling tour of what he assures us was a very sunny Scotland and the Hudson brothers back from their pilgrimage to see CSSC's name inspiration Sheffield Wednesday play. Would CSSC deliver a victory to secure a share of a three way tie for first place on the eve of zucchini aficionado Andrew Woolford's birthday?
Storm are a young and fast team, but early on they struggled to cross centre as CSSC had them pinned in with an aggressive press. Unfortunately, for CSSC the pressure yielded few clear cut changes until JDB was played in with a lovely through ball, but his shot was a bit too close to the well positioned Storm keeper - a trend that would repeat itself throughout the match. Storm took the lead on a fast break through a stretched CSSC midfield. The ball ended up on the feet of a Storm striker, who cut inside and had his shot blocked by covering defender Woolford. Tragically, the ball fell to a fellow Storm striker all by himself and he knocked it into the empty net. CSSC's equalizing goal arrived after Zach Chioua dribbled into the Storm box and squared to Erwan who had one shot blocked but then managed to have the defender's clearance ricochet off his shin and into the net. Not one for the highlight reel but they all look the same on the scoreboard.
The second half was one way traffic, leaving Jules in the CSSC net with relatively little to do. Unfortunately, most of CSSC's chances were long range efforts fired in by Bryce, Zach and Niall Harney that either whistled just on the wrong side of the post or too close to the keeper, who was displaying a safe set of hands. There were two chances that perhaps should have been converted. Matt Loxley, danced his way out of the corner and along the byline and delivered a teasing cross over the keeper, taking a slight touch off the crossbar, and right to defender of public health Niall Harney, but the defection wrong footed the well positioned midfielder and he couldn't force it over the line. The second came off a JDB near post corner that nicked off a defender and spun up to Hudson who neglected striker heading lesson number one and opted not to head it down, instead flicking it over the bar. And that was pretty much that. A tie means third place for CSSC. Although, a win would have also meant third place for CSSC, albeit on goal difference rather than actual points.
Man of the Match: An excellent turnout for post game drinks at the Yellow Dog featured three full beers landing on the unfortunate Kamal - Woolford duo and a patron claiming that she had seen Stef Hodges perform the music at Pamela Anderson's wedding, which begged a very large number of questions - not the least of which was how she got invited to Anderson's wedding. CSSC's defense should take a lot of credit for Jules' relatively calm evening, but because this photo of Erwan, looking like a real footballer from the 70s was sitting on my phone - and he scored CSSC's only goal, he gets MotM.
CSSC 2 - 2 St James
Andrew Woolford not only corrected Hudson's managerial oversight, he also wrote up a banger of a match report.
It was only 30 minutes before kick-off when sub-manager Woolford noticed that he did not have the player cards. After a hasty trip back home to search his basement, he returned to the field empty handed. The situation seemed even more dire when the Ref stated her commitment to the MMSL rule that no cards by half time would mean a forfeit. Woolford’s stretching of the truth, that manager Hudson had to rush to leave town because of an emergency (well, an urgent Economics conference at least), did not persuade the official. Nor did the offer from St. James’s good-natured number 14 that his team would agree to play us without our cards.
As Kevin Dick sought access to the MMSL hotline phone, Mark Hudson, who for some reason was not travelling on the same plane as Ian to their emergency conference, perhaps to ensure at least one Hudson would be there to present their paper, sent copious messages to Lisa Johnson, hoping she might be able to leave the cards out front for pick-up. CSSC hall-of-famer Bruce Sewart then stepped forward and volunteered to visit 1129 McMillan in a quest for the cards.
Somewhere amidst all of this excitement the game started, and CSSC led some nice rushes into the St. James half. Our co-competitors for top of the table were without their top striker, as well as Sir Ross Pinhammer, who has long troubled the CSSC defence with his ability to shoot from anywhere on the pitch. Speedy number 14 was present, and dangerous in the midfield. St. James has also added some youthful talent up front. Still, CSSC rolled along and was eventually awarded with a Van Penner goal. This reporter wishes he could offer a fuller description of the goal, but the real drama was off the field, watching for the return of Bruce.
And not long after, he appeared. More importantly, he had the cards!
At this moment, St. James seemed to clue in that a real game was taking place (it was possibly foolish for Woolford to tell them that their victory was no longer assured). Now motivated, their young winger managed to find space out wide in the 18 yard box and neatly slipped a pass between the sweeper’s legs, who lunged expecting him to shoot. This allowed a St. James tap in, and the game was tied before the end of the half.
Guest manager and team stylist, Van Penner, built a solid line-up and continued his show of leadership with a rousing speech, calling on the team to win his last game of the season. Several team members, unfortunately, admitted they were a little disheartened that they did not receive husky shirts like Ian Hudson. Their disappointment showed at the start of the second half, when a St. James forward broke through a wall of midfielders and defence. It appeared his cross was cut out by Van, but the ball spun nicely off Penner’s foot to the alert St. James recipient, and he placed his shot neatly past a far-diving Jules.
The reality of Van’s departure, and the possibility of losing a game that CSSC controlled, finally woke the team up. Fed up with our multiple goal posts, and some poor calls from the ref (Eltee’s mysterious foul for getting bodied down after turning a defender and the no-call on a loud clip of Dan’s feet in the box being the most outrageous), a big play was put together. A pass from Loxley was flicked on by Captain Kamal (Kevin Dick described it as the nicest flick he has ever seen) to Eltee, who walked the keeper and deposited the ball in the net. Eltee was also a factor in the post-game show, when his loud comment on the quality of refereeing earned him a yellow card.
MOTM: Tie game. A more just result would have been a CSSC win. A less just result would have been a CSSC forfeit. The individual who prevented the forfeit and gave us the opportunity to tie is Bruce Sewart, our man of the match. This was the unanimous decision of the parking lot beer drinkers, who also tested whether the best-before dates on bottles of beer are of any significance.
Andrew Woolford not only corrected Hudson's managerial oversight, he also wrote up a banger of a match report.
It was only 30 minutes before kick-off when sub-manager Woolford noticed that he did not have the player cards. After a hasty trip back home to search his basement, he returned to the field empty handed. The situation seemed even more dire when the Ref stated her commitment to the MMSL rule that no cards by half time would mean a forfeit. Woolford’s stretching of the truth, that manager Hudson had to rush to leave town because of an emergency (well, an urgent Economics conference at least), did not persuade the official. Nor did the offer from St. James’s good-natured number 14 that his team would agree to play us without our cards.
As Kevin Dick sought access to the MMSL hotline phone, Mark Hudson, who for some reason was not travelling on the same plane as Ian to their emergency conference, perhaps to ensure at least one Hudson would be there to present their paper, sent copious messages to Lisa Johnson, hoping she might be able to leave the cards out front for pick-up. CSSC hall-of-famer Bruce Sewart then stepped forward and volunteered to visit 1129 McMillan in a quest for the cards.
Somewhere amidst all of this excitement the game started, and CSSC led some nice rushes into the St. James half. Our co-competitors for top of the table were without their top striker, as well as Sir Ross Pinhammer, who has long troubled the CSSC defence with his ability to shoot from anywhere on the pitch. Speedy number 14 was present, and dangerous in the midfield. St. James has also added some youthful talent up front. Still, CSSC rolled along and was eventually awarded with a Van Penner goal. This reporter wishes he could offer a fuller description of the goal, but the real drama was off the field, watching for the return of Bruce.
And not long after, he appeared. More importantly, he had the cards!
At this moment, St. James seemed to clue in that a real game was taking place (it was possibly foolish for Woolford to tell them that their victory was no longer assured). Now motivated, their young winger managed to find space out wide in the 18 yard box and neatly slipped a pass between the sweeper’s legs, who lunged expecting him to shoot. This allowed a St. James tap in, and the game was tied before the end of the half.
Guest manager and team stylist, Van Penner, built a solid line-up and continued his show of leadership with a rousing speech, calling on the team to win his last game of the season. Several team members, unfortunately, admitted they were a little disheartened that they did not receive husky shirts like Ian Hudson. Their disappointment showed at the start of the second half, when a St. James forward broke through a wall of midfielders and defence. It appeared his cross was cut out by Van, but the ball spun nicely off Penner’s foot to the alert St. James recipient, and he placed his shot neatly past a far-diving Jules.
The reality of Van’s departure, and the possibility of losing a game that CSSC controlled, finally woke the team up. Fed up with our multiple goal posts, and some poor calls from the ref (Eltee’s mysterious foul for getting bodied down after turning a defender and the no-call on a loud clip of Dan’s feet in the box being the most outrageous), a big play was put together. A pass from Loxley was flicked on by Captain Kamal (Kevin Dick described it as the nicest flick he has ever seen) to Eltee, who walked the keeper and deposited the ball in the net. Eltee was also a factor in the post-game show, when his loud comment on the quality of refereeing earned him a yellow card.
MOTM: Tie game. A more just result would have been a CSSC win. A less just result would have been a CSSC forfeit. The individual who prevented the forfeit and gave us the opportunity to tie is Bruce Sewart, our man of the match. This was the unanimous decision of the parking lot beer drinkers, who also tested whether the best-before dates on bottles of beer are of any significance.
Tri S 0 - 2 CSSC
Under the bright, late night, lights of Shaughnessy on a mild September evening CSSC welcomed back long-lost Mark Hudson, who had apparently been participating in one of those “survive in the wild” type shows where he had to carve out an existence in the harsh Pacific Northwest by charming retired neighbors with a winning personality and virtuoso ukelele playing.
Tri S hasn’t won too many games this year and early on, they set up with a low narrow block with a quick counter through speedy number 10. However, perhaps encouraged by CSSC’s lack of cohesion, that tactic was abandoned for a more open style and higher line. The revised formation resulted in much more even possession but surrendered much better chances for CSSC. Eltee alone was put through on three clear breakaways but, possibly due to drinks at work, he was foiled in each attempt but in different ways each time – once by a determined defender, once thwarted when he tried to round the keeper, and once firing wide. KD also couldn’t quite convert from good positions when he was picked out by excellent low crosses, one of which came from a 50 yard sprint down the wing that sorely tested the hamstrings of a returning M Hudson. Van Penner couldn’t have been more correct when he praised CSSC’s xG but lamented its G. Very Brighton 2022.
Nerves were eased early in the second half. Midfield ball winner Erwan not only managed to slide in to win the ball in centre midfield but with his tackle winning touch, knocked a perfect pass through the middle of the Tri S defense and on to a streaking JDB, who, in clean, smashed the ball into the open side of the net despite center back Dan’s efforts to unnerve him with frantic screams of “shoot!” Tri S would have had an undeserved equaliser but Jules stretched every inch of his giant frame to tip a close range shot around the far post. The game was made safe when Bryce lined up a free kick and made like a “have a go hero” by skimming a far post bender off the very top of the head of the defender and into the net. Tri S is a funny team to understand. They played quite well but CSSC could have easily walked out 5-0 winners with slightly better finishing.
Man of the Match: Late night games mean picnic table beers supplemented by a delicious salsa, fresh from KD’s garden. Van Penner set out his stall as relationship advisor with some pearls of wisdom for a few CSSC members making what, according to Van, were rookie mistakes in the partner department. MotM went to aging vet I Hudson who returned after a nagging hip injury to a make a few passes that didn’t go astray. For the MotM award, Penner donated an absolutely stunning button up shirt featuring an attractive “Husky” logo. Greatest MotM award since Bruce Sewart donated his shorts.
Under the bright, late night, lights of Shaughnessy on a mild September evening CSSC welcomed back long-lost Mark Hudson, who had apparently been participating in one of those “survive in the wild” type shows where he had to carve out an existence in the harsh Pacific Northwest by charming retired neighbors with a winning personality and virtuoso ukelele playing.
Tri S hasn’t won too many games this year and early on, they set up with a low narrow block with a quick counter through speedy number 10. However, perhaps encouraged by CSSC’s lack of cohesion, that tactic was abandoned for a more open style and higher line. The revised formation resulted in much more even possession but surrendered much better chances for CSSC. Eltee alone was put through on three clear breakaways but, possibly due to drinks at work, he was foiled in each attempt but in different ways each time – once by a determined defender, once thwarted when he tried to round the keeper, and once firing wide. KD also couldn’t quite convert from good positions when he was picked out by excellent low crosses, one of which came from a 50 yard sprint down the wing that sorely tested the hamstrings of a returning M Hudson. Van Penner couldn’t have been more correct when he praised CSSC’s xG but lamented its G. Very Brighton 2022.
Nerves were eased early in the second half. Midfield ball winner Erwan not only managed to slide in to win the ball in centre midfield but with his tackle winning touch, knocked a perfect pass through the middle of the Tri S defense and on to a streaking JDB, who, in clean, smashed the ball into the open side of the net despite center back Dan’s efforts to unnerve him with frantic screams of “shoot!” Tri S would have had an undeserved equaliser but Jules stretched every inch of his giant frame to tip a close range shot around the far post. The game was made safe when Bryce lined up a free kick and made like a “have a go hero” by skimming a far post bender off the very top of the head of the defender and into the net. Tri S is a funny team to understand. They played quite well but CSSC could have easily walked out 5-0 winners with slightly better finishing.
Man of the Match: Late night games mean picnic table beers supplemented by a delicious salsa, fresh from KD’s garden. Van Penner set out his stall as relationship advisor with some pearls of wisdom for a few CSSC members making what, according to Van, were rookie mistakes in the partner department. MotM went to aging vet I Hudson who returned after a nagging hip injury to a make a few passes that didn’t go astray. For the MotM award, Penner donated an absolutely stunning button up shirt featuring an attractive “Husky” logo. Greatest MotM award since Bruce Sewart donated his shorts.
CSSC 3 – 3 Azzurri
In the corporate world ties are a thing of the past. In the Mad Men days, even setting foot near the office meant selecting from one of a rack of fashionable neck ware but these days billionaires like Bezos and Musk rock an open collar “man of the people” look to mask the fact that they are so not of the people.
The early exchanges were fairly even but Azzurri went ahead on a goal of equal measure controversy and self-inflicted wound. Woolford looked favorite for a low Azzurri ball into the box, but he was sneakily tugged aside, letting the ball run. CSSC then had a chance to clear what was now a dangerous chance, but the ball out lacked sufficient distance, falling to a well-positioned Azzurri midfielder who picked it up and slammed it low into the bottom corner of the CSSC net. CSSC levelled the score on a fantastic individual effort by Eltee who won a penalty when his pursuit of the ball was too much for the Azzurri defense who fouled him when he was moving away from the goal – commentators might have described the challenge as mistimed or poorly judged. Eltee picked himself up and calmly side footed the spot kick home. CSSC had a glorious chance to take the lead when a dangerous cross started pinging along the Azzurri goal line. In a series that looked a lot more like an NFL goal line stand than a soccer game, the massed Azzurri defense, managed to stop the gathered CSSC forwards from forcing the ball into the net.
The second half was all action. CSSC took an early lead when Eltee sprung the offside trap raced to the byline and cut back a perfect low cross to meet Van Penner’s lung busting run into the box and Penner converted with a minimum of fuss. CSSC couldn’t convert on three glorious chances to make it 3-1, with Hudson, Devin, and JDB not able to convert from close range. In JDB’s defense, it was not so much a miss as the best save that the 5th division has seen in some time as the keeper went post to post and clawed out JDB’s close-range one-time effort. Azzurri tied it up with some classic route one. A long downfield punt from their keeper eluded the CSSC central backs and fell kindly to the feet of number 14 who sped in on goal and placed an unstoppable low drive into the far corner.
CSSC should have again taken the lead when Eltee rounded the keeper and, facing only an empty net, was chopped down from behind. However, the howls of protest from an outraged Erwan went unheeded by the ref for reasons only he will know. It was as obvious as the fact that Man City and their UAE cash are going to win the English league. It looked like divine justice would save the day when JDB raced into the Azzurri end and had a long-range effort deflect off a despairing defender and beyond the Azzurri keeper. CSSC cannot avoid ties these days, however. A long-range free kick floated into the CSSC box and it deflected off the general melee on the top of the box and fell perfectly to an Azzurri forward who couldn’t and didn’t miss. Eventful but inconclusive.
Man of the Match: If CSSC is giving up too many draws, it is also getting a little thin at post match beers. Those gathered at Kilter were treated to Erwan’s advice on winning at the horse races. Tragically, for those of us keen to cash in, it mainly consisted to going to the track with people who had inside information – a tactic not overly helpful to most of us. MotM goes to Eltee for a goal, an assist, and a penalty that should have been.
In the corporate world ties are a thing of the past. In the Mad Men days, even setting foot near the office meant selecting from one of a rack of fashionable neck ware but these days billionaires like Bezos and Musk rock an open collar “man of the people” look to mask the fact that they are so not of the people.
The early exchanges were fairly even but Azzurri went ahead on a goal of equal measure controversy and self-inflicted wound. Woolford looked favorite for a low Azzurri ball into the box, but he was sneakily tugged aside, letting the ball run. CSSC then had a chance to clear what was now a dangerous chance, but the ball out lacked sufficient distance, falling to a well-positioned Azzurri midfielder who picked it up and slammed it low into the bottom corner of the CSSC net. CSSC levelled the score on a fantastic individual effort by Eltee who won a penalty when his pursuit of the ball was too much for the Azzurri defense who fouled him when he was moving away from the goal – commentators might have described the challenge as mistimed or poorly judged. Eltee picked himself up and calmly side footed the spot kick home. CSSC had a glorious chance to take the lead when a dangerous cross started pinging along the Azzurri goal line. In a series that looked a lot more like an NFL goal line stand than a soccer game, the massed Azzurri defense, managed to stop the gathered CSSC forwards from forcing the ball into the net.
The second half was all action. CSSC took an early lead when Eltee sprung the offside trap raced to the byline and cut back a perfect low cross to meet Van Penner’s lung busting run into the box and Penner converted with a minimum of fuss. CSSC couldn’t convert on three glorious chances to make it 3-1, with Hudson, Devin, and JDB not able to convert from close range. In JDB’s defense, it was not so much a miss as the best save that the 5th division has seen in some time as the keeper went post to post and clawed out JDB’s close-range one-time effort. Azzurri tied it up with some classic route one. A long downfield punt from their keeper eluded the CSSC central backs and fell kindly to the feet of number 14 who sped in on goal and placed an unstoppable low drive into the far corner.
CSSC should have again taken the lead when Eltee rounded the keeper and, facing only an empty net, was chopped down from behind. However, the howls of protest from an outraged Erwan went unheeded by the ref for reasons only he will know. It was as obvious as the fact that Man City and their UAE cash are going to win the English league. It looked like divine justice would save the day when JDB raced into the Azzurri end and had a long-range effort deflect off a despairing defender and beyond the Azzurri keeper. CSSC cannot avoid ties these days, however. A long-range free kick floated into the CSSC box and it deflected off the general melee on the top of the box and fell perfectly to an Azzurri forward who couldn’t and didn’t miss. Eventful but inconclusive.
Man of the Match: If CSSC is giving up too many draws, it is also getting a little thin at post match beers. Those gathered at Kilter were treated to Erwan’s advice on winning at the horse races. Tragically, for those of us keen to cash in, it mainly consisted to going to the track with people who had inside information – a tactic not overly helpful to most of us. MotM goes to Eltee for a goal, an assist, and a penalty that should have been.
Thunder 4 – 3 CSSC
CSSC players are like Goldilocks when it comes to starting times. 6:30 is a bit early for those with jobs that run late, but apparently 10:00 is too late to actually remember that we have a game. Can we lobby for a nice 8pm starting time? That would be just right.
If CSSC had come out flatter they would have existed in only two dimensions, which Steven Hawking says is impossible for a living organism. They were on the back foot right from the beginning and Thunder had their long-range shooting boots on. They pinged two off the bar before driving a third in off the far post despite stand in keeper Hudson's dive, of which Stef, perhaps overoptimistically, yelled “you almost had it.”
Strangely that goal woke up CSSC, which started to put the ball on the ground and start moving it across the midfield. Against the new run of play, however, CSSC went further behind when an inswinging cross was spilled by the under pressure stand in keeper Hudson. Aaron made a valiant block on the line to keep out the first attempt but the ensuing scramble could not be cleared and a second attempt was rifled into the still empty net with minimal fuss. CSSC, however, was not to be over run and they clawed a goal back when a nice bit of build up play worked the ball into the Thunder box. Bryce slid a square ball to Harney, who lobbed a sidefooter that the keeper could only watch sail into the top corner. Was a comeback on the cards?
A rousing half time team talk from Sean Brown, comparing the current team to some less than flattering players from CSSC past lit a fire under the entire squad, but particularly JDB who put in a second half of tremendous attacking dynamism. He created the equalizer by winning the ball off two Thunder midfielders at center, playing a nice one – two with Harney to set off down the left wing, delivering a perfect cross right onto the head of Bryce, who obligingly nodded home. The comeback looked to be genuinely on when Eltee outpaced the Thunder defense down the left and sent in a low cross that managed to just evade the sliding clearance of the center back and fall for Van Penner to slot home.
It was turning into the kind of open affair where commentators say “there’s more goals in this” with JDB particularly causing the Thunder defense all sorts of trouble, but Thunder also looking very dangerous on the break. CSSC conceded the equalizer when the two last defenders got a little tangled up and the ball spilled out to the pressuring striker who was in all alone. He beat the advancing Hudson to the ball, lifted it over his dive and the ball rolled painfully slowly into the net. Much to the dismay of CSSC fans tuned in around the world, the game was lost when, again there was a bit of a defensive muddle at centre, leaving two CSSC players on the ground and the ball bouncing free to a Thunder winger, driving forward on a 4 on 2. Penner did a good job to force him wide, but his low cross picked out a wide open striker at the near post. It appeared as the though the danger was gone when he scuffed a bouncer straight at Hudson, but, perhaps surprised by the close range change up, he could only awkwardly fumble it into the net. A second comeback was not on the cards, and Thunder saw out the remaining ten minutes of the game in relative comfort.
It was a disappointing and avoidable loss, but fans can’t say CSSC isn’t exciting these days. Goals aplenty at both ends of the pitch.
Man of the Match: Over late night post game beers, generously provided by Woolford, Sean Brown held court, recounting tales of rec hockey exploits and his take on the lack of sustainability of an economy driven by debt financed, marketing induced consumerism. JDB was handed the MOTM award, and the dubious honour of the Pina Colada beer that went with it, for a rousing attacking display, especially in the second half.
CSSC players are like Goldilocks when it comes to starting times. 6:30 is a bit early for those with jobs that run late, but apparently 10:00 is too late to actually remember that we have a game. Can we lobby for a nice 8pm starting time? That would be just right.
If CSSC had come out flatter they would have existed in only two dimensions, which Steven Hawking says is impossible for a living organism. They were on the back foot right from the beginning and Thunder had their long-range shooting boots on. They pinged two off the bar before driving a third in off the far post despite stand in keeper Hudson's dive, of which Stef, perhaps overoptimistically, yelled “you almost had it.”
Strangely that goal woke up CSSC, which started to put the ball on the ground and start moving it across the midfield. Against the new run of play, however, CSSC went further behind when an inswinging cross was spilled by the under pressure stand in keeper Hudson. Aaron made a valiant block on the line to keep out the first attempt but the ensuing scramble could not be cleared and a second attempt was rifled into the still empty net with minimal fuss. CSSC, however, was not to be over run and they clawed a goal back when a nice bit of build up play worked the ball into the Thunder box. Bryce slid a square ball to Harney, who lobbed a sidefooter that the keeper could only watch sail into the top corner. Was a comeback on the cards?
A rousing half time team talk from Sean Brown, comparing the current team to some less than flattering players from CSSC past lit a fire under the entire squad, but particularly JDB who put in a second half of tremendous attacking dynamism. He created the equalizer by winning the ball off two Thunder midfielders at center, playing a nice one – two with Harney to set off down the left wing, delivering a perfect cross right onto the head of Bryce, who obligingly nodded home. The comeback looked to be genuinely on when Eltee outpaced the Thunder defense down the left and sent in a low cross that managed to just evade the sliding clearance of the center back and fall for Van Penner to slot home.
It was turning into the kind of open affair where commentators say “there’s more goals in this” with JDB particularly causing the Thunder defense all sorts of trouble, but Thunder also looking very dangerous on the break. CSSC conceded the equalizer when the two last defenders got a little tangled up and the ball spilled out to the pressuring striker who was in all alone. He beat the advancing Hudson to the ball, lifted it over his dive and the ball rolled painfully slowly into the net. Much to the dismay of CSSC fans tuned in around the world, the game was lost when, again there was a bit of a defensive muddle at centre, leaving two CSSC players on the ground and the ball bouncing free to a Thunder winger, driving forward on a 4 on 2. Penner did a good job to force him wide, but his low cross picked out a wide open striker at the near post. It appeared as the though the danger was gone when he scuffed a bouncer straight at Hudson, but, perhaps surprised by the close range change up, he could only awkwardly fumble it into the net. A second comeback was not on the cards, and Thunder saw out the remaining ten minutes of the game in relative comfort.
It was a disappointing and avoidable loss, but fans can’t say CSSC isn’t exciting these days. Goals aplenty at both ends of the pitch.
Man of the Match: Over late night post game beers, generously provided by Woolford, Sean Brown held court, recounting tales of rec hockey exploits and his take on the lack of sustainability of an economy driven by debt financed, marketing induced consumerism. JDB was handed the MOTM award, and the dubious honour of the Pina Colada beer that went with it, for a rousing attacking display, especially in the second half.
CSSC 2 - 2 Landmark
In the reverse fixture in Landmark CSSC ran out comfortable winners, mostly thanks to Landmark’s short numbers, but at Buhler, they showed up en masse, including a classic little and large strike force that hadn’t been seen since Jermaine Dafoe and Peter Crouch were lighting up the Premier.
The big moment in the first half featured Kamal turning into peak Adama Traore, bullying down the right wing, leaving defenders lying on the ground in his wake. He squared it across the top of the box to Eltee, who did a nice job of beating his defender and sliding a diagonal ball through to Bryce who hammered a low one timer into the back of the net. It could have been a couple more had Bryce and JDB managed to keep their cheeky lobs over the keeper below the bar, rather than just above it when they were sent in by balls over the top.
A choppy start to the second half was ended with a moment of pure class from Harney, who gathered a defensive clearance about 30 yards from goal settled it onto his right foot and smashed a daisy cutter just inside the near post. Nerves on the cssc bench were not entirely settled because Landmark continued to carve out dangerous chances and were only thwarted by a couple of heroic saves from Jules, who managed to throw his body in the way of what appeared to be sure goals. To make matters worse, calf and hamstring problems cost cssc two of its midfield battlers when Erwan and Stef were forced off. Then with 10 minutes left, hope for Landmark when a fairly innocent shot took an unlucky deflection of a CSSC defender to wrong foot Jules, who could only parry into the path of a lurking Landmark striker who tapped home. Then at the very death, Dan won a defensive header off a free kick only to have it deflect off the giant form of the large Landmark striker. It fell kindly to the little Landmark striker who hit it low and true to even the scores. When you’re up two with 30 to play, a tie feels like a loss.
Man of the Match: At Kamal’s favorite night spot, the Beer Can, the MotM voting was split between Jules' keeping heroics and Niall Harney’s composed midfield play. Harney won, not only for the goal, but also the way he kept the ball pinging around the midfield with some tasty long range passing.
In the reverse fixture in Landmark CSSC ran out comfortable winners, mostly thanks to Landmark’s short numbers, but at Buhler, they showed up en masse, including a classic little and large strike force that hadn’t been seen since Jermaine Dafoe and Peter Crouch were lighting up the Premier.
The big moment in the first half featured Kamal turning into peak Adama Traore, bullying down the right wing, leaving defenders lying on the ground in his wake. He squared it across the top of the box to Eltee, who did a nice job of beating his defender and sliding a diagonal ball through to Bryce who hammered a low one timer into the back of the net. It could have been a couple more had Bryce and JDB managed to keep their cheeky lobs over the keeper below the bar, rather than just above it when they were sent in by balls over the top.
A choppy start to the second half was ended with a moment of pure class from Harney, who gathered a defensive clearance about 30 yards from goal settled it onto his right foot and smashed a daisy cutter just inside the near post. Nerves on the cssc bench were not entirely settled because Landmark continued to carve out dangerous chances and were only thwarted by a couple of heroic saves from Jules, who managed to throw his body in the way of what appeared to be sure goals. To make matters worse, calf and hamstring problems cost cssc two of its midfield battlers when Erwan and Stef were forced off. Then with 10 minutes left, hope for Landmark when a fairly innocent shot took an unlucky deflection of a CSSC defender to wrong foot Jules, who could only parry into the path of a lurking Landmark striker who tapped home. Then at the very death, Dan won a defensive header off a free kick only to have it deflect off the giant form of the large Landmark striker. It fell kindly to the little Landmark striker who hit it low and true to even the scores. When you’re up two with 30 to play, a tie feels like a loss.
Man of the Match: At Kamal’s favorite night spot, the Beer Can, the MotM voting was split between Jules' keeping heroics and Niall Harney’s composed midfield play. Harney won, not only for the goal, but also the way he kept the ball pinging around the midfield with some tasty long range passing.
Purple Cobras 1 – 1 CSSC
The big news prior to the kickoff with Purple Cobras was that CSSC could welcome back Bob Walden from a long standing ankle knock that had kept him out of the line up for several months. His timing was perfect as one of CSSC’s other veteran center backs, Andrew Woolford, was having trouble shaking a nagging bit of hamstring trouble and the other, Mark Hudson, has gone completely AWOL somewhere in the wilds of Washington state. If this were the 1980s, he would be appearing on milk cartons around the city.
The first half was a bit stop start, meaning that CSSC alums Ali and Rick had to make their own entertainment on the sidelines as little was created in terms of goal scoring excitement. The fans were almost out of their seats when the Cobra keeper dropped a free kick right to Devin whose attempt to lift it over the sprawled goalie clanged off the upper side of the bar and out. Niall Harney also grazed the post with a close range, near post, effort, but it was more outside the post than inside.
The second half involved much more action. The Cobras struck first when they engineered a field spanning move down their right side – featuring a tasty little one-two at center that released a speedy winger who raced down the sidelines and made like Robben by cutting in off his off wing and hitting an unstoppable drive low into the near corner. Respect. CSSC pushed hard for an equalizer. The best more of the game saw Zach hold the ball up around 30 yards out and split the defense with a delightful diagonal ball to find Alain’s surging run from the midfield. Alain’s one time shot had power, but the keeper did well to push it to safety. The equalizer can when Zach dribbled into the Cobra’s box and was felled by some combination of two defenders and the keeper in a gigantic pile. He dusted himself off and sent the keeper the wrong way. It probably should have been victory CSSC when a ball bouncing around the Cobra box and beyond their keeper found its way to KD who rolled a tight angle shot in off the far post. Offside said the ref, but whether it was the correct decision was open for debate.
Man of the Match: It was off to the Winnipeg wonderland that is the Beer Can for post match drinks. While tater tots were relished the crew decided that Zach looked pretty good for MotM with his excellent hold up play, skilled dribbling and coolly taken penalty.
The big news prior to the kickoff with Purple Cobras was that CSSC could welcome back Bob Walden from a long standing ankle knock that had kept him out of the line up for several months. His timing was perfect as one of CSSC’s other veteran center backs, Andrew Woolford, was having trouble shaking a nagging bit of hamstring trouble and the other, Mark Hudson, has gone completely AWOL somewhere in the wilds of Washington state. If this were the 1980s, he would be appearing on milk cartons around the city.
The first half was a bit stop start, meaning that CSSC alums Ali and Rick had to make their own entertainment on the sidelines as little was created in terms of goal scoring excitement. The fans were almost out of their seats when the Cobra keeper dropped a free kick right to Devin whose attempt to lift it over the sprawled goalie clanged off the upper side of the bar and out. Niall Harney also grazed the post with a close range, near post, effort, but it was more outside the post than inside.
The second half involved much more action. The Cobras struck first when they engineered a field spanning move down their right side – featuring a tasty little one-two at center that released a speedy winger who raced down the sidelines and made like Robben by cutting in off his off wing and hitting an unstoppable drive low into the near corner. Respect. CSSC pushed hard for an equalizer. The best more of the game saw Zach hold the ball up around 30 yards out and split the defense with a delightful diagonal ball to find Alain’s surging run from the midfield. Alain’s one time shot had power, but the keeper did well to push it to safety. The equalizer can when Zach dribbled into the Cobra’s box and was felled by some combination of two defenders and the keeper in a gigantic pile. He dusted himself off and sent the keeper the wrong way. It probably should have been victory CSSC when a ball bouncing around the Cobra box and beyond their keeper found its way to KD who rolled a tight angle shot in off the far post. Offside said the ref, but whether it was the correct decision was open for debate.
Man of the Match: It was off to the Winnipeg wonderland that is the Beer Can for post match drinks. While tater tots were relished the crew decided that Zach looked pretty good for MotM with his excellent hold up play, skilled dribbling and coolly taken penalty.
The CSSC match against Superbia followed so closely to the plot of a Hollywood blockbuster that we can’t even put the score at the top for fear of ruining the cliffhanger ending. But would it be a MCU style drama with the heroes triumphing at the end against overwhelming odds or an art house picture that ends in disaster? Such was the nature of the action that you might actually need proof of the match report’s accuracy. Conveniently, the MSSL game cam was present to catch it all – and put the match report in some realistic perspective. Signs weren’t good prior to the match when team captain Kamal Chioua opted to pick up a late shift working security at the Fringe without thinking to notify team management who had him penciled in at starting striker right up until it became obvious that he wasn’t going to make kick off.
The first half was very even, but Superbia were ahead on the scoresheet. The goal came when CSSC turned the ball over deep on their left and a very quick Superbia through ball bypassed the CSSC defense to send a striker in one on one against Jules and he kept his composure to slide the ball low into the far corner. CSSC was probably outplayed but managed to fashion three fantastic scoring chances. First, Van Penner, pushed up to a more attacking wide midfield role, worked some magic to shed two defenders and work to the byline where he cut back a delightful ball to Zach Chioua on the penalty spot, but his one time effort screwed wide of the goal. The other two were identical headed chances for Alain, who made some great forward runs into the box but couldn’t steer increasingly close chances on net. So far, not the thrill a minute contest that had been so overhyped in the introduction.
The game turned on two identical second half moments. In both, Superbia’s number 3 found himself squared up with CSSC’s last man Sean Brown just outside the CSSC box. In both, he shifted the ball from right to left seemingly with a yard on Sean for a shot. In both, he hit the turf yelling. The difference is that Sean fouled him in the first and didn’t touch him in the second. However, such was the quality of the dive that the ref hauled out Sean’s second yellow forcing him into a sweary march to the sidelines. To make matters worse, number 3 dusted himself off and rocked a bar down screamer over Jules and into the CSSC net (1:00:00 on the game video for those keeping track). So far this could be art house tragedy where CSSC mope their way to a resigned defeat but gain an understanding of our inability to achieve real joy, or it could be the rock bottom nadir moment in a MCU thriller where all seems hopeless before the big comeback.
Whether it was Superbia taking their foot off the gas under the impression that the game was won or CSSC finally showing up to play after 60 minutes, the game did seem tilted toward the Superbia goal. Zach had two breakaways, one from a massive downfield punt from Jules and the another from a careful pass from the CSSC central midfield that was increasingly taking a stranglehold in the game, but he could not squeeze either past the hard charging keeper. It looked like CSSC was snake bit when a Van Penner chip bounced off the post right to Alain, but his follow up was tipped onto the bar by a sprawling keeper. Then a lifeline for CSSC from a delightful field spanning move (1:20:18) starting with Aaron Doerksen breaking up a Superbia break with a composed one touch pass out to Hudson on the wing. He found Alain in the center of the park who cut across the midfield and sent a through ball that Van Penner did something impressive with to help it along to JDB, who rode the last defender’s desperate attempts to bring him down and slotted it home across the keeper. It was all square only a couple of minutes later. Again Van Penner beat a few defenders down deep and played a ball back to JDB at the corner of the six yard box, and he pulled the ball back away from the covering defender and smashed it high into the roof of the net (1:24:03). Soon after JDB worked his way into the box, drew the keeper and squared it for Matt Loxley making a lung busing late game run in support but Matt’s side footed effort into the keeperless net was thwarted by a sprawling defender. But this setback was only to heighten the drama. When JDB arced in an outswinging corner Aaron rose above the Superbia defense to plant a textbook downward header past the despairing keeper just as the final whistle blew. MCU it is.
Man of the Match: The obvious contenders were JDB with a brace and an assist, and Aaron’s last second game winning heroics, but just as CSSC was heading home a new contender stepped forward to walk away with the prize when 90 minute midfield Acton Man Matt Loxley pulled a cooler out of his car for post game beers. Well played Mr. Loxley. The late night gathering was treated to Sean Brown’s fashion advice. Perhaps he should put together a how to guide. We’re sure he would avoid the outrageous hand shaming at 2:45 of this classic of the genre.
The first half was very even, but Superbia were ahead on the scoresheet. The goal came when CSSC turned the ball over deep on their left and a very quick Superbia through ball bypassed the CSSC defense to send a striker in one on one against Jules and he kept his composure to slide the ball low into the far corner. CSSC was probably outplayed but managed to fashion three fantastic scoring chances. First, Van Penner, pushed up to a more attacking wide midfield role, worked some magic to shed two defenders and work to the byline where he cut back a delightful ball to Zach Chioua on the penalty spot, but his one time effort screwed wide of the goal. The other two were identical headed chances for Alain, who made some great forward runs into the box but couldn’t steer increasingly close chances on net. So far, not the thrill a minute contest that had been so overhyped in the introduction.
The game turned on two identical second half moments. In both, Superbia’s number 3 found himself squared up with CSSC’s last man Sean Brown just outside the CSSC box. In both, he shifted the ball from right to left seemingly with a yard on Sean for a shot. In both, he hit the turf yelling. The difference is that Sean fouled him in the first and didn’t touch him in the second. However, such was the quality of the dive that the ref hauled out Sean’s second yellow forcing him into a sweary march to the sidelines. To make matters worse, number 3 dusted himself off and rocked a bar down screamer over Jules and into the CSSC net (1:00:00 on the game video for those keeping track). So far this could be art house tragedy where CSSC mope their way to a resigned defeat but gain an understanding of our inability to achieve real joy, or it could be the rock bottom nadir moment in a MCU thriller where all seems hopeless before the big comeback.
Whether it was Superbia taking their foot off the gas under the impression that the game was won or CSSC finally showing up to play after 60 minutes, the game did seem tilted toward the Superbia goal. Zach had two breakaways, one from a massive downfield punt from Jules and the another from a careful pass from the CSSC central midfield that was increasingly taking a stranglehold in the game, but he could not squeeze either past the hard charging keeper. It looked like CSSC was snake bit when a Van Penner chip bounced off the post right to Alain, but his follow up was tipped onto the bar by a sprawling keeper. Then a lifeline for CSSC from a delightful field spanning move (1:20:18) starting with Aaron Doerksen breaking up a Superbia break with a composed one touch pass out to Hudson on the wing. He found Alain in the center of the park who cut across the midfield and sent a through ball that Van Penner did something impressive with to help it along to JDB, who rode the last defender’s desperate attempts to bring him down and slotted it home across the keeper. It was all square only a couple of minutes later. Again Van Penner beat a few defenders down deep and played a ball back to JDB at the corner of the six yard box, and he pulled the ball back away from the covering defender and smashed it high into the roof of the net (1:24:03). Soon after JDB worked his way into the box, drew the keeper and squared it for Matt Loxley making a lung busing late game run in support but Matt’s side footed effort into the keeperless net was thwarted by a sprawling defender. But this setback was only to heighten the drama. When JDB arced in an outswinging corner Aaron rose above the Superbia defense to plant a textbook downward header past the despairing keeper just as the final whistle blew. MCU it is.
Man of the Match: The obvious contenders were JDB with a brace and an assist, and Aaron’s last second game winning heroics, but just as CSSC was heading home a new contender stepped forward to walk away with the prize when 90 minute midfield Acton Man Matt Loxley pulled a cooler out of his car for post game beers. Well played Mr. Loxley. The late night gathering was treated to Sean Brown’s fashion advice. Perhaps he should put together a how to guide. We’re sure he would avoid the outrageous hand shaming at 2:45 of this classic of the genre.
CSSC 0 – 6 St. James Spurs
Due to a west coast vacation by the usual match reporter, Van Penner yet again takes over to deliver some bad news.
The lovely summer evening of July17 provided CSSC the occasion both to break the streak of poor attendance which has impacted the team in recent fixture and maintain the unbeaten run which has led them to the top of the table. With at least the latter condition representing an uncommon state of affairs for the lads there was some comfort to discover that the night’s opponents were in exactly the same boat, with both groups of players casting long glances at the empty loss columns on the MMSL websites and the threadbare substitute ranks during warm-up.
The match began much to CSSC’s advantage, with midfielder operators Alain, Erwan, Bryce, and Devin bringing vintage attacking duo Kevin Dick and JDB into play with some lovely passing sequences. This wonderful midfield build up was augmented by bombing fullbacks Aaron Doerksen and Van Penner who provided progressive outlet passes and pinned back the rather defensively ambivalent Spurs wingers. This situation created the first real chance of the game which occurred when Aaron Doerksen’s supportive run was found by the inside midfielder, allowing the defender to send a wonderful cross towards the crowded top of the box. The pass found its way through the crowd to the opposite fullback Van Penner, who turned the veteran Spurs defender and played a low cross towards the penalty spot which fell to inverted winger Bryce Trupp whose trusty left foot sent a hard shot to the near corner which the Spurs keeper did well to keep out. Shortly after, CSSC was dealt a blow when Kevin Dick sprained an ankle right as he was found in space at the top of the box, forcing his understudy (who he shares with a certain Colonel Mustard) Kamal Chioua to make a long anticipated though unfortunately pre-emptive return. Not to be deterred, CSSC pressed harder, with another right-wing cross being deflected into the path of Devin Doerksen who did well to bring the ball down and find space in behind the defence before sending the shot narrowly over the far corner. As the half dragged on, St. James grew into the game, with their talismanic English import dropping into the midfield to play dangerous balls over the top to their speedy wingers and following moves to the top of the box where he could unleash his vicious long shots. This strategy provided a decent amount for joy to St. James around the middle of the first half however between the tough jockeying of the CSSC fullbacks on the wingers and the dogged man-marking of Woolford and Amorim on the Spurs star, very few chances troubled the ever-composed Brendyn. Late in the half good chances fell to both teams, with CSSC winning a dangerous free kick just outside the Spurs box after a wonderful turn by JDB provoked a surprisingly reckless tackle from the uber talented and kind no 14, however the chance was squandered when Van Penner drilled it into the wall. Going the other way, a late cross skipped between the CSSC CBs and fell to the Spurs striker, who corralled it on the penalty spot before slipping as he released the ball, which rolled comfortably into Brendyn’s arms.
Halftime confidence was high as it CSSC who was dictating the intensity and creating the better chances, however an impromptu tactical tweak early in the second half proved to unsettle the team while a slew of unusual defensive errors overcame the usually sturdy backline. With LB Van Penner being pushed into midfield to track Spurs’ dangerous no 14, space opened along the CSSC backline which was exploited by the fluid St. James attack. While situation allowed Spurs more space out wide, it was CSSC’s own lack of concentration in the centre of defence that saw a rather tame cross bounce between the CBs and fall to the far post winger, who blasted the ball into the roof of the net from a few yards out. The same formula was repeated a few minutes later when a pass along the top of the CSSC box failed to be intercepted, forcing CB come LB Phil Amorim into a tactical foul on the edge of the box. Despite being a dangerous dead ball situation, the confines of division 5 are usually prove to be a more than effective “12th man” given the technical quality necessitated by free kicks, however, Spurs’ captain used the opportunity to channel his co-national James Ward-Prowse’s frustration at being consistent overlooked for a place in the England squad and sent a blistering shot just within the right post, 2-0. The third goal came much as the first did, with a poorly contested header in the box being smashed in by the diminutive no 14. Just as CSSC thought their luck couldn’t get any worse, the following 30 minutes a series of even more calamitous errors that made players on both teams wary that the MMSL camcorder perched at half was actually the Candid Camera in disguise. First, a stray pass around half was picked up by St James and played through to their pernicious striker, who drilled a perfect shot into the bottom left hand corner while in full stride at the top of the box, despite being very much the less technically gifted of Spurs’ two English attackers. Shortly after, another solitary counterattack saw a tricky St. James winger blast a low shot which trickled through Brendyn’s hands into the near post, prompting Captain Kamal Chioua to abandon his hopes of a goal on his return and charge into the backline to shore things up. However, even this movement was not enough to dam the flood, with a long shot blast out of the Spurs midfield a few minutes later also finding its way through the keeper’s gloves and into the back of the net. While this entire half makes for terrible reading and was definitely terrible watching (though luckily the bleachers were empty on account of Erwan’s brother deciding that watching Erwan charge up and down the field would not be a hangover palliative), the teams advanced stats department found reason not to panic. Despite running up the score in the second half, many of these chances were against the control and run of play if a CSSC team that continued to dominate the midfield, progress the ball, and carve out chances for themselves. While many of the final passes were a step too far for an exhausted and under-rotated CSSC side, there were many encouraging movements in the final third of the pitch, beginning with chance created when defender-come-midfielder Van Penner dribbled through the Spurs midfield, turned the onrushing CB, and played in Devin Doerksen who forced a diving save from the acrobatic Spurs keeper. The ensuing series of corner kicks also created several chaotic chances which could have easily gone in on a different night. As well, a late free kick from Bryce Trupp forced an excellent save and the rebound was narrowly diverted wide by the indefatigable Aaron Doerksen whose impressive box crashing physicality almost saw him notch his first CSSC goal. Despite the dismal score of 6-0, it was some truly remarkable finishing quality which separated the teams and CSSC can hope that all the bad luck for the rest of the season has been exhausted, though only time will tell.
Man of the Match: Returning veteran defender Andrew Woolford was clearly keen to keep his Barcelona buzz going as he eagerly petitioned the dejected CSSC squad to patronize his beloved Leopald’s South Osborne, an offer that could not be refused. Post-game beers saw Andrew share details of his sleepless night in Barcelona where he won the dubious monicker of “funny little man,” Kamal get Kevin Dick to commit to funding an MTC renovation which includes a permanent CSSC box, as well as Kevin Dick enlighten Kamal on proper all-inclusive resort behaviour and the formalities observed at Coco Bongos. The only thing the squabbling post-game committee could agree on was that man of the match would go to Aaron Doerksen, who turned defence into attack with such ease and frequency through his tackling, passing, and ball-carrying while almost opening his CSSC account with a goal, attaboy Aaron!
Due to a west coast vacation by the usual match reporter, Van Penner yet again takes over to deliver some bad news.
The lovely summer evening of July17 provided CSSC the occasion both to break the streak of poor attendance which has impacted the team in recent fixture and maintain the unbeaten run which has led them to the top of the table. With at least the latter condition representing an uncommon state of affairs for the lads there was some comfort to discover that the night’s opponents were in exactly the same boat, with both groups of players casting long glances at the empty loss columns on the MMSL websites and the threadbare substitute ranks during warm-up.
The match began much to CSSC’s advantage, with midfielder operators Alain, Erwan, Bryce, and Devin bringing vintage attacking duo Kevin Dick and JDB into play with some lovely passing sequences. This wonderful midfield build up was augmented by bombing fullbacks Aaron Doerksen and Van Penner who provided progressive outlet passes and pinned back the rather defensively ambivalent Spurs wingers. This situation created the first real chance of the game which occurred when Aaron Doerksen’s supportive run was found by the inside midfielder, allowing the defender to send a wonderful cross towards the crowded top of the box. The pass found its way through the crowd to the opposite fullback Van Penner, who turned the veteran Spurs defender and played a low cross towards the penalty spot which fell to inverted winger Bryce Trupp whose trusty left foot sent a hard shot to the near corner which the Spurs keeper did well to keep out. Shortly after, CSSC was dealt a blow when Kevin Dick sprained an ankle right as he was found in space at the top of the box, forcing his understudy (who he shares with a certain Colonel Mustard) Kamal Chioua to make a long anticipated though unfortunately pre-emptive return. Not to be deterred, CSSC pressed harder, with another right-wing cross being deflected into the path of Devin Doerksen who did well to bring the ball down and find space in behind the defence before sending the shot narrowly over the far corner. As the half dragged on, St. James grew into the game, with their talismanic English import dropping into the midfield to play dangerous balls over the top to their speedy wingers and following moves to the top of the box where he could unleash his vicious long shots. This strategy provided a decent amount for joy to St. James around the middle of the first half however between the tough jockeying of the CSSC fullbacks on the wingers and the dogged man-marking of Woolford and Amorim on the Spurs star, very few chances troubled the ever-composed Brendyn. Late in the half good chances fell to both teams, with CSSC winning a dangerous free kick just outside the Spurs box after a wonderful turn by JDB provoked a surprisingly reckless tackle from the uber talented and kind no 14, however the chance was squandered when Van Penner drilled it into the wall. Going the other way, a late cross skipped between the CSSC CBs and fell to the Spurs striker, who corralled it on the penalty spot before slipping as he released the ball, which rolled comfortably into Brendyn’s arms.
Halftime confidence was high as it CSSC who was dictating the intensity and creating the better chances, however an impromptu tactical tweak early in the second half proved to unsettle the team while a slew of unusual defensive errors overcame the usually sturdy backline. With LB Van Penner being pushed into midfield to track Spurs’ dangerous no 14, space opened along the CSSC backline which was exploited by the fluid St. James attack. While situation allowed Spurs more space out wide, it was CSSC’s own lack of concentration in the centre of defence that saw a rather tame cross bounce between the CBs and fall to the far post winger, who blasted the ball into the roof of the net from a few yards out. The same formula was repeated a few minutes later when a pass along the top of the CSSC box failed to be intercepted, forcing CB come LB Phil Amorim into a tactical foul on the edge of the box. Despite being a dangerous dead ball situation, the confines of division 5 are usually prove to be a more than effective “12th man” given the technical quality necessitated by free kicks, however, Spurs’ captain used the opportunity to channel his co-national James Ward-Prowse’s frustration at being consistent overlooked for a place in the England squad and sent a blistering shot just within the right post, 2-0. The third goal came much as the first did, with a poorly contested header in the box being smashed in by the diminutive no 14. Just as CSSC thought their luck couldn’t get any worse, the following 30 minutes a series of even more calamitous errors that made players on both teams wary that the MMSL camcorder perched at half was actually the Candid Camera in disguise. First, a stray pass around half was picked up by St James and played through to their pernicious striker, who drilled a perfect shot into the bottom left hand corner while in full stride at the top of the box, despite being very much the less technically gifted of Spurs’ two English attackers. Shortly after, another solitary counterattack saw a tricky St. James winger blast a low shot which trickled through Brendyn’s hands into the near post, prompting Captain Kamal Chioua to abandon his hopes of a goal on his return and charge into the backline to shore things up. However, even this movement was not enough to dam the flood, with a long shot blast out of the Spurs midfield a few minutes later also finding its way through the keeper’s gloves and into the back of the net. While this entire half makes for terrible reading and was definitely terrible watching (though luckily the bleachers were empty on account of Erwan’s brother deciding that watching Erwan charge up and down the field would not be a hangover palliative), the teams advanced stats department found reason not to panic. Despite running up the score in the second half, many of these chances were against the control and run of play if a CSSC team that continued to dominate the midfield, progress the ball, and carve out chances for themselves. While many of the final passes were a step too far for an exhausted and under-rotated CSSC side, there were many encouraging movements in the final third of the pitch, beginning with chance created when defender-come-midfielder Van Penner dribbled through the Spurs midfield, turned the onrushing CB, and played in Devin Doerksen who forced a diving save from the acrobatic Spurs keeper. The ensuing series of corner kicks also created several chaotic chances which could have easily gone in on a different night. As well, a late free kick from Bryce Trupp forced an excellent save and the rebound was narrowly diverted wide by the indefatigable Aaron Doerksen whose impressive box crashing physicality almost saw him notch his first CSSC goal. Despite the dismal score of 6-0, it was some truly remarkable finishing quality which separated the teams and CSSC can hope that all the bad luck for the rest of the season has been exhausted, though only time will tell.
Man of the Match: Returning veteran defender Andrew Woolford was clearly keen to keep his Barcelona buzz going as he eagerly petitioned the dejected CSSC squad to patronize his beloved Leopald’s South Osborne, an offer that could not be refused. Post-game beers saw Andrew share details of his sleepless night in Barcelona where he won the dubious monicker of “funny little man,” Kamal get Kevin Dick to commit to funding an MTC renovation which includes a permanent CSSC box, as well as Kevin Dick enlighten Kamal on proper all-inclusive resort behaviour and the formalities observed at Coco Bongos. The only thing the squabbling post-game committee could agree on was that man of the match would go to Aaron Doerksen, who turned defence into attack with such ease and frequency through his tackling, passing, and ball-carrying while almost opening his CSSC account with a goal, attaboy Aaron!
Hanover Strikers 1 -1 CSSC
After rave reviews of the his first effort, Van Penner gives the people what they want with another riveting match report.
CSSC’s second road trip of the year saw a threadbare Crescentwood side trickle through the maze of Megachurch parking lots which flank the Steinbach Sporting Complex and deposit themselves on the side of the field. Even more disappointing than the low squad size was the Strikers’ failure to organize a homecoming celebration for Mennonite emigrés Aaron Doerksen, Devin Doerksen, Jules Martens (?) and Van Penner, though between their rigorous warm-up routine and wounded pride from Ian Hudson’s misspelled and misinterpreted “Steinback” remark in the team group chat this oversight can be perhaps be forgiven.
The opening exchanges saw tactical masterminds Sean Brown and Van Penner try to “slow the game down” to allow late arrival Alain Clement time to suit up by slowly and deliberately removing earrings and necklaces at the behest of the ref. With the squad settled and a substitute on the bench, CSSC and Hanover began trading punches, with strikers JDB and Kevin Dick stretching the Hanover backline with fantastic link up play and intelligent runs into the inside channels. The first chance fell to the away team when JDB picked up a through ball, cut back to the top of the box and looped a wonderful shot past the static Hanover goalie only to see it bounce off the inside of the far post and fall to onrushing midfielder Van Penner, who blasted the close range volley comfortably over the net. Not to be deterred, a few minutes later JDB was again sent through on goal through some clever attacking play and after having his initial shot stopped by the Hanover keeper, picked up his own rebound while the Hanover keeper picked up the dust he left behind, along with one of his ankles, penalty CSSC. Despite the absence of hometown hero and penalty aficionado Eltee Taiwo, CSSC felt confident as veteran goal scorer Kevin Dick stepped up to take it, however a combination of the goalie’s fingertips and the underside of the crossbar ended with the penalty being cleared by the Hanover defense. What followed led half-time commentators to deem the CSSC penalty opportunity a “TSSN (The Steinbach Sports Network) Turning Point” as a crafty blonde Hanover midfielder with a habit of saving energy for attacking phases of play initiated a streak of about 10 bursting midfield runs ending with cannonball shots from 25 yards out. Despite encouragement from his teammates that “one of these times it’ll go in,” CSSC was pretty confident that that time likely wouldn’t be within the next 60 minutes of play, as shot after shot was dragged to the wide left. However CSSC’s troubles were only just beginning as between one of these runs a separate longshot, which was stopped by commanding keeper Jules Martens, fell into a pack of players in the CSSC box which ended with a Hanover player on the ground and a penalty call for the home team. However, as Jules’ protests fell on the ears of a ref who had already been deafened by a penalty call the other way and was keen to demonstrate his professional dedication to equanimity, Jules decided to take matters into his own hands, pushing the Hanover penalty wide of the left post with the tremendous dive. Yet, CSSC’s troubles were far from over as a few minutes later a speedy Hanover winger delivered a hard cross towards the penalty area which deflected first off of a Hanover striker before bouncing off a CSSC defender and eventually falling at the feet of and offside Hanover winger who finished it off into the top corner with infinitely more composure than Gonzalo Higuian in the 2014 World Cup final when he found himself in a similar position (https://youtu.be/As_hf0psXMw embed at 20 seconds if you please). The rest of the half played out rather scrappily, with CSSC’s legs waning in the face of Hanover’s adept squad rotation.
The beginning of the second half mirrored the end of the first, with Hanover’s pacey winger creating havoc in behind the left side of the CSSC defence, however, having learned from earlier mistakes our backline cleared the chances and half chances with increasing frequency and confidence. As well, Hanover’s midfield three, which had caused CSSC’s midfield pair of Clement and Penner headaches all game, began to wane with increasingly embarrassing and theatrical stunts throughout the 2nd half. The culmination of these antics occurred after midfielder Van Penner was tripped while carrying the ball through the centre of the park and made minor contact with Hanover’s holding midfielder while on the way down to the fertile Southern Manitoba soil, causing the player to throw his boot off while screaming in pain before spending several minutes searching the grass around him for his wedding ring, which he claimed he lost in the midst of his frantic gesturing. Eventually he closed the act by storming off with rhetorical flourish that only CSSC Star Kamal Chioua in his starring role in Rainbow Stage’s most recent rendition of Rent could come close to matching as he hobbled off the field in such disgust at the decision that the ring lost all significance to him. Having enjoyed the breather provided by this disruption, a hefty chunk of added time in the bank, and the Hanover squad thinning out significantly, CSSC began to take greater and greater control of the match. Particularly, the right side of the field was dominated by the wonderful combination play of JDB, Stefan Hodges, Devin Doerksen, and Aaron Doerksen, all of whom delivered several delicious crosses into the Hanover box as the rest of the CSSC attackers creating an all-out-attack maelstrom in the Hanover box, though the keeper was only tested on a few half chances. The long-awaited breakthrough came when, having hoofed the ball into the CSSC end along with half of their players, Hanover was now so stretched between defence and attack that onlookers were worried that they were witnessing the formation of two new neighbouring Mennonite towns. While families on the sidelines scrambled to reorient their values and allegiances based on their proximity to one town community or the other (as Mennonites are want to do), JDB took a forward pass down, charged into the right half space to draw in the Hanover CB, and played a perfectly threaded pass to an onrushing Kevin Dick who slide the ball past the sprawling Hanover keeper, cue the celebrations. In the closing minutes of the game following the goal CSSC pushed even harder, eventually winning a free kick just outside the Hanover penalty area after Alain was hauled down by a seriously fatigued Hanover midfield who he had adeptly turned. With everyone in the box and the ref with the whistle in his mouth Kevin once again stepped up and sent a hard shot skimming just over the bar, causing the CSSC higher ups to mandate that he either change his last name or be immersed in Mennonite cultural immersion programming for at least 10 hours a week moving forward until he overcomes the Mennonite imposter syndrome which is clearly affecting his form in rural venues.
Man of the Match: After some confusion the team assembled at the increasingly familiar Block and Blade to once again terrorize the servers with a last minute table of 10. With full drinks and empty stomachs the team happily ingested and interrogated a Ted Talk esque performance by Sean Brown with topics ranging from the vicissitudes associated with being the “drunkest person at Beerfest” to his upcoming work in Brownian Economics titled “Contesting Capitalism: Subverting the Commodity Form Through Barter Economies,” which team anarchist Stefan Hodges eagerly pre-ordered on the drive home. While the whole team showed great resilience to come back and nearly pinch a win, man of the match if going to LB Tyler Johnson, who corralled Hanover’s fastest and most dangerous attacker throughout the game while sharing some interesting insights from his time as an English teacher in Taiwan during post-game beers, Gàn dé hǎo, Tyler!
After rave reviews of the his first effort, Van Penner gives the people what they want with another riveting match report.
CSSC’s second road trip of the year saw a threadbare Crescentwood side trickle through the maze of Megachurch parking lots which flank the Steinbach Sporting Complex and deposit themselves on the side of the field. Even more disappointing than the low squad size was the Strikers’ failure to organize a homecoming celebration for Mennonite emigrés Aaron Doerksen, Devin Doerksen, Jules Martens (?) and Van Penner, though between their rigorous warm-up routine and wounded pride from Ian Hudson’s misspelled and misinterpreted “Steinback” remark in the team group chat this oversight can be perhaps be forgiven.
The opening exchanges saw tactical masterminds Sean Brown and Van Penner try to “slow the game down” to allow late arrival Alain Clement time to suit up by slowly and deliberately removing earrings and necklaces at the behest of the ref. With the squad settled and a substitute on the bench, CSSC and Hanover began trading punches, with strikers JDB and Kevin Dick stretching the Hanover backline with fantastic link up play and intelligent runs into the inside channels. The first chance fell to the away team when JDB picked up a through ball, cut back to the top of the box and looped a wonderful shot past the static Hanover goalie only to see it bounce off the inside of the far post and fall to onrushing midfielder Van Penner, who blasted the close range volley comfortably over the net. Not to be deterred, a few minutes later JDB was again sent through on goal through some clever attacking play and after having his initial shot stopped by the Hanover keeper, picked up his own rebound while the Hanover keeper picked up the dust he left behind, along with one of his ankles, penalty CSSC. Despite the absence of hometown hero and penalty aficionado Eltee Taiwo, CSSC felt confident as veteran goal scorer Kevin Dick stepped up to take it, however a combination of the goalie’s fingertips and the underside of the crossbar ended with the penalty being cleared by the Hanover defense. What followed led half-time commentators to deem the CSSC penalty opportunity a “TSSN (The Steinbach Sports Network) Turning Point” as a crafty blonde Hanover midfielder with a habit of saving energy for attacking phases of play initiated a streak of about 10 bursting midfield runs ending with cannonball shots from 25 yards out. Despite encouragement from his teammates that “one of these times it’ll go in,” CSSC was pretty confident that that time likely wouldn’t be within the next 60 minutes of play, as shot after shot was dragged to the wide left. However CSSC’s troubles were only just beginning as between one of these runs a separate longshot, which was stopped by commanding keeper Jules Martens, fell into a pack of players in the CSSC box which ended with a Hanover player on the ground and a penalty call for the home team. However, as Jules’ protests fell on the ears of a ref who had already been deafened by a penalty call the other way and was keen to demonstrate his professional dedication to equanimity, Jules decided to take matters into his own hands, pushing the Hanover penalty wide of the left post with the tremendous dive. Yet, CSSC’s troubles were far from over as a few minutes later a speedy Hanover winger delivered a hard cross towards the penalty area which deflected first off of a Hanover striker before bouncing off a CSSC defender and eventually falling at the feet of and offside Hanover winger who finished it off into the top corner with infinitely more composure than Gonzalo Higuian in the 2014 World Cup final when he found himself in a similar position (https://youtu.be/As_hf0psXMw embed at 20 seconds if you please). The rest of the half played out rather scrappily, with CSSC’s legs waning in the face of Hanover’s adept squad rotation.
The beginning of the second half mirrored the end of the first, with Hanover’s pacey winger creating havoc in behind the left side of the CSSC defence, however, having learned from earlier mistakes our backline cleared the chances and half chances with increasing frequency and confidence. As well, Hanover’s midfield three, which had caused CSSC’s midfield pair of Clement and Penner headaches all game, began to wane with increasingly embarrassing and theatrical stunts throughout the 2nd half. The culmination of these antics occurred after midfielder Van Penner was tripped while carrying the ball through the centre of the park and made minor contact with Hanover’s holding midfielder while on the way down to the fertile Southern Manitoba soil, causing the player to throw his boot off while screaming in pain before spending several minutes searching the grass around him for his wedding ring, which he claimed he lost in the midst of his frantic gesturing. Eventually he closed the act by storming off with rhetorical flourish that only CSSC Star Kamal Chioua in his starring role in Rainbow Stage’s most recent rendition of Rent could come close to matching as he hobbled off the field in such disgust at the decision that the ring lost all significance to him. Having enjoyed the breather provided by this disruption, a hefty chunk of added time in the bank, and the Hanover squad thinning out significantly, CSSC began to take greater and greater control of the match. Particularly, the right side of the field was dominated by the wonderful combination play of JDB, Stefan Hodges, Devin Doerksen, and Aaron Doerksen, all of whom delivered several delicious crosses into the Hanover box as the rest of the CSSC attackers creating an all-out-attack maelstrom in the Hanover box, though the keeper was only tested on a few half chances. The long-awaited breakthrough came when, having hoofed the ball into the CSSC end along with half of their players, Hanover was now so stretched between defence and attack that onlookers were worried that they were witnessing the formation of two new neighbouring Mennonite towns. While families on the sidelines scrambled to reorient their values and allegiances based on their proximity to one town community or the other (as Mennonites are want to do), JDB took a forward pass down, charged into the right half space to draw in the Hanover CB, and played a perfectly threaded pass to an onrushing Kevin Dick who slide the ball past the sprawling Hanover keeper, cue the celebrations. In the closing minutes of the game following the goal CSSC pushed even harder, eventually winning a free kick just outside the Hanover penalty area after Alain was hauled down by a seriously fatigued Hanover midfield who he had adeptly turned. With everyone in the box and the ref with the whistle in his mouth Kevin once again stepped up and sent a hard shot skimming just over the bar, causing the CSSC higher ups to mandate that he either change his last name or be immersed in Mennonite cultural immersion programming for at least 10 hours a week moving forward until he overcomes the Mennonite imposter syndrome which is clearly affecting his form in rural venues.
Man of the Match: After some confusion the team assembled at the increasingly familiar Block and Blade to once again terrorize the servers with a last minute table of 10. With full drinks and empty stomachs the team happily ingested and interrogated a Ted Talk esque performance by Sean Brown with topics ranging from the vicissitudes associated with being the “drunkest person at Beerfest” to his upcoming work in Brownian Economics titled “Contesting Capitalism: Subverting the Commodity Form Through Barter Economies,” which team anarchist Stefan Hodges eagerly pre-ordered on the drive home. While the whole team showed great resilience to come back and nearly pinch a win, man of the match if going to LB Tyler Johnson, who corralled Hanover’s fastest and most dangerous attacker throughout the game while sharing some interesting insights from his time as an English teacher in Taiwan during post-game beers, Gàn dé hǎo, Tyler!
CSSC 5 – 1 Tri S
In last year’s fixture against Tri S, JDB had his ankle broken by a tackle so premeditated the Selkirk player had time to yell (correctly it turns out) “I hope I broke your ankle!” This year they seem to be a calmer bunch, but before the game CSSC was more concerned with its small subs bench compared to Tri-S’s many bums in seats. Fortunately, Kevin Dick rode to the rescue by calling up Dino and Amar from the youth program to give CSSC a respectable three subs by kickoff time.
It was more or less one way traffic from the get go. CSSC had been banging on the door without breaking it down before Bryce scored the first, but due to the match reporter doing some light stretching, all we can say is that it rolled over the line quite slowly. For the second Stef swung over a cross that gave an unmarked JDB plenty of time to crouch down and deflect an angled header off the base of the far post and into the back of the net. And there was a third before the half ended. The Tri S keeper could only parry a long range effort straight into the path of a hard charging Stef, who made no mistake, smashing into the empty net from close range. There wasn’t too much that wasn’t going CSSC way.
Until they came out at the start of the second half with a 15 minute showing of comical ineptitude. Passes were misplayed, clearances were driven into CSSC groins, easy passes bounced off shins. The only good news was that Tri S couldn’t manage to punish the uncharacteristic sloppiness. The game was made even more extra safe when, against the run of play, Van Penner made like Trent Alexander Arnold, rampaging up from the back, and slipped the ball in behind the defense to Dino, who cut across the top of the box and slid a square pass to KD who very calmly chipped the ball over the keeper, who had time to regret his decision to play so far off his line while the ball slowly went over his head. Byrce got his second and CSSC’s fifth by simply banging a low daisy cutter into the near corner. Such was CSSC’s comfort that when I. Hudson picked up an Erwan through ball and hammered it bar down into the Tri S net, only to have the ref signal an unjustified offside, there were few objections. It’s unclear how much consolation can be taken from making the score 5-1 rather than 5-0, but late on a Tri S striker did just that by firing into the open net after Jules got his big mitts on a dangerous cross, which fell right to the striker’s feet. And that was that.
Man of the Match: Two goals for a returning to form Bryce is pretty good, but CSSC would have been in massive trouble without KD arranging two call ups. And he showed some real class finishing on his well taken goal.
In last year’s fixture against Tri S, JDB had his ankle broken by a tackle so premeditated the Selkirk player had time to yell (correctly it turns out) “I hope I broke your ankle!” This year they seem to be a calmer bunch, but before the game CSSC was more concerned with its small subs bench compared to Tri-S’s many bums in seats. Fortunately, Kevin Dick rode to the rescue by calling up Dino and Amar from the youth program to give CSSC a respectable three subs by kickoff time.
It was more or less one way traffic from the get go. CSSC had been banging on the door without breaking it down before Bryce scored the first, but due to the match reporter doing some light stretching, all we can say is that it rolled over the line quite slowly. For the second Stef swung over a cross that gave an unmarked JDB plenty of time to crouch down and deflect an angled header off the base of the far post and into the back of the net. And there was a third before the half ended. The Tri S keeper could only parry a long range effort straight into the path of a hard charging Stef, who made no mistake, smashing into the empty net from close range. There wasn’t too much that wasn’t going CSSC way.
Until they came out at the start of the second half with a 15 minute showing of comical ineptitude. Passes were misplayed, clearances were driven into CSSC groins, easy passes bounced off shins. The only good news was that Tri S couldn’t manage to punish the uncharacteristic sloppiness. The game was made even more extra safe when, against the run of play, Van Penner made like Trent Alexander Arnold, rampaging up from the back, and slipped the ball in behind the defense to Dino, who cut across the top of the box and slid a square pass to KD who very calmly chipped the ball over the keeper, who had time to regret his decision to play so far off his line while the ball slowly went over his head. Byrce got his second and CSSC’s fifth by simply banging a low daisy cutter into the near corner. Such was CSSC’s comfort that when I. Hudson picked up an Erwan through ball and hammered it bar down into the Tri S net, only to have the ref signal an unjustified offside, there were few objections. It’s unclear how much consolation can be taken from making the score 5-1 rather than 5-0, but late on a Tri S striker did just that by firing into the open net after Jules got his big mitts on a dangerous cross, which fell right to the striker’s feet. And that was that.
Man of the Match: Two goals for a returning to form Bryce is pretty good, but CSSC would have been in massive trouble without KD arranging two call ups. And he showed some real class finishing on his well taken goal.
Azzurri 2 – 2 CSSC
It was first vs second on an absolutely gorgeous Manitoba evening. CSSC was gazing anxiously at the parking lot in the hopes that a starting line up might appear out of the gravel haze, while Azzurri were having trouble finding enough team jerseys to hand out to their many subs. CSSC was saved when Eltee heroically risked his wonky knee and Aaron Doerksen suited up for his first game after returning from his trip to Churchill to stop global warming. Even with those two additions, the CSSC bench consisted of Todd Chernomas’ unreliable hamstring and Ian Hudson’s reliably bad hip.
Fortunately, CSSC’s intense preseason training meant that the 11 CSSC starters kept pace with the rapidly substituting Azzurri squad. The first big chance of the game fell CSSC’s way when Stef, playing a bit out of position in center midfield, carved open the defense with an inch perfect pass to hit Niall Harney’s diagonal run in behind the Azzurri D. Niall had time to pick his shot but the keeper stuck out a big foot at the near post to divert it wide. Azzurri answered off a corner. Given their very large average size, it was a predictable route to goal, but the fact that the goal was headed in by the smallest person on the field might be worth some post game video analysis. CSSC answered off a lovely passing move down the left that resulted in JDB beating his man deep in the Azzurri box and squaring it to Eltee who took a touch before lifting it over the keeper and into the top corner. There were chances to be had at both ends without bulging the twine before the half.
The second half started off like a rocket for CSSC. A dangerous cross swung into the box from the CSSC left, caused panic in the Azzurri defense and their big center back knocked the ball with a bit of an outstretched arm in a “seen them given” kind of way and the ref gave it. Up stepped Eltee to sweep the ball right under the dive of the keeper and into the net. The big question for the rest of the game was whether an increasingly injury depleted CSSC could hold out against increasing Azzurri pressure. First Chernomas limped his way to the bench with about 30 minutes to play. Then Stef’s hamstring twanged in a worrying way. Finally, Eltee’s knee gave out, forcing Stef to limp back onto the field and through the last 15 minutes at striker on one of two legs. Azzurri had chances a plenty but were being held at bay by a combination of heroic back four play and Brendyn’s perfect positioning. But then in the dying seconds an Azzurri winger wiggled a bit of space on the CSSC right and bent a peach of an inswinging cross onto the head of Azzurri’s big forward and he couldn’t miss for about two yards out. Cue great Azzurri celebrating and CSSC realization that they were for once on the wrong side of a last second goal.
Man of the Match: After a rousing debate about the best superpower – teleportation says Harney, super speed says Hudson, the drinkers decided that MotM should go to the four CSSC D. Every one gutted out the full 90 minutes in an increasingly back to the wall action.
It was first vs second on an absolutely gorgeous Manitoba evening. CSSC was gazing anxiously at the parking lot in the hopes that a starting line up might appear out of the gravel haze, while Azzurri were having trouble finding enough team jerseys to hand out to their many subs. CSSC was saved when Eltee heroically risked his wonky knee and Aaron Doerksen suited up for his first game after returning from his trip to Churchill to stop global warming. Even with those two additions, the CSSC bench consisted of Todd Chernomas’ unreliable hamstring and Ian Hudson’s reliably bad hip.
Fortunately, CSSC’s intense preseason training meant that the 11 CSSC starters kept pace with the rapidly substituting Azzurri squad. The first big chance of the game fell CSSC’s way when Stef, playing a bit out of position in center midfield, carved open the defense with an inch perfect pass to hit Niall Harney’s diagonal run in behind the Azzurri D. Niall had time to pick his shot but the keeper stuck out a big foot at the near post to divert it wide. Azzurri answered off a corner. Given their very large average size, it was a predictable route to goal, but the fact that the goal was headed in by the smallest person on the field might be worth some post game video analysis. CSSC answered off a lovely passing move down the left that resulted in JDB beating his man deep in the Azzurri box and squaring it to Eltee who took a touch before lifting it over the keeper and into the top corner. There were chances to be had at both ends without bulging the twine before the half.
The second half started off like a rocket for CSSC. A dangerous cross swung into the box from the CSSC left, caused panic in the Azzurri defense and their big center back knocked the ball with a bit of an outstretched arm in a “seen them given” kind of way and the ref gave it. Up stepped Eltee to sweep the ball right under the dive of the keeper and into the net. The big question for the rest of the game was whether an increasingly injury depleted CSSC could hold out against increasing Azzurri pressure. First Chernomas limped his way to the bench with about 30 minutes to play. Then Stef’s hamstring twanged in a worrying way. Finally, Eltee’s knee gave out, forcing Stef to limp back onto the field and through the last 15 minutes at striker on one of two legs. Azzurri had chances a plenty but were being held at bay by a combination of heroic back four play and Brendyn’s perfect positioning. But then in the dying seconds an Azzurri winger wiggled a bit of space on the CSSC right and bent a peach of an inswinging cross onto the head of Azzurri’s big forward and he couldn’t miss for about two yards out. Cue great Azzurri celebrating and CSSC realization that they were for once on the wrong side of a last second goal.
Man of the Match: After a rousing debate about the best superpower – teleportation says Harney, super speed says Hudson, the drinkers decided that MotM should go to the four CSSC D. Every one gutted out the full 90 minutes in an increasingly back to the wall action.
CSSC 2 - 1 Thunder
As Van Penner pointed out in a previous match report, there’s a bad-weather related theme to this year’s division 5. Unlike Marjorie Taylor Greene, we’re inclined to believe that this sudden increase in weather-related events may have its origins in human activity.
In the game’s early stages, Thunder had CSSC pinned down like Colin Kinsella with a hot dog. It was only thanks to Jules’ heroic denial of a clear cut breakaway after a Thunder forward slipped Phil’s subtle attempt at a tug back that the scores were still level. “I should have gone down” said the striker, which somewhat ruined his candidacy for the fair play award. CSSC started creating chances of their own as the half progressed. Leading scorer, Eltee was slid clean through and rounded the keeper, but his effort to roll a tight angle shot into the open net only found the side netting. A CSSC corner fell kindly to Devin, lurking at the far post, but his one time effort lacked the power to beat the well positioned keeper. Then Eltee struck twice. First a lovely through ball from Todd Chernomas, yet again returning from injury, sent Eltee racing through and he hammered a low shot across the keeper and into the far corner. Then a long punt downfield put the Thunder defense in all kinds of trouble and a collision between their two center backs left Eltee racing in on goal for the third time in the space of about 15 minutes and this time he rounded the keeper and slotted home.
The second half saw CSSC weather a great deal of Thunder pressure, but countered well enough to create some very good chances of their own. The best of these saw Matt Loxley, back in the line up after some cross conditioning with General Strike, spotted his box to box midfield partner JDB hurtling past the last Thunder defender. An inch perfect pass placed Jude one on one with the keeper but his powerful shot was turned aside at the near post. Thunder made it very interesting late on. They made it a one goal game when their dangerous winger number six worked a bit of magic out wide and cut back a low cross from the by line that was coolly placed into the bottom corner of the CSSC net with enough time left to “set up a frantic finish” as the commentators say. And frantic it was. A corner right at the death was met by a tall Thunder midfield who powered a bullet header toward the CSSC net only for Jules to throw his face in the way. “The best save I’ve ever seen,” said one disbelieving Thunder player in the amicable post match handshake.
Man of the Match: At the Beer Can Stef Hodges gave a terrifying lesson on the dangers of poorly supervised grade 9 equestrian outings. Beware concussions and poison ivy. After the gathered drinkers swore never to ride again, they decided that Sean Brown is looking back to his brick wall self at center back and JDB got up and down the field all night, creating scoring chances at one end and snuffing them out at the other. But, the award has to go to Jules and his tremendous keeping. We’re actually understating his role by not telling you about two of the three breakaways he turned away.
As Van Penner pointed out in a previous match report, there’s a bad-weather related theme to this year’s division 5. Unlike Marjorie Taylor Greene, we’re inclined to believe that this sudden increase in weather-related events may have its origins in human activity.
In the game’s early stages, Thunder had CSSC pinned down like Colin Kinsella with a hot dog. It was only thanks to Jules’ heroic denial of a clear cut breakaway after a Thunder forward slipped Phil’s subtle attempt at a tug back that the scores were still level. “I should have gone down” said the striker, which somewhat ruined his candidacy for the fair play award. CSSC started creating chances of their own as the half progressed. Leading scorer, Eltee was slid clean through and rounded the keeper, but his effort to roll a tight angle shot into the open net only found the side netting. A CSSC corner fell kindly to Devin, lurking at the far post, but his one time effort lacked the power to beat the well positioned keeper. Then Eltee struck twice. First a lovely through ball from Todd Chernomas, yet again returning from injury, sent Eltee racing through and he hammered a low shot across the keeper and into the far corner. Then a long punt downfield put the Thunder defense in all kinds of trouble and a collision between their two center backs left Eltee racing in on goal for the third time in the space of about 15 minutes and this time he rounded the keeper and slotted home.
The second half saw CSSC weather a great deal of Thunder pressure, but countered well enough to create some very good chances of their own. The best of these saw Matt Loxley, back in the line up after some cross conditioning with General Strike, spotted his box to box midfield partner JDB hurtling past the last Thunder defender. An inch perfect pass placed Jude one on one with the keeper but his powerful shot was turned aside at the near post. Thunder made it very interesting late on. They made it a one goal game when their dangerous winger number six worked a bit of magic out wide and cut back a low cross from the by line that was coolly placed into the bottom corner of the CSSC net with enough time left to “set up a frantic finish” as the commentators say. And frantic it was. A corner right at the death was met by a tall Thunder midfield who powered a bullet header toward the CSSC net only for Jules to throw his face in the way. “The best save I’ve ever seen,” said one disbelieving Thunder player in the amicable post match handshake.
Man of the Match: At the Beer Can Stef Hodges gave a terrifying lesson on the dangers of poorly supervised grade 9 equestrian outings. Beware concussions and poison ivy. After the gathered drinkers swore never to ride again, they decided that Sean Brown is looking back to his brick wall self at center back and JDB got up and down the field all night, creating scoring chances at one end and snuffing them out at the other. But, the award has to go to Jules and his tremendous keeping. We’re actually understating his role by not telling you about two of the three breakaways he turned away.
Landmark 0 - 4 CSSC
Guest match review complete with photo slide show to follow by former defender Matthew Brett.
An evening breeze carried a potent mix of chemicals and fertilizer over the Landmark home field, but for all intents and purposes, Crescentwood were the country boys replete with mullets, smelly bags and jerseys. Van Penner was only missing a beer can and cigarette dangling from his mouth as came back to his hometown field.
The field was concrete with a thin veneer of grass, which played to Crescentwood’s advantage for quick passes but to the disadvantage of knees everywhere.
Landmark played the full game one man down, and an early hamstring injury brought them down to 9.5 men. Let’s call that player Mustapha, as players carried on the match with his occasional tortured screams of pain. There was ample pasture for him to be taken out to, but Mustapha refused to bow out.
Some first half highlights:
- Tyler sent a lovely cross to Kamal that he almost cleaned up (this was to become a theme).
- Mark Hudson bows out with a hamstring injury.
- Jude sent a juicy cross to Kevin that he almost heel-flicked in.
- Jude sends another peach of a cross to Kevin that goes in at the 20th minute.
- A shaky defensive moment could have resulted in Landmark equalizing.
- LT came remarkably close after a nice pass from Jude, then Stef almost got the rebound, but the goalie got to it.
- LT made a beautiful turn inside the box and was open on goal, but the Landmark goalie made a tidy save.
- LT passed to Kamal who couldn’t make solid contact to put it in the back of the net (there’s that theme again).
- LT to Alan to Kamal who couldn’t capitalize (the theme again, but to Kamal’s credit, he’s clearly often in the right place at the right time).
- Van decided to put his country roots into practice with eight minutes left in the half, also echoing his Landmark hockey hall of fame grandfather, bear-hugging an attacker who was running away from goal and conceding a penalty. Jules got the tips of his fingers to it and the shot trickled wide.
- Minutes later we scored a penalty of our own after LT made a beautiful dribble and was fouled inside the box with 6 minutes on the clock, bringing us to 2-0.
It was a shaky first half despite dominating possession.
Second half highlights:
- Van made a piercing pass through to Kamal who almost flicked one over the goalie.
- Another beautiful ball from Jude to Kamal, who shot just wide.
- Bleating Mustapha continues to awe and impress, creating opportunities despite not being able to run whatsoever without shooting pain.
- Tyler went full Vincent Kompany and laced one from well outside the box that went just over.
- Alain came so close, and LT also had an opportunity inches away.
- Alain made a lovely pass to Kamal who received it with the grace of a Shakespearian feather landing on a lily pad in a tranquil pond, left-footing that sucker to the back of the net, 4-0.
- Kamal connected nicely and almost got another.
- LT was fouled with six minutes on the clock and Dev had a PK that he was unable to capitalize on.
- Van had a lovely solo goal.
- With minutes on the clock, a pass-back to the goalie resulted in another PK.
- LT made a nice pass to Kamal, who couldn’t get through traffic for a cherry on top.
Not sure what the final score was. The game was not a good measure of Crescentwood’s capabilities, and we were shaky against a weaker side at times, but we’re clearly a team with some quality in building plays through the midfield with some strong finishers up front and a good defensive line.
Man of the Match: Jude made some lovely plays and is a contender along with Eltee, but MOTM has to go to Mustapha for the entertainment-value, grit and brazen foolishness to play through a painful hamstring injury.
Guest match review complete with photo slide show to follow by former defender Matthew Brett.
An evening breeze carried a potent mix of chemicals and fertilizer over the Landmark home field, but for all intents and purposes, Crescentwood were the country boys replete with mullets, smelly bags and jerseys. Van Penner was only missing a beer can and cigarette dangling from his mouth as came back to his hometown field.
The field was concrete with a thin veneer of grass, which played to Crescentwood’s advantage for quick passes but to the disadvantage of knees everywhere.
Landmark played the full game one man down, and an early hamstring injury brought them down to 9.5 men. Let’s call that player Mustapha, as players carried on the match with his occasional tortured screams of pain. There was ample pasture for him to be taken out to, but Mustapha refused to bow out.
Some first half highlights:
- Tyler sent a lovely cross to Kamal that he almost cleaned up (this was to become a theme).
- Mark Hudson bows out with a hamstring injury.
- Jude sent a juicy cross to Kevin that he almost heel-flicked in.
- Jude sends another peach of a cross to Kevin that goes in at the 20th minute.
- A shaky defensive moment could have resulted in Landmark equalizing.
- LT came remarkably close after a nice pass from Jude, then Stef almost got the rebound, but the goalie got to it.
- LT made a beautiful turn inside the box and was open on goal, but the Landmark goalie made a tidy save.
- LT passed to Kamal who couldn’t make solid contact to put it in the back of the net (there’s that theme again).
- LT to Alan to Kamal who couldn’t capitalize (the theme again, but to Kamal’s credit, he’s clearly often in the right place at the right time).
- Van decided to put his country roots into practice with eight minutes left in the half, also echoing his Landmark hockey hall of fame grandfather, bear-hugging an attacker who was running away from goal and conceding a penalty. Jules got the tips of his fingers to it and the shot trickled wide.
- Minutes later we scored a penalty of our own after LT made a beautiful dribble and was fouled inside the box with 6 minutes on the clock, bringing us to 2-0.
It was a shaky first half despite dominating possession.
Second half highlights:
- Van made a piercing pass through to Kamal who almost flicked one over the goalie.
- Another beautiful ball from Jude to Kamal, who shot just wide.
- Bleating Mustapha continues to awe and impress, creating opportunities despite not being able to run whatsoever without shooting pain.
- Tyler went full Vincent Kompany and laced one from well outside the box that went just over.
- Alain came so close, and LT also had an opportunity inches away.
- Alain made a lovely pass to Kamal who received it with the grace of a Shakespearian feather landing on a lily pad in a tranquil pond, left-footing that sucker to the back of the net, 4-0.
- Kamal connected nicely and almost got another.
- LT was fouled with six minutes on the clock and Dev had a PK that he was unable to capitalize on.
- Van had a lovely solo goal.
- With minutes on the clock, a pass-back to the goalie resulted in another PK.
- LT made a nice pass to Kamal, who couldn’t get through traffic for a cherry on top.
Not sure what the final score was. The game was not a good measure of Crescentwood’s capabilities, and we were shaky against a weaker side at times, but we’re clearly a team with some quality in building plays through the midfield with some strong finishers up front and a good defensive line.
Man of the Match: Jude made some lovely plays and is a contender along with Eltee, but MOTM has to go to Mustapha for the entertainment-value, grit and brazen foolishness to play through a painful hamstring injury.
CSSC 3 – 1 Storm FC
This week marauding wing back Van Penner steps up to write a banger of a match report.
The growing threat of climate-change related challenges throughout the world is a trend which MMSL Division 5 football has clearly failed to insulate itself against, with the suffocating humidity of recent 7:30pm kickoffs being accompanied by recent division debutants Thunder FC and Storm FC. It was the latter competitor which blew in from Winkler on an otherwise pleasant Thursday evening at Buhler, causing CSSC’s warmup to be interrupted by whispers in the wind (the ref’s mouth) that several CSSC stalwarts were “too old to play.”
The opening exchanges saw CSSC rebuffing much of Storm FC’s midfield build up play through the dominant mid-press of destroyers Erwan, Alain, and JDB, allowing CSSC’s fantastic counter attacking prowess to test the shaky and disorganized Storm backline on several occasions. This dynamic was well demonstrated by the CSSC opener, when JDB was played in behind the defence 15 minutes in via a swift and direct attack which saw him (to all of our surprise, including his) get taken down in an excellent last man tackle just as he was about to slide it past the overstretched keeper. However, while Storm FC were busy hailing the efforts of their sweeper, JDB picked himself up and covered the 20 yards between him and the still-in-play ball before playing it to onrushing fullback Van Penner whose back-post cross found Kevin Dick’s outstretched foot, 1-0 CSSC. Following the opener, the Storm began to channel the bulk of their attack through the right side of the field, where winger Devin Doerksen and defenders Tyler Johnson and Mark Hudson soon found their hands full with the skill and pace of the attacks. However they weathered this period admirably, and were it not for the abnormal height of the grass, which impeded the usually perfect weight of pass provided by early introductions Alain Clement and Eltee Taiwo, CSSC would have been through themselves several more times.
Unsurprisingly, the decreasing composure of the CSSC backline saw them resemble less the imposing figure of Cumulonimbus clouds and increasingly take on both the appearance and effect of Cirrus clouds, that of presaging a change in weather. This change took concrete form when a CSSC counterattack, finally unmolested by the long Buhler grass, saw star striker Eltee rush past the backline and through on goal before the Storm FC sweeper, possibly confusing this game with the Blue Bombers opener the following night, tackled Eltee form behind in a challenge that may have won him the Norm Fieldgate Trophy had it been a CFL match however in the confines of rec soccer it was only good enough for a CSSC penalty. The resulting spot kick saw Eltee make a convincing bid to be CSSC designated penalty taker, with his fancy change of direction and comfortable finish into the bottom right-hand corner ending a streak of unconvincing misses which stretches back to the indoor season, 2-0. The last 15 minutes of the half saw CSSC seriously put on the ropes, with the right side of the Storm attack finally shedding their fear of delivering the ball into the box or on goal, with a few nervy CSSC box clearances and strong stops from keeper Jules Martens spelling danger to come. That danger came soon enough, with a half clearance to the edge of the box baiting winger Niall Harney into a challenge from behind which, though he made good contact on the ball, saw him also take a fair chunk of the Storm striker’s ankle, penalty Storm. While the Storm gathered around the top of the box for the spot kick, a ray of light penetrated the gloom which had come over the CSSC squad and the voice of God? Allah? Shiva? boomed across the field “this is going over.” It turns out the voices were the harmonized prognostications of Kevin Dick and Kamal Chioua, whose keen insight won an early disciple in Eltee Taiwo who, when the Storm striker sent his shot looping comfortably over the bar, suggested a trip to the nearest casino after the match. However, it was not long before the element of doubt crept its way into the minds of the CSSC squad, with a last minute corner finding the heads of about 3 Storm players on its way into the bottom corner of the net past a sprawling Jules who was given no chance to save it after so many changes in direction.
The second half began much as the first, with CSSC controlling the centre of the pitch, Storm exploiting the wings, and both teams creating half chances for themselves. For CSSC, Eltee and JDB made several penetrating runs and shots in and around the Storm box while a lovely deep cross from Stefan Hodges found the forehead of Kevin Dick, who guided it just over the bar. However, it was a nearly superhuman solo effort from Eltee which put another tally in the CSSC column as he, having been stymied by the resistance of the long grass many times thus far, read a weak pack pass by the Storm CB to the keeper and pressed with the conviction of a man who has heard God causing the Storm goalie to boot the ball off his outstretched leg and into the empty net, 3-1. The final 20 minutes of the match saw buildup play from the Storm widemen increasingly end in moves and shots from their late arriving midfielders at the top of the box, though several critical commentators (possibly proselytized the previous game by Bill Gerrard) shrugged this off as an inevitable condition of the divine universal paradigm known as “game state.” The most dangerous of these chances was a nice passing sequence amongst the Storm attackers which allowed a tricky striker to turn and shoot from about 10 yards out, while a second play saw a Storm midfielder found in an inside channel launch a rocket shot that was heading bar down, however, both times Jules made himself big and the chances were cleared behind. The closing minutes also saw the Storm players become increasingly incensed by perceived timewasting, a fact that they attributed entirely to Jules’ retrieving of the ball from the muddy ditch behind the goal and not at all to their own growing propensity to blast the ball well wide of the goal from more and more desperate positions. After the match ended, several Storm FC players seemed happier that CSSC had dispatched their arch rivals Purple Cobras the week before than they were upset about the result on the night, a situation which CSSC will be happy to oblige again in the reverse fixture.
Man of the Match: With many of the previously agnostic CSSC players having their convictions shaken over the course of the evening, post-game beers saw a reconsideration of Heaven Is For Real, both the movie and the band, as well as the formation of a possible cover band Heaven Is For Realz TM containing CSSC’s musical triumvirate Bob Walden, Tyler Johnson, and Stefan Hodges, Nashville here we come! As well, man of the match was a toss-up between Eltee Taiwo’s fantastic brace and Jules Martens rock-solid shot stopping throughout the match, ultimately being given to Eltee on condition that he fulfills his post-game promise of a “hat trick at Landmark” next week.
This week marauding wing back Van Penner steps up to write a banger of a match report.
The growing threat of climate-change related challenges throughout the world is a trend which MMSL Division 5 football has clearly failed to insulate itself against, with the suffocating humidity of recent 7:30pm kickoffs being accompanied by recent division debutants Thunder FC and Storm FC. It was the latter competitor which blew in from Winkler on an otherwise pleasant Thursday evening at Buhler, causing CSSC’s warmup to be interrupted by whispers in the wind (the ref’s mouth) that several CSSC stalwarts were “too old to play.”
The opening exchanges saw CSSC rebuffing much of Storm FC’s midfield build up play through the dominant mid-press of destroyers Erwan, Alain, and JDB, allowing CSSC’s fantastic counter attacking prowess to test the shaky and disorganized Storm backline on several occasions. This dynamic was well demonstrated by the CSSC opener, when JDB was played in behind the defence 15 minutes in via a swift and direct attack which saw him (to all of our surprise, including his) get taken down in an excellent last man tackle just as he was about to slide it past the overstretched keeper. However, while Storm FC were busy hailing the efforts of their sweeper, JDB picked himself up and covered the 20 yards between him and the still-in-play ball before playing it to onrushing fullback Van Penner whose back-post cross found Kevin Dick’s outstretched foot, 1-0 CSSC. Following the opener, the Storm began to channel the bulk of their attack through the right side of the field, where winger Devin Doerksen and defenders Tyler Johnson and Mark Hudson soon found their hands full with the skill and pace of the attacks. However they weathered this period admirably, and were it not for the abnormal height of the grass, which impeded the usually perfect weight of pass provided by early introductions Alain Clement and Eltee Taiwo, CSSC would have been through themselves several more times.
Unsurprisingly, the decreasing composure of the CSSC backline saw them resemble less the imposing figure of Cumulonimbus clouds and increasingly take on both the appearance and effect of Cirrus clouds, that of presaging a change in weather. This change took concrete form when a CSSC counterattack, finally unmolested by the long Buhler grass, saw star striker Eltee rush past the backline and through on goal before the Storm FC sweeper, possibly confusing this game with the Blue Bombers opener the following night, tackled Eltee form behind in a challenge that may have won him the Norm Fieldgate Trophy had it been a CFL match however in the confines of rec soccer it was only good enough for a CSSC penalty. The resulting spot kick saw Eltee make a convincing bid to be CSSC designated penalty taker, with his fancy change of direction and comfortable finish into the bottom right-hand corner ending a streak of unconvincing misses which stretches back to the indoor season, 2-0. The last 15 minutes of the half saw CSSC seriously put on the ropes, with the right side of the Storm attack finally shedding their fear of delivering the ball into the box or on goal, with a few nervy CSSC box clearances and strong stops from keeper Jules Martens spelling danger to come. That danger came soon enough, with a half clearance to the edge of the box baiting winger Niall Harney into a challenge from behind which, though he made good contact on the ball, saw him also take a fair chunk of the Storm striker’s ankle, penalty Storm. While the Storm gathered around the top of the box for the spot kick, a ray of light penetrated the gloom which had come over the CSSC squad and the voice of God? Allah? Shiva? boomed across the field “this is going over.” It turns out the voices were the harmonized prognostications of Kevin Dick and Kamal Chioua, whose keen insight won an early disciple in Eltee Taiwo who, when the Storm striker sent his shot looping comfortably over the bar, suggested a trip to the nearest casino after the match. However, it was not long before the element of doubt crept its way into the minds of the CSSC squad, with a last minute corner finding the heads of about 3 Storm players on its way into the bottom corner of the net past a sprawling Jules who was given no chance to save it after so many changes in direction.
The second half began much as the first, with CSSC controlling the centre of the pitch, Storm exploiting the wings, and both teams creating half chances for themselves. For CSSC, Eltee and JDB made several penetrating runs and shots in and around the Storm box while a lovely deep cross from Stefan Hodges found the forehead of Kevin Dick, who guided it just over the bar. However, it was a nearly superhuman solo effort from Eltee which put another tally in the CSSC column as he, having been stymied by the resistance of the long grass many times thus far, read a weak pack pass by the Storm CB to the keeper and pressed with the conviction of a man who has heard God causing the Storm goalie to boot the ball off his outstretched leg and into the empty net, 3-1. The final 20 minutes of the match saw buildup play from the Storm widemen increasingly end in moves and shots from their late arriving midfielders at the top of the box, though several critical commentators (possibly proselytized the previous game by Bill Gerrard) shrugged this off as an inevitable condition of the divine universal paradigm known as “game state.” The most dangerous of these chances was a nice passing sequence amongst the Storm attackers which allowed a tricky striker to turn and shoot from about 10 yards out, while a second play saw a Storm midfielder found in an inside channel launch a rocket shot that was heading bar down, however, both times Jules made himself big and the chances were cleared behind. The closing minutes also saw the Storm players become increasingly incensed by perceived timewasting, a fact that they attributed entirely to Jules’ retrieving of the ball from the muddy ditch behind the goal and not at all to their own growing propensity to blast the ball well wide of the goal from more and more desperate positions. After the match ended, several Storm FC players seemed happier that CSSC had dispatched their arch rivals Purple Cobras the week before than they were upset about the result on the night, a situation which CSSC will be happy to oblige again in the reverse fixture.
Man of the Match: With many of the previously agnostic CSSC players having their convictions shaken over the course of the evening, post-game beers saw a reconsideration of Heaven Is For Real, both the movie and the band, as well as the formation of a possible cover band Heaven Is For Realz TM containing CSSC’s musical triumvirate Bob Walden, Tyler Johnson, and Stefan Hodges, Nashville here we come! As well, man of the match was a toss-up between Eltee Taiwo’s fantastic brace and Jules Martens rock-solid shot stopping throughout the match, ultimately being given to Eltee on condition that he fulfills his post-game promise of a “hat trick at Landmark” next week.
Purple Cobras 1 - 2 CSSC
It is no doubt a mark of soccer related obsession that when faced with a traffic accident so severe that it forced the closure of Dougald Rd, all the management team at CSSC could think about was that it was going to cause some real trouble for the already late arriving CSSC. The traffic snafu would prove one barrier too far for a CSSC side already stretched by a few last minute withdrawals as it only managed to field a slightly short 10 players for the start of the game. However, three things appeared very positive. First, Matt Loxley and Bryce were there to bolster the line up. Second, the late players were trickling in from the Buhler parking lot and, third, CSSC could boast a guest manager of the celebrity variety, Bill Gerrard, who has worked with Moneyball's Billy Beane and put his sportsmetrics to the test with San Jose Earthquakes and AZ Alkmaar.
The Cobras are a fast, skilled dribbling team and CSSC defense found themselves fairly frequently on the back foot only for the Cobra's last wayward pass to let them off the hook. It was mostly a case of CSSC possession and Cobra counter. On one fast break, the CSSC defense found themselves outnumbered. It started when Van Penner crashed an absolute thunderbolt from 30 yards off the Cobra bar. It bounced all the way out to a speedy Cobra winger who managed to skip by a couple of desperate defensive lunges and square a dangerous ball across the CSSC box that only barely eluded Woolford's last ditch effort to stretch and clear the ball. The Cobra striker on the end of the pass shifted to his right foot and fired across Brendyn's dive and into the far corner. That was about it for the half really.
The second half was a lot more eventful. Early in the half JDB swung in a dangerous near post corner that Kamal acrobatically forced on goal. The keeper managed to parry not only Kamal's original effort but also his hardworking second attempt, only to watch in great sadness as Bryce pounced to slam the ball home. Chances were created in great numbers at both ends. The Cobras had a host of chances in which close range efforts were either narrowly missed or smothered by that master of positioning Brendyn in CSSC's goal. The most dangerous of their chances featured another low cross fired through the CSSC box in the danger zone between keeper and defender only for it to also elude the sliding Cobra striker at the far post. CSSC had a few chances of their own, most notably when a two pass move swept from defense to Kamal at centre to JDB on a rampaging overlap from his center mid position. Seemingly crowded out by two defenders just as he was about to shoot, JDB pulled a sweet chop to wrong foot both defenders and create space to shoot, but sent it curling just over the angle of bar and post. Just as the game appeared to be winding down, Bryce fired a long range CSSC free kick that appeared to be a little too close to the keeper. Perhaps sensing the presence of a big mover in European football in the crowd, rather than a simple catch, the keeper opted for a Hollywood dive that resulted in spilling the ball for the anticipatory JDB to poke home. Not quite a smash and grab, but pretty close. Perhaps sneak and take.
This week, CSSC lost its calm midfield presence and all around fantastic guy Greg Boese. It's designed to be a temporary loan move, which would see Boese return to the Peg after two years of seasoning in Toronto. We'll miss him. Who else is going to trick Ian and Mark Hudson into singing the wretched My Girl Wants to Party All the Time at the Wolsley crawl karaoke?
Man of the Match: Under the big tree of Kilter's patio, CSSC had trouble narrowing it down to just one. JDB created trouble for the Cobras for 90 full minutes. But the award goes to Brendyn who made some rock solid saves and is starting to add his voice to Sean Brown's in marshaling the CSSC back line.
It is no doubt a mark of soccer related obsession that when faced with a traffic accident so severe that it forced the closure of Dougald Rd, all the management team at CSSC could think about was that it was going to cause some real trouble for the already late arriving CSSC. The traffic snafu would prove one barrier too far for a CSSC side already stretched by a few last minute withdrawals as it only managed to field a slightly short 10 players for the start of the game. However, three things appeared very positive. First, Matt Loxley and Bryce were there to bolster the line up. Second, the late players were trickling in from the Buhler parking lot and, third, CSSC could boast a guest manager of the celebrity variety, Bill Gerrard, who has worked with Moneyball's Billy Beane and put his sportsmetrics to the test with San Jose Earthquakes and AZ Alkmaar.
The Cobras are a fast, skilled dribbling team and CSSC defense found themselves fairly frequently on the back foot only for the Cobra's last wayward pass to let them off the hook. It was mostly a case of CSSC possession and Cobra counter. On one fast break, the CSSC defense found themselves outnumbered. It started when Van Penner crashed an absolute thunderbolt from 30 yards off the Cobra bar. It bounced all the way out to a speedy Cobra winger who managed to skip by a couple of desperate defensive lunges and square a dangerous ball across the CSSC box that only barely eluded Woolford's last ditch effort to stretch and clear the ball. The Cobra striker on the end of the pass shifted to his right foot and fired across Brendyn's dive and into the far corner. That was about it for the half really.
The second half was a lot more eventful. Early in the half JDB swung in a dangerous near post corner that Kamal acrobatically forced on goal. The keeper managed to parry not only Kamal's original effort but also his hardworking second attempt, only to watch in great sadness as Bryce pounced to slam the ball home. Chances were created in great numbers at both ends. The Cobras had a host of chances in which close range efforts were either narrowly missed or smothered by that master of positioning Brendyn in CSSC's goal. The most dangerous of their chances featured another low cross fired through the CSSC box in the danger zone between keeper and defender only for it to also elude the sliding Cobra striker at the far post. CSSC had a few chances of their own, most notably when a two pass move swept from defense to Kamal at centre to JDB on a rampaging overlap from his center mid position. Seemingly crowded out by two defenders just as he was about to shoot, JDB pulled a sweet chop to wrong foot both defenders and create space to shoot, but sent it curling just over the angle of bar and post. Just as the game appeared to be winding down, Bryce fired a long range CSSC free kick that appeared to be a little too close to the keeper. Perhaps sensing the presence of a big mover in European football in the crowd, rather than a simple catch, the keeper opted for a Hollywood dive that resulted in spilling the ball for the anticipatory JDB to poke home. Not quite a smash and grab, but pretty close. Perhaps sneak and take.
This week, CSSC lost its calm midfield presence and all around fantastic guy Greg Boese. It's designed to be a temporary loan move, which would see Boese return to the Peg after two years of seasoning in Toronto. We'll miss him. Who else is going to trick Ian and Mark Hudson into singing the wretched My Girl Wants to Party All the Time at the Wolsley crawl karaoke?
Man of the Match: Under the big tree of Kilter's patio, CSSC had trouble narrowing it down to just one. JDB created trouble for the Cobras for 90 full minutes. But the award goes to Brendyn who made some rock solid saves and is starting to add his voice to Sean Brown's in marshaling the CSSC back line.
CSSC 4 - 1 Hannover
The moment before the first ball is kicked for the season opener is always a time of apprehension and optimism for the fans of any football club and the CSSC supporters populating the UofM bleachers were no exception. How would the promising new comers bed in? Could the team physio coax one more rock solid season from the team veterans? Will the construction on Pembina ever end? For those looking for omens, the fact that Hannover's entire squad were being put through a CSA approved warm up, complete with pinnies and cones while CSSC did a little lethargic stretching might have been cause for alarm.
Perhaps it was the difference in warm up but Hannover's heavy pressing game had CSSC on the ropes from the get go. After 5 minutes, a hard charging Hannover forward chased down Marten's clearance from goal and when the ball fell kindly for Hannover, their forward squared to a team mate, unbothered by anything as irritating as a marking defender, for an open net tap in. "Is this what the whole division is like?" quipped an egg counting Hannover forward. Gradually CSSC grew into the game and forced some Hannover mistakes at the back. The equalizer came when a Hannover centre back played a wayward pass straight to Eltee, lurking at the top of the box and he took a touch and rammed it low, and seemingly right through the keeper, into the back of the net. All even at the half but the field was starting to tilt in CSSC's favour.
Hannover didn't read the warning signs, however. Erwan, Alain, and Jude in CSSCs middle started gaining more space in the middle of the park and were using it well. An increasingly pinned back Hannover resorted to desperate fouls to keep Jude from dancing his way into the box. From one, Kevin Dick hit a bender over the wall that the keeper could only parry right onto the hard charging melon of Andrew Woolford, who forced the ball home from close range. Not since Steve Morrow slotted for Arsenal in the 1993 Cup Final has such an unexpected hero popped up with a crucial goal. Fortunately the celebrations with Woolford were less comically injurious than those with Morrow, allowing Woolford to go back to his usual attack-foiling role for the remainder of the game. The game was made safe when a massive upfield punt from Martens was plucked out of the air with the deftest of first touches by Eltee and he raced in alone to fire home low into the far corner. The game was really out of Hannover's reach when Eltee made it to the byline and carved out an inch perfect cross for Harney who took a touch to control and fired a half volley into the top corner - reminiscent of his last second semi final winner from last fall's playoffs. So relaxed was the CSSC bench by the end of the game that an exhausted Alain could take off his boots, the universal sign that a player thinks the day is won in rec soccer. And that was that, with the early game hiccup a receding memory.
CSSC doesn't go in for much of that "spirit" nonsense so popular in that ultimate game, but Hannover were excellent sports, from offering to share their warm up space to playing a clean, friendly game. White jerseys don't always mean Don Revie's leg breaking Leeds from the 1960s.
Man of the Match: After a start to forget, CSSC's whole squad looked very good, but it's not every day that a stay at home defender pops up in the box to bravely nod in the go ahead goal, so the prize goes to Woolford - brace and all.
The moment before the first ball is kicked for the season opener is always a time of apprehension and optimism for the fans of any football club and the CSSC supporters populating the UofM bleachers were no exception. How would the promising new comers bed in? Could the team physio coax one more rock solid season from the team veterans? Will the construction on Pembina ever end? For those looking for omens, the fact that Hannover's entire squad were being put through a CSA approved warm up, complete with pinnies and cones while CSSC did a little lethargic stretching might have been cause for alarm.
Perhaps it was the difference in warm up but Hannover's heavy pressing game had CSSC on the ropes from the get go. After 5 minutes, a hard charging Hannover forward chased down Marten's clearance from goal and when the ball fell kindly for Hannover, their forward squared to a team mate, unbothered by anything as irritating as a marking defender, for an open net tap in. "Is this what the whole division is like?" quipped an egg counting Hannover forward. Gradually CSSC grew into the game and forced some Hannover mistakes at the back. The equalizer came when a Hannover centre back played a wayward pass straight to Eltee, lurking at the top of the box and he took a touch and rammed it low, and seemingly right through the keeper, into the back of the net. All even at the half but the field was starting to tilt in CSSC's favour.
Hannover didn't read the warning signs, however. Erwan, Alain, and Jude in CSSCs middle started gaining more space in the middle of the park and were using it well. An increasingly pinned back Hannover resorted to desperate fouls to keep Jude from dancing his way into the box. From one, Kevin Dick hit a bender over the wall that the keeper could only parry right onto the hard charging melon of Andrew Woolford, who forced the ball home from close range. Not since Steve Morrow slotted for Arsenal in the 1993 Cup Final has such an unexpected hero popped up with a crucial goal. Fortunately the celebrations with Woolford were less comically injurious than those with Morrow, allowing Woolford to go back to his usual attack-foiling role for the remainder of the game. The game was made safe when a massive upfield punt from Martens was plucked out of the air with the deftest of first touches by Eltee and he raced in alone to fire home low into the far corner. The game was really out of Hannover's reach when Eltee made it to the byline and carved out an inch perfect cross for Harney who took a touch to control and fired a half volley into the top corner - reminiscent of his last second semi final winner from last fall's playoffs. So relaxed was the CSSC bench by the end of the game that an exhausted Alain could take off his boots, the universal sign that a player thinks the day is won in rec soccer. And that was that, with the early game hiccup a receding memory.
CSSC doesn't go in for much of that "spirit" nonsense so popular in that ultimate game, but Hannover were excellent sports, from offering to share their warm up space to playing a clean, friendly game. White jerseys don't always mean Don Revie's leg breaking Leeds from the 1960s.
Man of the Match: After a start to forget, CSSC's whole squad looked very good, but it's not every day that a stay at home defender pops up in the box to bravely nod in the go ahead goal, so the prize goes to Woolford - brace and all.