Preseason Friendly: Rangers 7-1 Wolfhounds FC

FC77 Rangers 7 - 1 Wolfhounds FC

Scorers: Switzer (X3); Radigan (x2); King; Bennouri

Preseason Friendly

Powerlines Park Soccer Field #3

Sunday, March 28, 2010

FC77 Rangers opened their preseason tour in convincing fashion with a robust win at Powerlines Park in the Rock Creek Area of Portland. Bob Switzer, returning from an extended ligament injury so unique his physician might name it after him, blasted in a hat trick and Aaron "Hello Kitty" Radigan added a brace as 'Gers went up 3-1 at the half and added another four goals before time was called. Ron King and Nabyl Bennouri also netted--or rather, virtual netted because we didn't actually have nets, but whatever--and Brian Bauman got his long-standing wish to finally play striker for the last fifteen minutes. Manager Seanny even played goalkeeper for twenty minutes...during which time he made one awesome save of a cheeky chip and did his best Zoolander "Blue Steel" pose during his spontaneous photo shoot courtesy of Connor Foubister. Yes, I said a photo shoot. My one lasting memory of the second half will always be Mike Pullen turning around, seeing me bust the "Blue Steel", and exclaiming in total surprise: "What is Sean doing back there? Is he posing for pictures?!"

Yes. Yes, I was. If you were my Facebook friend, you'd know this already.

The Yellow and Black, dressed in our street "pick-up" darks to foil the THPRD officials who might have grown suspicious if we had our really nice uniforms on and asked to see our (ahem!) field permit, did a fine job controlling the midfield, the wings, and both the attacking and defending thirds. All in all it was a fine return to the pitch and a good run-out in advance of this our toughest season yet, what with clubs like Highlanders, FC Hut, and Controlled Chaos all on the schedule.

Starting XI:

DeBar, goalkeeper

Pullen - Bauman - Ingersoll, fullbacks

Bennouri, holding/attacking midfielder

Burden - Radigan - Muralt - Foubister, midfielders

King - Switzer, strikers

Gaffney - Generously offered to play for Wolfhounds for the first half before slotting in to Ingersoll's left fullback position when he assumed goalkeeping duties in the second half.

Next Preseason Match:

FC77 Rangers (O-30 Second) v. FC77 Newcastle (O-40 Second)

Saturday, 3 April, 2010

Montessori Earth School

3:00 p.m. KO

Mark Vogel's Testimonial Match

Be there to help Rangers wish our favorite, ageless Canadian "farewell, eh!" as he finishes his 18+ year career with "The Greatest O-30 Recreational Football Club in the Greater Portland, Oregon Area" and joins his new team, FC77 Newcastle.

A very special, probably slightly corny ceremony will conclude the match and I'm willing to bet that there will be adult malted beverages.