CSL Roundup Struggling Shamrocks can manage only a scoreless draw

By Jay Mwamba

Shamrocks’ relegation woes continued to mount in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League First Division when they could only tie 0-0 with Polonia at Downing Stadium last Sunday.

Shamrock coach Eugene Smyth’s frustration was compounded by his side’s inability to capitalize on their numerical advantage after Polonia had been reduced to nine men.

"They had two players sent off in the last 15 minutes. But it was just total frustration trying to score on them. They pulled seven players back," Smyth said.

Shamrock (1-4-4, 7 points) remain second from the bottom in the 10-club First Division, five points in front of CD Iberia, who were beaten 4-2 by Ronan Downs’s New York Athletic Club.

In the reserve fixture, Mark Behan’s goal earned Shamrock a 1-1 draw, while Willie Murphy was on target for the Rocks’ third team in a 4-1 Metro I loss to Sunnyside Genclik. Onder Koksal (three) and Ferruh Balci scored for the Turkish club.

Lansdowne landslide

Assistant coach Paul Doherty spurred Lansdowne Bhoys to a rare win in Metro Div. II with a brace in the 7-1 destruction of ASA McCarthy at Van Cortland Park.

McCarthy suited up only nine players but gave it their all from kick off.

"They pushed us hard for 20 minutes then run out of steam," noted Lansdowne goalie Emlyn McAleer.

Doherty opened the scoring in the fifth minute and sealed the massacre with the last goal (80th). In between, Fergus Daly (30th), man of the match Ray Barrett (55th, 60th) and Winston Drakett (70th) also found the net. Yanni (57th) got McCarthy’s face-saver.

"They’re a great bunch of guys," remarked McCarthy’s Chris Creagh, a

Tipperary native.

NYAC climb

Matt Roberti (35th), Pepper Brill (50th, 80th) and Chris Mitchell (65th) made it two wins in a row for defending champs NYAC with the 4-2 result over CD Iberia. Ron Izefukwu grabbed both Iberia goals.

"We were by far the better team," said coach Downs, whose third-placed side (7-2-2, 21) was given a second half lift by late arrival Greg Smalling.

The reserves drew 1-1.

Fiona’s Metro I fixture with Krimean Turkish at Brooklyn’s Red Hook ended in a 2-2 tie. Steve Warl and Omar Toure connected for Fiona’s, while Ali and Mustafa replied for the Turks.

Celtic rout

For the second time in seven days, Over-30 side Brooklyn Celtic posted an 8-3 rout in the Cosmopolitan League. New York Greek-American/Atlas "B" were the victims this time.

Paddy O’Sullivan, Celtic’s 47-year-old player-coach, was the star of the match with a hat trick. Ralph, Eddie Bastien (two), Jimmy Murray, and Danny Shields also tallied.

First division

Pancyprian Freedoms improved to 9-1-2 at the top of the First Division with a 2-0 victory over Banatul at St. John’s. Pancyprian, whose reserves prevailed 7-1, have 29 points.

Second-placed New York Albanians (27) dispatched Fairfield/Westchester United 4-2 in the Bronx. Mike Barrish and ex-Long Island Rough Rider Martin Munnelly scored for Fairfield. Albanians took the reserve meeting 3-1.

Kickers ripped

Manhattan Kickers’ promotion hopes in Division Two (East) suffered a setback with a 2-1 loss to Ripensia-Romania at McCarran Park. Rich Webb (87th) was on the mark for Kickers after two spectacular long-distance

strikes by Costel Arama (3rd) and Christian Ivan (40th).

"We had our chances and for most parts outplayed them," Kickers’ player-coach Mike Fitzgerald said. Ripensia’s reserves fell 1-0.

Also at McCarran Park, S.C. Ukrainian won for only the third time this season, blowing out Bergen Kickers 6-1, courtesy of Michel D’Souza (two), John Maxwell, Peter Trzaska and Nick Kacaj.

Sean Stewart had both goals in Guyana Juniors’ 2-1 decision over Ridgewood Romac, who hit back through Iorgoveanu Tase. Guyana took the reserve tussle 2-0.

Supersub

Jason Costa came on at halftime and reeled in four goals to lead Div. II (West) leaders Central Park Rangers (9-2-1, 28) to a 6-2 sweep over FC Japan. Mo Alkandari and Rich Enticott also tallied, while Shin Furutate hit back for the Japanese.

At Roosevelt Island, Glenn Radermacher and Tony Alessandro netted for S.C. Eintracht in a 2-2 tie with New York Dinamo. The latter’s reserves forfeited.

David Denneau (two) powered BW Gottschee to a 2-1 result over Barnstonworth Rovers in Metro Division I. Also victorious in Metro action were Central Park Rangers’ third team, 4-0 winners over CD Iberia on goals by Phil Godwin (three) and Greg Doerge.

Over-30s

Pablo Perez broke a 0-0 deadlock at the Floyd Bennett Field midway through the second half to earn BW Gottschee full points against Pele Masters. Andy Depergola assisted on Perez’ goal.

Bernard Britton, meanwhile, connected for Guyana Veterans "A" in their 2-1 loss to GH Metros.

Celtic lasses

Laura Palumbo had two goals and Amanda Ferraro one as the Brooklyn Celtic U-12 girls edged S.C. Gjoa 3-2 in the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League at Fort Hamilton.

Ashley O’Sullivan, coach Paddy O’Sullivan’s daughter, had two assists. The Celtic U-16 girls trounced G.H. Metros 8-1.