By Jay Mwamba
Ray Elesseser and Shane McGowan saved ailing Shamrock S.C. from another defeat in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League First Division last Sunday with two second-half goals in a dramatic 2-2 draw with Polonia S.C. at Little Bay Park in Queens.
Shamrock, winless in their first four matches, were down 2-0 after 30 minutes, to goals by Miroslav Pasternak (15th), and Pavel Slusarz (30th), when they stepped it up.
Elesseser, a Chilean-born Englishman, pulled one back in the 40th minute when he latched onto a through ball from attacking midfielder John Guildea and slammed it past the Polonia goalkeeper.
Shamrock then dodged a bullet — surviving a botched Polonia penalty — before Guildea, who’s 35, set up the equalizer. His header from a corner in the 70th minute was cleared off the line, but lurking nearby was McGowan who scored from close range.
"We could have nicked it after that," Guildea said. "But overall, we’re happy to get a point. I think we’re turning the corner. I can see the confidence coming back."
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Despite fellow stragglers’ Banatul’s 3-0 loss to New York Albanians in the Bronx, Shamrock remain at the bottom of the First Division.
The Shamrock reserves succumbed 2-1 to Polonia, with their one strike coming from an own goal.
The Rocks’ Third Division team improved to 4-0 (12 points) at the top of the East with a 3-2 decision over Jam’s on a waterlogged Randalls Island field. Mike Coleman, Willie Murphy and Gonzalez connected for Shamrock, while Jitsuta and Kaname Hasunuma replied for Jam’s.
Sunday’s constant rain washed out a number of CSL games, including St. Barnabas-New York Dinamo, Manhattan Kickers-CD Iberia, and Astoria-Gaels-Eintracht.
Deluge
Second Division Landsowne A.C. had more than the rain to contend with against B.W. Poughkeepsie at Germania Field. A flood of goals left the Bronx club 6-0 losers and at the foot of the table in the West. Todd McLean (15th, 70th), Brian Kennedy (25th pen, 50th), Chris Vega (75th), and Josh Thomas (80th) were on target for Poughkeepsie.
Earlier, Lansdowne’s reserves had staged a miraculous comeback, erasing a 3-0 deficit with 20 minutes left to triumph 4-3. Winston Drackett, Paul Doherty and Brian Adams (two) were the Lansdowne heroes.
"In the first half we were kind of out of it," said Thomas McGrath, who, like several other reserves, featured in both games. "Then we started going at them. We could have had more goals."
Gaels washout
The Astoria Gaels-Ukrainian S.C. first team game at McCarran Park in Brooklyn was rained out, but Gaels’ reserves played and were trounced 6-3.
Andrew O’Mahoney (two) and Nestor Allen connected for Gaels. Ukrainian’s scorers included first team coach Steve Kovalenko, who’s 54, and 52-year-old reserve player-coach John Sabaliauskas. Harvey Bertrand and Davis Nesly each chipped in with a brace.
NYAC revival
John McCallion (30th), Chris Mitchell (35th) and Greg Smalling (85th) steered New York Athletic Club to a 3-1 win over Fairfield/Westchester United at West Beach in Connecticut. Giovanni Capellini (20th) drew first blood for the hosts from a well struck 20-yard free-kick.
"The fight is back in the team. We don’t like losing," said NYAC coach Ronan Downs, whose First Division champs won for only the second time this season. NYAC’s reserves also prevailed 3-1.
Hungaria climb
Fairfield’s defeat cost them dearly on the standings. New York Hungaria’s 5-1 rout of New York Croatia at Woodbridge pushed them past Fairfield and into second place (11).
John Shpits (23rd), Jeff Saunders (40th), Joe Fulop (45th pen.), Pal Akos (47th), and Mario Nemet (85th), were the Hungaria scorers.
Jekyll and Hyde
New York Albanians showed their other face — the good one — in outclassing Banatul 3-0 at Evander Childs High School. Rocky Bjovic (35th, 50th) and Arben Mirjaj (80th) struck to end a two-game losing streak.
"We looked great. But I’d like to see what happens next," remarked Albanians’ Joe Shrekli, who termed his side a "Jekyll and Hyde" team. Banatul took the reserve fixture 7-4.
Drag race
Newcomers Ripensia-Romania and Koha kept up their early neck-to-neck race in Div. Two (West) with another pair of impressive wins.
Leaders Ripensia (12) ripped Bergen Kickers 5-1 in Maspeth with goals by Sebastien Lazar (17th), Adrian Ionete (41st), Olimpiu Roman (58th, 72nd) and Christian Codreanu (83rd). Koha, meanwhile, had twin strikers Nikola Gjokaj (four) and Cazim Hakramaj (two) to thank for their 6-0 massacre of Homenetmen that kept them two points behind Ripensia.
Both Ripensia and Koha reserves lost. The former 3-0, and the latter 7-4. Also in the Second Division, Barnstonworth Rovers pipped Nag’s Head United 2-1 at Roosevelt Island with goals by Brian McLaughlin (65th) and Mattias Gustafsson.
Lockyer stars
Central Park Rangers’ David Lockyer had a goal and two assists in the Third Division rookies’ 3-1 victory over Jersey City FC at Randalls Island. Richard Veyser (two) was Rangers’ other marksman.
At the Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, Mithat Sener and Alexander Ortega scored for Brooklyn Stars’ in their 6-2 loss to West pace-setters Guyana Juniors (9). Shin Furutate (20th), and Tosh Tatezawa (65th) delivered for SICJA in their 2-1 decision over Sunnyside Genclik at Red Hook. Salih Cakirca (70th) replied for Sunnyside.
Chile FC and Barnstonworth Rovers tied 2-all at Julian Curtis High School School. Rob Lee (35th) and Zee Bardi (70th) were on target for Rovers, while Chile’s Alvaro and Mauricio Men’s replied in kind.
Over-30
Jose Lopez and Juan Andira scored for G.H. Metros and S.C. Eintracht, respectively, in their 1-all tie at Randalls Island.
Metros’ lead at the top of the East was cut to a point after B.W. Gottschee (9) hammered Fairfield/Westchester United 6-3. Pablo Perez (four), Ed Silva and Carlos Araujo clinched it for Gottschee.