Playoffs start the following Wednesday night. We will have a Home match for that since we are sure to finish in the top 4 with our great results this season.We ALL got lost on the way to Station Park. I was lost because I had no GPS, no directions, no glasses to read the phone. Carpool was lost because the exit is labeled differently than expected. Maryann was lost because the directions online suck. Harvey may not have been lost- she was first to the bathroom, I know that.
Sparta is a wicked good team that has been struggling for results this season. In this league, all the teams have become so strong that anything can happen at any time. Add to that the nature of soccer as a low-scoring game, and you have the potential for upset every game. Sparta is also a team that practices, and hires a coach. The coach did not show up so they had no soccer balls. We supplied the game ball and they asked for 5 minutes to warm up. Harvey said- No Way- we haven't touched a ball either and we traveled an hour- so let's play! We had a very strong side at the game with 4 subs and DJ, who had crawled out of bed only to discover we needed a gk and she had to shake the sleep from her eyes and make carpool. What a trooper!
We had a hard time settling the ball to feet in the early going. I know Sparta was dominating because I was huffing and puffing a bit. It was busy in the back. I nipped the ball off the foot of one striker just in front of Dawn's hands, then stepped off to take a breather and Kara subbed in and I wasn't watching but there was some kind of flurry in the box at 20 minutes and Sparta scored. We just kept trying to get our groove on, without a whole lotta success. But late in the half, Kara was moving the ball up the left- it apparently went out over the touchline, but the single ref was unable to see that, and he let play continue and Kara played the whistle and we worked the ball into the box and somebody scored! I think it was Linda, maybe Kelly. I don't know. Sparta was imploring the ref to disallow the goal because the ball had gone out- but he allowed it to stand. Always, always, always play the whistle. It was 1-1 at the half and we took a rest in the shade.
Sparta was playing their outside mids very wide and high and they were keeping Erin, Harvey, Claudia, and EJ busy defending constantly. We decided to take some risks with that and pass those players off to the backs- me, Kara, and Angel, with help from our stoppers, Maryann and Meags. It worked a charm. Instead of giving up a goal early in the half, as is our custom, we buckled down the back and attacked. Shannon got a goal on a shot from distance fairly quickly- she had been pressing for that all game, and she got her just reward. The third goal came from a lot of lovely work from Harvey, Kelly and Cheryl over on the right. Cheryl finished the chance. Our last goal came from Erin, out on the left. We were passing, moving, controlling, and staying vigilant at the back. Lately we have been allowing teams to close the gap at the end, but we did not fail this time. Dawn was sure handed all game, as usual. And we continued to generate chances. EJ went sliding in on the far post after a cross from the left and she nearly scored. Claudia was playing well on both sides of the ball. Meanwhile, back in the back, Krissy as shutting everything down, though she felt she was playing slowly, having forgotten to drink the night before. In all, it was a great and sporting match, after which we all went home to watch an amazing USA tuck Brazil away at the last gasp. What a day, what a game, what a team. Yup, I mean Clinton United, and the United States- Let's GO!
We are down to the business end of the season, and like the USA, after Wednesday, it's win or GO Home. Let's keep it up and go all the way. We can do it!
Squad- DJ, Kerry, Krissy, Angel, Kara, Maryanne, Meags, Erin, Kelly,
Shannon, Harvey, Cheryl, EJ, Linda, Claudia,
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