FC77 Rangers 1:4 No Subs

FC77 Rangers 1 - No Subs 4

(Radigan - 10')

"No Subs" my ass. They had, like, four or five of them.

The Spring 2009 GPSD O-30 Third Division campaign started off according to schedule, with Aaron Radigan putting the home side up on a terrific goal in the tenth minute, but opposition side No Subs apparently did not get he memo that they were supposed to roll over and die for the second half and staged a dramatic comeback. The match finished 1-4 and while the resulting score line was not the result 'Gers wanted, the squad will not doubt rally for a better performance next week against Wolfhounds FC.

Rangers introduced two new players for the season opener, goalkeeper Ian Rose and FC77 Newcastle transfer Brian Gaffney. With several regulars unavailable due to scheduling conflicts--I mean, who schedules a match on Palm Sunday? That's just crazy. It's like scheduling a derby match on Easter Sunday! What? Oh, um, never mind--the extra numbers were appreciated as the uncharacteristically pleasant Match Day One temperatures made for a warm first run-out. With striping and other final field preparations completed just minutes before the opening whistle, 'Gers rolled out in the familiar 4-4-2:

Rose, keeper

Seaton - Bauman - Snyder - Pullen, fullbacks

Ingersoll - Gaffney - Radigan - Fahrbach, midfielders

Foubister - McConnachie, strikers

Vogel, Sibanda, King, reserves

FC77 fans were heartened by the return of Bullie Sibanda, playing his first match since he broke his wrist last October in the second leg of the fall series. Despite No Subs claiming possession for most of the opening twenty minutes, it was 'Gers that claimed first blood around the tenth minute. Fed by Foubister from the middle to the outside left, Radigan rounded his marker and, while appearing to look for a tight angle cross, opted to go for the frame and beat the keeper on a wildly difficult shot from almost the end line. Heartened by the early strike, 'Gers held firm for the remainder of the first half. While the team worked to refamiliarize themselves after a five month break, the match grew increasingly physical. Gaffney in particular seemed to relish the tackling, a feature not permitted in the 0-40 divisions. More than once No Subs appealed to the ref for a free kick after Gaffney cut down an opposition player, but the tackles were clean and fair and referee Saul Hernandez waved play on. With a fancy display of head tennis between Foubister and McConnachie as they raced through the middle capping the end of the first half, a good result seemed hopeful if not guaranteed.

Then came the second half. Stupid second half.

No Subs equalized almost immediately after the restart, with a successful corner kick around the 47th minute. The Yellow and Black answered with a breakaway run along the right that saw King and Sibanda send up a cross to the center that pinballed and ricocheted through several player's legs before Ingersoll got a left foot to it and blasted it off the left upright. Stupid left upright. Come the 55th minute, No Subs converted a direct free kick into money with a chip over the wall and into the upper right corner to go ahead. Despite several forays into No Subs' half of the pitch, an answer was not coming and No Subs compunded their lead with a slicing run through the middle and, in added extra time, an exact repeat of the chipped wall free kick from outside the top of the box. One last jailbreak toward the visitor's goal, with Gaffney providing good service to a rush of 'Gers inside the twelve, went wide before Hernandez whistled the end of Match Day One.

For match photos, please click here.

While the loss frankly sucks, it was pointed out that the last time No Subs beat us, we won the division. I'm going to let you mull on that for the week as we get ready to welcome Puppies FC (sorry, Wolfhounds FC--those guys know I love 'em) back to the MES next Sunday.

Match notes: Attendance was estimated at 12-14, which may be a season opener record for the squad...4 match balls were lost over the fence during the 90 minutes, of which 3 were reclaimed by FC77 president Mike Calder...Several very cool "Junior Ranger" t-shirts were spotted at the match. Sean has some still available for only $10...No yellow or red cards were displayed during the match...Next week's match is scheduled for the holiest day in the Christian calendar; what's up with that? Chocolate eggs will be furnished by Manager Sean for any Junior Rangers who come out to watch (unless your family's personal beliefs or chocolate allergies conflict with that, in which case, I won't).

Next match:

FC77 Rangers v. Wolfhounds FC

Sunday, 12 April - 12:00 noon KO

Montessori Earth School

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