February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Jay Mwamba
Two victories over the last week, one in the boardroom and one on the field, have given Shamrock S.C. a new lease on life in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League (CSL) First Division.
Buoyed by the three points awarded to them by the league earlier in the week, from their 3-0 loss to St. Barnabas, Shamrock whacked New York Croatia 4-2 last Sunday for their first win in regulation time.
The six-point swing lifted Shamrock (2-4-1, 7 pts) into sixth place in the 10-team First Division. The Saints were penalized for using an ineligible player against Shamrock.
There was also a first-time victory for Lansdowne A.C. who upset the hitherto undefeated Russian side Concord Sporting Club 2-0 in a Second Division tussle at Van Cortland Park.
Croatia shellacked
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Mick McCarthy (35th), Ray Elesseser (70th), Aidan Walsh (75th), and Shane Martin (83rd) led the Shamrock romp over troubled Croatia in a tense match in Boonton, N.J.
The ‘Rocks blew the former CSL champs away with a late blitz after Croatia had tied the game in the 48th minute.
"We wore them down," said midfielder John Guildea. "We played very well. It was a big game for us."
Croatia, whose reserves forfeited, played with ten men. In what amounted to a reversal of fortunes, Shamrock’s third division side, winners of five straight when their senior squad was struggling, lost 3-1 to Chile F.C. Declan Rourke scored.
"We had 70 percent of the game, but they caught us on the break and punished us," said Shamrock sweeper Terry Horan.
Lansdowne revival
In the Bronx, Ray Barrett (35th) and Bobby Valentine (70th) combined to eke out a win for Lansdowne over second-placed Concord.
"They were a good side," noted Barrett, who also gave mention to fellow midfielders Mario Ramirez and Simon Callaghan for their play.
The result lifted Lansdowne (1-2-3, 6) into fourth place in the West. Concord’s reserves won 2-0.
Woeful Gaels
"I’ve got no players. Just a scratch team," moaned Astoria Gaels manager Jimmy Ralph after his first team slumped to 0-5 with another heavy defeat in the Second Division (East).
Gaels were rocked 6-0 by New York Wanderers on goals by Luke Bockelmann (two), Shodi, Mark Brezynski, Clint Groome and Lo Noliage.
John Beirne snatched a late equalizer for the Astoria reserves in a 1-all tie.
First division
New York Hungaria (14) took advantage of New York Dinamo’s first loss of the season, and the postponement of the St. Barnabas-Athletic Club game, to go tops with a 2-1 decision over Fairfield/Westchester United in Woodbridge.
Joe Tasko (45th) and Jeff Saunders (71st) connected for Hungaria, 5-2 victors in the reserve encounter.
Dinamo’s defeat came at the hands of New York Albanians, who came from 2-0 down to prevail 3-2 in front of 500 fans at Evander Childs High School in the Bronx. Rocky Bajovic (55th) and Arben Mirjaj (70th, 88th) tallied for Albanians after Tony Camaj (20th pen) and Bruce Thomas (35th) had put Dinamo ahead.
Dinamo coach Kristo Curanovic wasn’t that bothered by the loss. "It’s a long season," he remarked.
Rovers kicked
Manhattan Kickers turned on the style against Barnstonworth Rovers on Roosevelt Island, posting a 4-2 victory, courtesy of Dave Dupuy (21st), Norman Pile (48th), Mark Toews (70th pen) and Joe Whiteman. Stavros Zomopoulos and Will Sykes replied for Rovers.
"They were a tough team, but we controlled most of the game," said Kickers’ player-coach Mike Fitzgerald.
The Rovers reserves won 2-
Seamus strikes
Nag’s Head United forward Seamus Devitt netted his side’s consolation goal (80th) in a 3-1 defeat by CD Iberia at Randalls Island.
Pablo Avelleira (55th), Juan Carlos Fontaneda (65th) and Sergio Micas (73rd) were on target for Iberia (13), leaders in Division Two (East).
"I was impressed with Nag’s in the first half. They’ve improved a lot," said Iberia coach Raf’l SanMartin, whose reserves run off 2-0 winners.
At McCarran Park, S.C. Eintracht knocked off Ukrainian S.C. 1-0 on Tony Alessandro’s 25th minute strike, while Brian Carenza, Wilson Molina, Luis Reyes and Jorge Pauta secured a 4-1 result over Homenetmen at Randalls Island. Vahe Boyajian (20th pen) replied for Homenetman.
Mighty Rangers
Richard Veysey (15th) kept newcomers Central Park Rangers (6-0, 18) at the top of the Third Division with the only goal of the match against Fenerbahce.
Third-placed Sunnyside Genclik struck through Yasin Buyuk (three) and Apo Alican in their 4-1 drubbing of Barnstornworth Rovers at Red Hook. Paul Rochester countered for Rovers.
Guyana Juniors also won 4-1, at the expense of Jam’s. Roger Benjamin, Quincy Jeune, Chris Giles and Tallo Hudson were on target.
B.W. Gottschee, meanwhile, pipped Krimean Turkish 2-1 at Randalls, with David Denneau (20th) and Steve Ziegler (30th) starring. Raf’l Sicheran connected for the Turks.
Also in the Third Division, Carlos Martin claimed CD Iberia’s only goal in a 4-1 loss to Solas.
Over 30s
Rory Finn’s G.H. Metros upped their record at the top of the East to 5-0-1 (15) following a 2-1 result over ten-man Pancyprians at the Con Edison Field. Fabio (38th) and Lewis Guiety (65th) scored.
"We were lucky to get away with a win," said coach Finn. "They played well despite being short-handed."
Fairfield/Westchester moved into second place (10) after edging Athletic Club 1-0 on Martin Franklin’s effort.
Veterans excel
In the West, leaders Guyana Veterans (12) hammered Eintracht 4-1. Trevor Burnett, Derek Griffith, David Simpson and Yeon Williams tallied.
Ruy Reis, Francisco Gomes and Marco Lobo kept Scala Brasil level on points with Guyana after they scored in Brasil’s 3-1 win over Serbia, while Andy Depergola and Oscar Garcia made the score-sheet for Gottschee in a scrappy 4-2 loss to Banatul.
"It was a very ugly game. There were too many guys missing on both sides," Gottschee’s Frank Lackner confessed.