February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Jay Mwamba
St. Barnabas forward Larry Toner went on a scoring spree at SUNY-Maritime last Sunday, chalking up a hat trick in the Saints’ 4-1 destruction of Banatul in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League First Division.
The victory vaulted St. Barnabas into third position (5-2-2, 17 points), six points adrift of new leaders Pancyprian Freedoms (23).
Toner was hot early on a chilly afternoon, heading in the Saints’ ice-breaker after 10 minutes. Still, the contest remained close until Toner notched his second goal (40th). He completed his hat trick after 65 minutes, before Dave Fitzgerald sealed the rout.
Banatul pulled one back through Dorel Ardeljan three minutes from time.
"Once we went 2-0 up they kind of collapsed. We could have scored a few more," said St. Barnabas’ delighted spokesman, Aidan Dennis.
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It was a grand outing all around for the Saints, whose reserves also triumphed 4-1. Kenny Cavan, Sean O’Flynn, Tom Whitty and Chris Boyne connected.
Thunder-struck
Shamrock left Downing Stadium kicking themselves after blowing a 1-0 lead against 10-man CD Iberia.
"We had four to five chances to put them away in the second half. They had their goalie sent off in the first half and we couldn’t take advantage," a disappointed Eugene Smyth said, ruing the 1-1 tie.
Everything was looking good for the Rocks when Darren Thunder headed in a Johan Lannon cross after 35th minutes. And it looked like a rout in the making when Iberia’s goalie was red-carded for bringing down Carlos Granada on a breakaway.
But it was Iberia who made capital from the ejection, lifting their game a notch and finally equalizing through Jose SanMartin (70th). Iberia even had a second goal called back for offside.
"We played better with 10 men than with 11. But for the life of me, I don’t know why we had our second goal disallowed," Iberia boss Raf’l SanMartin, Jose’s brother, complained.
The First Division’s bottom club, Iberia came away with their first point of the season.
Defeats by Shamrock’s reserves (2-0) and third side, 4-1 against Metro Div. I trailblazers Jersey City, completed a miserable day for the Sunnyside franchise.
Fiona’s FC led 1-0 on Thomas Anthony’s header (35th), before Moroccan-born Dris earned BW Gottschee a 1-all tie, in another Metro Div. I match at Randalls Island.
Bhoys whacked
Stuart Kaiser’s goal sent Lansdowne Bhoys reeling to a 1-0 loss in a Metro Div.n II tussle against Gotham F.C., which comprises mostly New York University alums, at River Bank Park.
Rovers romp
Mark Hopper, Dave Quigley and and Paul Kehoe led Irish Rovers past GH Metros 3-1 at Randalls Island in the Carbone Cup. Clerio Braga had Metros’ lone effort.
"We were terrible," said Rory Finn, coach of the vanquished CSL Over-30 side, after the early morning encounter.
Brooklyn Celtic forked out BW Gottschee 3-0 in the same competition to advance to the quarterfinals. Danny Shields, Pat Glenard and Patrick Pierre scored.
NYAC out
Ronan Downs’s hopes of taking CSL champs New York Athletic Club back to the U.S. National Amateur Cup final four were dashed by New York Greek-American/Atlas, who pulled out a 3-1 penalty victory in their second-round clash at Downing Stadium.
After a goalless 45 minutes, the cup tie exploded into a wild shootout in the second half with six goals that left the two sides tied 3-3 at the end of regulation time. OT failed to break the deadlock.
"It was a hell of a game that we deserved to win," said coach Downs. "But we have nothing to be ashamed of. It was a great team performance."
NYAC, who started with fullback Cam Livingston in goal, fell behind in the 50th, but were put back on par by a Matt Roberti volley on the hour. Chris Mitchell (65th) and Andre Parrish (80th penalty) both shot NYAC ahead only to see the Greeks draw level twice.
Koha iced
Pancyrian (7-1-2, 23) nudged New York Albanians off the top of the First Division table with a 3-1 decision over Koha at Brooklyn College.
Anastasis Polydefkis (15th, 60th) and Mark Reeves (80th) scored. Fadil Gilaj (85th) got Koha’s face-saver. Pancyprian took the reserve meeting 6-0.
Also in Div. I, Martin Podbielski (two) and Robert Brozyna scripted a 3-0 Polonia victory over Fairfield/Westchester United at Cantiague Park.
Kickers rule
Electrifying new signing Chris Van Tyul tallied twice (25th, 60th) as Second Division (East) leaders Manhattan Kickers knocked off archrivals Guyana Juniors 3-2 in an absorbing encounter at Randalls.
Ex-Guyanese youth internationals Kestor Darlington (13th) and Stevie (85th)struck for the visitors, who were sank by Ian Friedman’s volley (86th).
"Such a great game," gushed Kickers’ outstanding goalie-cum-coach Mike Fitzgerald. "I’m so glad we won, the team is playing well."
Kickers (7-0-2, 23), whose reserves were held to a goalless draw, remain undefeated and on track for promotion to the First Divison.
Barnstonworth Rovers moved into second place, two points behind Kickers, with a 2-1 result over Nag’s Head United at McCarran Park. Ron Baskin and Marvin Jones connected for Rovers, while Brian McLaughlin (35th) claimed Nag’s goal.
"Both teams had a lot of chances. It was an enjoyable game to watch," said Nag’s manager John Delaney. The reserves tied 0-0.
Oram’s brace
Eric Oram bagged both goals in S.C Eintracht’s 2-1 win over FC Japan at Roosevelt Island. Yosuke Kimura was Japan’s marksman. Eintracht’s reserves run off 2-0 winners.
At McCarran Park, Ukrainian recorded their second win of the season, 3-1 at the expense of languid New York Wanderers. Osman Vukovic, Nick Cacaj, and Nesley Davis scored. Jamie Zepwnick (80th) had Wanderers’ lone response.
"They showed up physically but not mentally," Wanderers’ Eamnon Reynolds said of his side. Ukrainian took the reserve meeting 6-3.
Western front
Edward Laibner, Bacula Sofrone, Tase Iorgoveanue, Robert Cretulescu and Dan Ciabuca starred in Ridgewood’s 5-1 rout of Clarkstown at Kennedy/Zucor Park to keep the Queens side atop Div. II (West) with 22 points. The Ridgewood reserves were beaten 5-2.
Central Park Rangers slipped into second position, ahead of New York Dinamo (19) on goal difference, following their 5-1 annihilation of BW Poughkeepsie in Poughkeepsie. Rich Enticott (two), Massimo Borghello, Burt Louis and Ray Licata were on target.
Poughkeepsie’s reserves lost 3-1.
Dinamo had a goal by Michael Bailey (15th) in their costly 1-all tie with Ripensia-Romania in Maspeth. Their reserves were decisioned 3-2.
First win
Homenetmen could afford to miss a penalty against struggling Bergen Kickers en route to picking up their first victory of the season. They won 2-0 at Randalls Island on goals by Vahe Boyjian (15th) and Pablo Paolomar (25th penalty). Boyjian fluffed a second penalty.
Metro action
Sunnyside Genclik thrashed Brooklyn Stars 5-0 at Grady Field. Salih Cakirca (two), the Koksol brothers, Onder and Omer; and Cen Sahin, connected for the Metro Div. I leaders (27).
In Div. II, Greg McLaughlin, Greg Doerge and Phil Godwin led Central Park Rangers to a 3-2 victory over United Bulgaria, whose Jan and Philip Poshev replied.
There was also a win for CD Iberia, who outshot ASA McCarthy 5-4 at Randalls. Dominic (three), Paco Lema and Rocco Bagal were the Iberia scorers, while Bart Bettencourt (three) and Stephen Thriool replied for nine-man McCarthy.