CSL Roundup: Bhoys are beaten by champs Pancyprian on late penalty

The Bhoys’ gallantry was undone by a handball in the penalty box 20 minutes from time with Pancyrian, stunned 2-0 by CD Iberia the previous weekend, looking vulnerable. Julio DeSantos, the Greek-Cypriots’ ace striker, converted the ensuing spot kick to complete a hat trick.
The penalty was a cruel blow to Lansdowne. Even then, they never gave up, with Dessie Beattie coming close to snatching a deserved equalizer with a glancing header that bounced off the upright (85th).
“We just didn’t get the breaks,” coach Paul Doherty said.
Lansdowne made a nightmarish start to the First Division fixture at their new home ground, Tibbetts Brook Park, conceding two quick strikes by DeSantos before the game was 15 minutes old.
To their credit, the Bronx Irish recovered their wits rapidly and pulled a goal back through Marty Doherty, off a Beattie cross (30th).
Before Pancyprian knew what had hit them, right winger Damien Mascall, a two-goal hero in the Bhoys’ 3-3 tie with Central Park Rangers a week earlier, had unleashed a 25-yard rocket into the goalie’s top right hand to tie the game.
“That put us back in the game,” Doherty said.
They even had chances to take the lead, but it was Pancyprian who got a break when a Lansdowne defender inadvertently handled in the box to gift the visitors the match-winning penalty.
Doherty singled out Mascall and Beattie for their outstanding play upfront, as well as sweeper Sean Hall and central midfielder Michael Rubotham.
Lansdowne fell to 4-7-1 (13 points) in the East, but stayed four points ahead of bottom side Koha, who were hammered, 4-1, by New York Greek-American/Atlas.

MORAN SIZZLER
Brendan Moran scored from a sizzling 25-yard free kick (35th) to tie the top-of-the-table reserve tussle between Lansdowne and Pancyprian before he was ejected after a bust-up with an opponent five minutes later.
Unbeaten Pancyprian (9-0-2, 29) went on to win 2-1 and stretch their lead over the Lansdowne seconds (5-4-3, 18) to 11 points.

ROCKS CRUMBLE
Shamrock’s long inactivity came back to haunt them against West leaders Manhattan Kickers, who survived a torrid first half to run off 3-1 winners at East River Park.
Sweeper Pat Holmes fired Kickers ahead before the break (40th) with a long volley against the run of play.
On resumption, Dave Taylor (60th) and Hussein Nusredin (75th) killed off the Rocks, whose Barry Farrell netted a consolation goal, with Paul Gallagher providing the assist, 10 minutes from the end.
” In the second half, their fitness took over,” said Shamrock boss John Guildea, who credited center half Ian McGuiness for a good game in defense.

GAELS SHINE
Astoria Gaels led Second Division promotion candidates Banatul 3-0 at the Metropolitan Oval when the Serbian side walked off the pitch midway through the second half after a tiff with the referee.
Banatul were down to 10 men at that point and were about to have another player ejected.
“I’ve never seen anything like this in my life,” said the Gaels’ Niall Sugrue. “It’s very disheartening because we came here to play.”
Gaels, who will almost likely to the victory, had scored through Derek McKenna (5th, 35th) and Michael Conroy (20th). They are 3-6-1 (10) pending verification of the Banatul result.
There was no such drama in the Astoria Reserves’ 3-0 romp over their Banatul opposites, with P.J. Burke and Brendan O’Reilly (penalty) hitting the mark.

CELTIC BLAST
Michael Thomas (25th), Dave Linn (40th), Freddy Etsiakoh (55th) and John Finelli (75th) swept Metro Div. 1 leaders Manhattan Celtic to a 4-1 win over Jersey City FC at Chelsea Pier 40.
Celtic improved to 8-0-2 (26), two points ahead of Central Park Rangers, who edged ASA McCarthy 2-1 at Verrazano Sports Complex on goals by Filipo Posta (60th) and Hakan (70th).
McCarthy had opened the scoring through Steven Thirolle (30th).

DRISCOLL STRIKE
Barry Driscoll, a former Manchester City schoolboy prospect, was on target for First Division Barnstonworth Rovers in their 5-2 drubbing of Central Park Rangers.He lobbed the goalie on a Rovers counter attack (60th). Steve Pugliese (25th, 36th), John Salucci (40th) and Owen Quane (85th) were the other marksmen.