FC77 Rangers 0:0 FC Hut Old Boys

FC77 Rangers 0 - 0 FC Hut Old Boys

The first ever match-up between 'Gers and former open division club FC Hut Old Boys proved to be epic in almost every way except the scoreline. Now, a lot of folks would look at a 0-0 draw and grouse sarcastically, "Wow, great game," and then feign a yawn to indicate their indifference to the lack of goals...but those people would be ass monkeys. They probably like baseball, too. A 0-0 draw--the first for the Yellow and Black since at least 2006 and probably a few years before that--doesn't begin to tell the whole story. It doesn't talk about Aaron Silverman's absolute monster performance between the sticks that earned him probably close to 20-24 saves. It doesn't even come close to referencing that three of those saves were so good even the opposition offered sincere congratulations. It doesn't mention Brian Gaffney's dogged efforts as the holding midfielder or the yellow card caution he received "to send a message". It doesn't speak to the relatively fluid substitution mechanics that allowed the team to compete with a tough new squad and earn a hard-won point for their efforts.

Starting XI:

Silverman, goalkeeper

Calkins - Snyder - Fahrbach, fullbacks

Gaffney, holding midfielder

Foubister - Radigan - Muralt - Ingersoll, midfielders

Switzer- McConnachie, strikers

Reserves:

Pullen, Freiwat, Bennouri, Burden, Sibanda

Absolutely perfect, low 70 degree temperatures (and no swarming bugs, it should be noted; I had to call in a big favor for that one!) and a large thirsty crowd of approximately 20+ from the previous O-50 FC77 Old Nicks/Highland Stillhouse match were on hand to watch Yellow and Black meet Lilac at the Montessori Earth School. 'Gers defended the Powell Street End for the first half and both sides showed that they weren't afraid to go to ground early and often in spirited challenges at any location on the pitch. The match set up similar to last week's in that FC77 focused their attacks down the wings whilst the opposition tended to bring the ball through the middle...until Radigan, Muralt, Gaffney or Snyder intervened and somebody ended up dumped on the grass. The foursome developed an interesting approach for shutting down the center: Muralt seemed to take the lead in aerial challenges and headers. Gaffney scrambled everywhere and anywhere to intervene on the ground. Snyder swept the back line, prowling just behind Gaffney and running onto long balls to feed them out to Fahrbach, Calkins, or (later) Pullen. Radigan crashed and bashed everybody, as Radigan is wont to do. This occasionally rankles opposing midfielders, especially those about five inches shorter than him, as a second half tackle almost got medieval as a mad Hutter got all upset and started shoving. It should be noted that the tackle was totally legal and 100% ball, by the way. Referee Antonio(?)--sure!--opted to have the two shake hands and make up, but a card would have been a valid response, too.

As previously mentioned, Silverman played beside himself. In just his second season with "the Greatest O-30 Recreational Football Club in the Greater Portland Area" he dominated the box with more saves, parries, blocks, and grabs than I can shake a stick at...and believe you me, I can shake a lot of sticks. (Snicker!) Name a type of dynamic save and he probably did it. Twice. Isolated one on one with an opposing striker? Silverman hurled himself battering ram style and scooped up the ball of the Huttese foot. One first half save in said manner found him sliding toward the end of the box sans brakes, forcing him to throw the ball out of bounds before he crossed the plane of the 18 yard box. Silverman bowled over two other strikers, crashed a near side post rebound, and scooped up two deflections as field players clattered around him. Not to sound all man-crushy, but it was pretty freakin' awesome.

This focus on defense is not to ignore our friends in the attacking half, however. 'Gers broke forward on several occasions, especially in the more wide open second half, and found some success moving the ball down the sidelines. Bennouri, Switzer, Radigan, and McConnachie all got various looks at the Hut woodwork with Radigan's strike missing by a less than a foot, but the final move in several fine sequences was absent on the afternoon...undoubtedly ground to a pulp by the crazy mad slide tackles. Rangers also got several opportunities from corners, but the dead ball hasn't been our friend just yet this season. Sibanda, Freiwat, Burden, Foubister and Ingersoll [did I name everybody yet?] all took various turns in the midfield and I would say that by and large, our middies' "up-and-backness" was pretty good for just the second match of the season.

Match Notes...Rangers welcomed back Bullie Sibanda from a series of injuries dating back to last October...Match photographer was Becki Ingersoll...Junior Ranger was Kendall Ingersoll, who extended former Helen Gordon Child Development Center greetings to former classmate and Junior FC Hut New Boy Brogan...Attendance was estimated at 30, a record for a non-championship match...For the record, the new Nike T-90 match ball was so not "too sticky"...

Next Match:

Hawks v. FC77 Rangers

Sunday, 25 April, 2010

Montessori Earth School

4:00 PM Kick-Off

McConnachie plays his against his new boss.

Will he risk termination by going double studs up or

will he be just another Yes Man?

Show up and find out!