FC77 RANGERS 2 - 1 LAGER LEGENDS
(Radigan 80', Burden 87')
From the previous match summary, you might have correctly surmised that Manager Seanny is more than a little distraught at the turn of events that caused 'Gers to not be eligible to play for the Divisional Championship. One word: Forfeits. Forfeits deny us the opportunity to achieve the maximum goal differential of +3 against vastly inferior opponents and ultimately hurt our standing in the table. This is how a team can go on a nine and a half match unbeaten streak, finish with 25 out of a possible 30 points tied for first place in a newly promoted division, and not lose to either of the post-season bound squads...and still not play for a chance to hoist aloft the trophy.
Due to muddled scheduling issues caused by the flooding at the Montessori Earth School, the unavailability of West Sylvan Middle School, frisbee players at Delta Park on June 29th, and a father's refusal to disappoint his daughter by not taking her to see the epic Timbers-Sounders FC US Open Cup clash at PGE Park on June 30th, Manager Seanny was not at the spring 2010 season curtain dropper. As such it would be very unorthodox for him to write the match summary since he had no participation in the now historic event.
Unorthodox, but not totally beyond his albeit awesome powers of wordsmithery.
Instead, the math reports--oh yes, we're going plural, baby!--are brought to you by two people who did actually bear witness to the events of 30 June, 2010 on the sun-kissed plains of Delta Park #1...Ranger central defender/bad boy Brian Bauman and interim manager for the evening Jim Snyder. First up, Brian Bauman:
Starting line up-this week: It doesn’t matter who played or who was there, this match was about the TEAM (and for the record I don’t remember).
We knew early on this was going to be The Match. We were never truly looking ahead...but we all knew. The soccer gods had their own ideas for the outcome of the Spring 2010 season.
However, Rangers don’t always listen that well.
After multiple time switches, unsatisfying wins due to games forfeited by teams whose man cards should be revoked, the Rangers final match of the season would be one that could be marked as an epic win for "The Little Team That Could".
But I am jumping ahead...
As the Rangers scrambled to prepare for this match that meant nothing to the standings of GPSD, each Ranger knew this game mattered. Yes, soccer gods, this game mattered.
As fill-in manger Jim Snyder put the Rangers on the field, there was no pep talk, no cheer. Just "Game on!" The Rangers started the match looking directly into the sun which led to a few tense moments as the back line worked to recover missed balls coming from the large orange globe in the sky. The fullbacks worked to recover from early mistakes, sending the Lagers' (not Legendary) attacks back from where they came and utilized the "bend-don’t-break" attitude and helped to keep Aaron’s sheet clean for the first half. The midfield and strikers did well to work the counters up the sidelines creating some scrappy opportunities in the first half. At the end of 45 the score line was 0-0.
Half time came and went. Again the fill-in manager used his crafty motivational style, telling Rangers players: “...Ah...just get out there where you think you should play”. Another 20 minutes of back and forth play showed several opportunities to score by both sides, only to be sent packing by strong defensive play.
Then it came, cross, volley, score. Rangers are down one. This was not the end, this was actually the beginning, because a Ranger never gives up. The cries of “let’s go!!!” rang out from all parts of the field. Ten more minutes of back and forth before one of GPSD’s top goal scorers (and Rangers very own) Aaron Radigan brought down a cross from one of our Super Awesome wing players--sorry don’t remember who!--and slotted the equalizer just inside the post. Tie game! Tie game! The momentum had shifted. Both sides continued to work the side lines looking for crosses. Then with three to go it came in the run of play down the right side: Bennouri passed to King, King put the ball in the air to the back post for a spectacular volley from Burden...GOOOAAAAAL!
Rangers up 2-1. For five or so tense minutes the Rangers locked down the hammer defense with ample help from the midfield. When the final whistle blew it was Rangers 2 Lagers 1.
When the final whistle blew we all knew--Are you listening soccer gods?--that it mattered. This was the final game of a glorious campaign by the Rangers. New logo, new kits, 8-1-1 season, beat or tied the two teams going to the finals. You know it and they know it, Rangers are the ones who deserve the chance to play for the Cup. We proved that much on a beautiful summer day.
Ranger supporters totaled exactly two: The lovely Mrs. Bauman, deciding there wasn't a better way to spend her birthday than to watch the "Greatest Over 30 Men’s Team in the Greater Portland Metro Area" and I believe Bullie’s friend. Let me also just take this opportunity to add that Seanny is the greatest recreational football club manager ever and I would follow him into the bowels of hell itself if he told me he needed a substitute central enforcer to play against the Legions of Darkness because frankly, I've always wanted to go double studs up into Beelzebub. I hear he is a total ball hog. [Editor's Note: Last paragraph edited for content and umm, maybe tone...and I might have made some of it up. Ahem.]
Our second report is courtesy of interim manager for the afternoon, Jim Snyder:
The sun was hot that day, my friends. Traffic on I-5 was slower that a herd of turtles stampeding through peanut butter. 9, 10, then 11 players showed up to the pitch, [SECTION DELETED] we had 15 at kick off. Dan left to play with his other team thinking we were in good hands. The nets were put up with 2 minutes to spare.
As the home team we were to let the other team call the coin toss. My secret weapon: My daughter. I had her put on the reto-2009 junior rangers jersey and come out as my lovely assistant. The ref bought it and let us call heads…
We lost the coin toss.
That was my first and only bad management decision of the game.
The sun was in our eyes for the 1st half – but that did not sway us.
Starting XI:
Silverman, goalkeeper
Brian - Mike - Hanny, fullbacks
"James McConnachie", holding midfielder
Matt - Radigan - Sibanda - Burden, midfielders
"Gary Foubister-ish" - King, strikers
Reserves: Snyder, Andre, Bennouri, someone else
At the half it was still 0-0 but they has plenty of opportunities on their end but forgot about our keeper stopping everything – even with sun spots in his eyes…
The first goal was scored by their team at around the 60th minute. At that point, I gathered up the team and said “I just talked to Sean on the phone and this is what he said to me…”
“I've got to go, Jim. It's all right. I'm not afraid. Some time, Jim, when the team is up against it, when things are wrong and the breaks are beating the boys, ask them to go in there with all they've got and win just one for the Seanster. I don't know where I'll be then, Jim. But I'll know about it, and I'll be happy...” [Editor's note: I totally said this!]
Well gosh if Radigan did not answer the first call at the 80th minute kicking one in (I have no clue about the goal – help!)
The final blow came when Ron King selflessly crossed the ball to Ron Burden who hammered into the back on the net with 5 minutes to go.
Matt at the 90th minute made a great chest save to stop the equalizer goal.
For my management prowess the team carried me off the field "Rudy" style... [Editor's note: Hey! How come you never carry me off the field!? Wah!]
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