CSL Roundup Fitzgerald’s finishing lifts St. Barnabas over Croatia

By Jay Mwamba

With their squad weakened by injuries, suspensions, and vacationing players, St. Barnabas needed the clinical finishing of veteran David Fitzgerald to pull out a 3-2 victory over First Division stragglers New York Croatia in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League last Sunday.

Fitzgerald netted a brace at the Croatian Recreation Area in Boonton, N.J., to keep the Saints (5-2-1, 16 points) within striking distance of leaders New York Albanians (24). St. Barnabas host the Albanians at SUNY-Purchase this weekend in the final round of matches before the league’s winter hiatus.

"We were very short," the Saints’ Aidan Dennis said, noting among the absentees the suspended Larry Toner, injured midfielder Anton McKeon, and vacationing defender Fran Morgan.

St. Barnabas started four reserves, but it was the long serving Fitzgerald who came up big.

His first goal (37th) came as the Saints trailed 1-0 to Rob Gretton’s icebreaker (15th). Fitzgerald rose above the Croatia defense to nod in a Freddy Fitzpatrick corner at the back post. His second goal, which clinched it for the upstate side, was a thundering volley from another Fitzpatrick corner (85th).

In between Fitzgerald’s strikes, Vinnie Norton (55th) had shot the Saints ahead, only to see Gretton put Croatia back in contention with his second of the match (60th).

"It was a good result for us given the circumstances," Dennis said. "We’ll need to muster a stronger team for the match against the Albanians this week."

Croatia forfeited the reserve fixture.

Shamrocks wilt

Gorgeous as Sunday’s weather was, it was still a wee bit too hot for the only Shamrock side in action this weekend. Shamrock’s Third Division side was thrashed 4-1 by Ridgewood at Downing Stadium, losing further ground in their quest for the title.

"They were only 1-0 up for a long time, then the heat got to us," said forward Michael Coleman. "We were looking for colder weather."

Coleman had the assist on Shamrock’s only goal, scored by Naill Carolan (70th). Anton Danut (26th, 85th), Gigi Naciadis (28th), and Edward (68th) connected for undefeated Ridgewood (18).

"They’re a tough team. They ran a lot," Ridgewood’s Yani Enache said of Shamrock (7-3-1, 22) who dropped to third place on the table.

Bronx blooper

A defensive error six minutes from time cost Lansdowne AC dearly at Van Cortlandt Park, where they crashed 2-1 to lowly Kickers.

Pablo Ochoa (84th) struck the winner, 10 minutes after Stephen Cassidy had canceled out Tony Duenas’ match opener for Kickers (30th).

"We missed a lot of chances, hit the bar twice and the post once," remarked Cassidy, who cleverly chipped the Bergen goalie for Lansdowne’s only goal.

Lansdowne (2-4-5, 11) slipped to third from the bottom in Division Two (West) with the loss. The Bergen reserves, led by player-coach Bill Murphy prevailed 2-1 on goals by Kevin Carbo. Cookie "Donegal" Meehan tallied for Lansdowne.

Astoria untracked

Gerry O’Brien had Astoria Gaels’ lone reply to S.C. Eintracht’s five-goal barrage at Randalls Island.

Eric Oram led the Eintracht onslaught, bagging a hat-trick (8th, 64th, 80th), while Tommy Strumpf (43rd) and Tony Alessandro (75th pen.) accounted for the other goals.

"We’re actually looking good," Gaels manager Jimmy Ralph offered. "The lads are committed and laying their hearts out, but we just don’t have the stamina to play in this league."

Ralph, whose reserves were blanked 4-0, however, issued a warning to the other clubs. "Watch out for next year."

Hot pepper

New York Athletic Club midfielder Pepper Brill found the net twice (30th, 40th) to lift the defending champs past Polonia S.C. at Allerton Field. Miroslaw Sielczak (20th) was the Polonia scorer.

"It wasn’t close. We had a goal called back and two clearances off the line," NYAC coach Ronan Downs noted. "We’re on a roll right now."

Third-place NYAC, 4-0 victors in the reserve encounter, improved to 6-2-2 (20), four points behind Albanians, who have played a game more.

Seven straight

The Albanians extended their winning streak to seven matches with a 3-1 decision over New York Hungaria at Evander Childs High School in the Bronx. Sadri Gjonbalaj (10th, 60th), and Rocky Bojovic (20th) starred for Albanians, while Joseph Kovacs (75th) replied for Hungaria.

"We had two big chances at the beginning and couldn’t finish, so we paid the penalty for it," Hungaria’s Mike Jambrik said. "But they’re a good team."

Hungaria’s reserves won 3-2.

Double trouble

Mured Ibrahimov (20th, 30th) and Tony Camaj (40th, 75th) produced another one-two punch for New York Dinamo who thumped Banatul 4-2 at the Metropolitan Oval in Maspeth. Ovid Cusu and Mark Mehelic were on target for Banatul.

"I’m surprised they’re in last place. They have an excellent team," Kristo Curanovic, Dinamo’s coach, observed.

Dinamo, fielding only eight players, succumbed 11-0 in the reserve tussle.

Second division

Mike Fitzgerald’s Manhattan Kickers (6-2-0, 18) missed out on an opportunity to go to the top in the East when they lost 1-0 to Ukrainian S.C. at Randalls Island. Michel DeSousa (50th) scored.

Ukrainian coach Steve Kovalenko was almost in disbelief at his struggling club’s second victory of the season. "Kickers are a really good team," he said.

"We were missing several key player, and they had a great goal," Fitzgerald summed it up. Midfielders Dave Dupuy and Joe Whitemen were among those missing in action.

Kickers’ reserves went down 2-1.

Iberia upset

Kickers’ loss meant that they were unable to capitalize on CD Iberia’s surprise 3-1 defeat by Barnstonworth Rovers on Roosevelt Island.

Ron Baskin (5th, 24th) and Mattias Gustaffson (80th) sent the East front-runners (19) reeling to their second loss of the season.

"They played a good game. They deserved to win," conceded Iberia boss Raf’l San Martin, whose side hit back through Santo Russo (22nd).

"We played exceptionally well. We’re on our way back," Rovers’ Dave Brooks said. The Iberia reserves won 3-0.

Also in the East, Nag’s Head United stunned New York Wanderers 3-2 at McCarran Park, courtesy of Dan Stewart (two) and Scott Robinson.

Homenetmen thwarted

Div. Two West leaders Ripensia-Romania held off Homenetmen 4-2 at Grover Cleveland High School in Maspeth for their seventh win of the season (21).

Christian Codreanu (1st), Olimpiu Roman (14th), Michael Schiop (40th), and former Homenetmen ace Razvan Anghel (80th) tallied for Ripensia, while Vahe Boyajian (55th, 70th) had both goals for the visitors.

Second-placed Koha (18) lost some ground to Ripensia following their goalless tie with Clarkstown.

Concord (14) dropped into fourth place after they were upset 3-1 by B.W. Poughkeepsie in a tempestuous affair at Germania Field.

Roger Vargas (39th), Cesar Aguilar (79th) and Todd MacLean (84th) scripted Concord’s downfall. Vargas and two Concord players were later ejected.

Third division

Guyana Juniors keep pulling away from the field. They shut out Krimean Turkish 5-0 to improve to 9-0-0 (27) at the top. Steve Bishop, Roger Benjamin, Kester Darlington and Christoper Giles (two) connected in what Guyana coach Leroy Breseford dubbed a "scrappy" tussle.

Sunnyside Genclik hammered Jersey City FC 3-0 in New Jersey to stay four points behind Guyana. The Koksol brothers, Omer (35th) and Onder (85th) had two of the goals, while Cem Sahin (72nd) claimed the other.

Clark time

Central Park Rangers’ Roger Clark couldn’t miss against Brooklyn Stars, scoring five times in the home side’s 8-0 rout at Mitchel Field. Richard Veysey (30th), Henrik Ottosson (78th) and Dave Lockyer (88th) also scored.

Rare win

There was a rare victory for CD Iberia (1-7) who registered their first success of the season 2-1 over B.W. Gottschee, thanks to Primitivo Rey and Andreas Rodriguez at Randalls. Ian MacLean was the Gottschee goal.

At Red Hook, New York Anatolia kept fellow Turkish side FC Fenerbahce (0-9) winless with a 5-1 trouncing. Anatolia conceded an own goal for starters, than reeled off five without reply through Ojuz (two), Mehmet (two) and Erdem.

Over-30s

The West’s top side, Guyana Veterans, edged Greek-American/Atlas 2-1 on goals by David Simpson and Jerry Lee to improve to 8-1-1 (25). Second placed Scala Brasil forfeited a 2-0 result to Fairfield/Westchester United, while Serbia and Athletic Club battled to a goalless tie.

Gottschee squeaker

"They had the better of the play, but somehow we managed to squeak past them," B.W. Gottschee goalie Frank Lackner observed, with unbridled modesty, after his side’s 2-1 win over Pancyprians at Randalls.

Fred Bischoff (24th) and Pablo Perez (78th) struck for Gottschee. Pancyprians replied through Steve.

Also on Randalls Island, Moroccan M-Hmed Ata hit both goals in S.C. Eintracht’s 2-1 win over Pele Masters, whose Ray Obermuller scored.