Rovers 6 SSF 5

Well well, that was a quite a match. It's odd to walk off the field last Sunday night celebrating a 3-3 draw like a victory and then to walk off the pitch after 6-5 victory with more of a sense of relief rather then the buzzz that should come along with winning a match like this.
This Sunday Peninsula Soccer League battle was not for the defensive purist and I dont' think either manager could have seen this goal onslaught coming. Both teams boasted a pretty tight defensive during the year so it was a shock when SSF took their lead on their first attack. The Rovers had a fantastic chance to take the lead as Colin's pull back could have found either Bryce or Brodie in the box but Bryce was unable to collect the pass and with that the SSF broke down the field. A through ball so the SSF big man brush off Eric and go around Ben for the simplest of tap ins. The good thing about this goal was that it came so early you thought the Rovers would have plenty of time to get back into the match. The Rovers scored immediately from the kick off with out SSF touching the ball. Jose and Bryce got the ball out to Brodie who played Bryce down the wing. He looked up and found an advancing Colin who made no mistake from two yards, bryce's cross was perfect. With that you expected the Rovers to keep the upper hand but just 5 minutes later SSF was in front. Fabio, a thorn in the Rovers side all day long skipped down the Rovers right and was not closed down quick enough. His lofted ball found the big man in the middle who nodded in a headed goal past Ben.
The Rovers were just not playing at well at this moment. To many simple balls were being avoided and balls were being played to hard or to soft and SSF was able to build every time the Rovers gave the ball away. The only change to the Rovers starting 11 from last week with Eric on for Jon who was in Tahoe. This left a solid bench, with one current Gaffer, Gibbs and ex gaffer Paulie, along with Cameron. At 2-1 Curt played in a great ball that found Jose, who side stepped a defender and finished past the goalie. It was Jose's first goal of the year, and his first goal since I can remember, the fortunate thing was that he didn't' have to shoot past 10 yard so the ball was able to reach the back of the net. Again at 2-2 you would have thought the Rovers would have learned from their mistakes but amazingly they found themselves behind minutes later. To be honest I don't remember their third goal at all put the Rovers were behind 3-2. Then on minute 40 they were behind 4-2, after SSF took a long throw in, after some clever play SSF toe poked the ball goalwards from the edge of the box but the shot hit side netting for 4-2. The Rovers went into the half time 4-2 down. During that time Gibbsy, Cameron and Paulie all made an appearance with Paulie getting a yellow card for what turned out be a very crucial kick on their keeper. Gibbsy floated in a through ball after a free kick and Paulie's header was on target, the ball was spilled and Paulie caught the keeper who was not very pleased. Eoin also had a fantastic chance to score as did Bryce. Bryce opted for a shot when a pull back to Eoin or Brodie was the option, however this was probably the big man's only mistake all day (except for passing it to himself a couple of times).
The half time talk was not very enjoyable to say the least but what happened at the start of the second half was much better. The marking was tighter, the movement was better and the passing was as well. The Rovers started to getting the ball wide and it was no surprise that the third goal came. Colin floated in a great cross for Paulie who still had a lot of work to do but his header was hit perfectly past the keeper. The Rovers then had a stroke of luck to make it 4-4 with the replacement keeper throwing the ball directly to Colin who hammered the ball past the keeper to make it 4-4. Game on and the Rovers were dominating. A double corner kick saw the Rovers fall behind, again. The Ref missed a clear push on Eric on the first corner. The ball went out for another corner and their big left back climbed on Erik's back to nod home. A clear foul but it was not given. I personally thought we were done at this point but I was wrong. A good move between Jose and Brodie fed Bryce and his pin point cross found the onrushing Jon R who made a fantastic bullet header from close range. Paulie should have got another after Brodie put it on his head but the chance went begging. Kieran also had a good half chance but his first time volley went wide. With the game in balance Colin came on and had a fantastic chance for his hatrick but his shot trickled towards goal and it was cleared off the line. With 8 minutes to go Cameron played a long ball to Bryce who took it towards the keeper, went round him with aplomb and passed the ball in the net. 6-5 to Rovers and the game was won.
MOM: Bryce, tireless effort, great assists and the winning goal
REF: Some baffling decisions and needed to grab a pair as he let his assistants overrule him all day long, worst decision was when the goalie got hurt, spilled the ball...no whistle to stop play...i put it in and he says to me that he did stop play but he didn't blow the whistle.
PItch: huge

Special words from our captain, Rovers 3 Sporting 3

Ok, so we didn’t win the game Sunday night, but Wow, what an effort. To be down 3-1 at the half & to win the 2nd half 2-0 (& tie 3-3) showed heart and desire. Let me back up a bit and fill in some of the blanks. We give up a fluke goal in the first five minutes, and then about ten minutes later we are down 2-0. For a split second I thought this could get (very) ugly. Instead we kept at it. We played short and long passes. Bryce was on fire after every ball whether we passed it to him long or when he was chasing their defenders on short goal kicks. The next thing we knew we had a corner. Kevin played a perfect ball to the back post & Colin went up between three defenders to head it in! (He ended up on his back for his efforts) A few minutes later CLC had a free kick near the box. The rebound went out to my man who played a one-time cross and the CLC forward headed it in for a 3-1. Things went back and forth in the last 10 minutes of the half with both teams having chances but the score stayed 3-1.
The halftime conversation focused on giving the same effort, etc. It seemed we came out with more energy. We had the possession, kept up the pressure and now CLC could not answer the through balls and keep up with Bryce who actually saw the yellow card for something I did not see. This motivated us even more. Moments later Kevin played in another cross to the far post to Colin who was just inside the box and he put a one-time shot into the far side netting for 3-2. CLC did have their chances at 3-2 but Ben always had our backs. His distribution and positioning was flawless with balls wide to Calvey who then played them to the feet of the mid-fielders or long into the box. Jon & Jonathan had no problem with their forwards, winning all the through balls & making all the right passes out of the back. Kieran, Owen, & Jose owned the middle from box to box, creating opportunities and keeping possession. Colin & Kevin were doing their part with attacking and defending. One moment that truly showed the Rover determination was when the CLC sweeper was going towards his goal with Bryce right behind him, near the top of the box the sweeper just went down (sniper?)…and to our dismay the ref gave him the call. CLC seemed to be content with 3-2 and even Colin had to get the ball for them on one of their goal kicks. But we kept taking chances & with 80 minutes played Bryce picked up a loose ball outside the box & ripped a right footed shot that hit the sweeper in the side of the head and deflected into the goal for 3-3. Now CLC was taking long goal kicks, running for all the balls out of bounds & trying desperately to get the 4th goal and their 11th win. That goal never came. On this night the Rovers were up for the challenge & although CLC is still at the top we answered the bell, gave them their most competitive game so far and others also took notice as Trabia vs. Sunnyvale played on the South field. For those of you who could not make the game, you were missed. For the 11 that finished, I have just one word: TREMENDOUS!

Match reporters notes..third goal was a through ball by Calvey
My man of the match was Colin, two goals and a great work rate, but the entire team coudl be up for this award
Ref: Some baffling decisions