MPS Newton O40s

MPS Newton 3 - 2 Crafty Veterans

2011-11-07T23:35:00.001-05:00

The season finale against Crafty Veterans found us in an unusual position. With a defeat we could end up in fifth place, our worst showing in Division 1. On the other hand, a win could leave us as champions, capping a great recovery in the latter part of the season. The final result, a deserved victory, turned out not to be enough to top the charts, but it left the Veterans looking at a possible drop out of the top flight.

The sun had risen above the trees when the game started, but there was still a wide strip of frost down the south flank of the field. We were dressed in our all black outfit and Mike O reported watching figures emerging from the shadows and vanishing into the darkness throughout the first half.

From the outset it was clear that Crafty would rely on the strength of their centre forward, and he was fed regularly on the break. For the most part, though, we controlled the pace of the game and Crafty didn't see much of our goal. At the other end, Abdullah almost opened our account with a shot from the right that the goalkeeper did well to tip wide, then Andy hit the post from the ensuing corner. Shortly afterwards, another Abdullah effort, this time from twenty yards out on the left, beat the keeper but went the wrong side of the post.

Half an hour into the game we had a scare when a Crafty midfielder ran at the defence and struck a good shot from the edge of the box. The ball took a deflection to wrong-foot Mike O and landed in the corner of the goal, but the referee judged the deflecting player offside. Just minutes later we took the lead when Karsten took advantage of a defensive mistake, got past a defender on the left and laid back a pin-point pass to Chris, who stroked the ball into the corner of the net.

A defensive lapse early in the second half let the Veterans back into the game. The CV centre forward was fouled on the edge of the box, the referee pointed to the penalty spot, and the kick was well placed, low to Mike's right side. The goal stung us into a period of intense pressure, with wave after wave of attacks on the Veterans' goal. Samuel had a twenty (20!) yard, goal-bound shot deflected wide, then Ivan's shot from a similar distance was turned over the bar by the stretching 'keeper. Kirk put us back in the driving seat with a dipping shot from 25 yards that caught the goalkeeper a few yards off his line and dropped below the bar.

We were comfortable with our lead and playing a good game of keep-ball to run down the clock, but five minutes from time a defensive mix-up again led to the Vets' centre forward being felled inside the box. Another penalty, and this time it flew in high and to Mike's left - quality spot-kicks.

A draw would have been a poor reward for another good team performance, and luckily it wasn't to be. Chris made his way past a defender on the right and played a low cross in front of the goal. Schec neatly stepped over the ball, and Karsten shot from close range, but a defender managed to get a foot in the way. The ball broke to the penalty spot, Ivan drilled it back towards goal and, with the 'keeper diving to his left, the ball took a huge deflection off Steve S's, erm, midriff, and rolled slowly into the opposite corner of the goal. Legend.

Squad: Mike O, Mike A, Schec, Bruno, Karsten, Andy, Kirk, Chris, Ivan, Steve S, Abdullah, Samuel, Tony, Tom

Kel Kau 1 - 3 MPS Newton

2011-11-07T23:32:00.000-05:00

We turned in a tremendous team performance to come back from a goal down and win a crucial game in the MPS Newton - Kel Kau derby. Some goalkeeping heroics from Mike O when we were a goal down kept us in the game, and we gradually asserted ourselves before dominating in the second half.

Under the lights we started slowly, but Kel Kau were energetic from the get-go. They hit us immediately with quick balls into the corners and dangerous crosses. We were pinned back for the first 20 minutes with little time or room to move the ball, resorting to long balls from the back - the midfield was all helping out in defence. That said, the first genuine chance of the night came when Kirk took a pop from 25 yards and clipped the top of the crossbar. Kel Kau kept coming and only some last-ditch defending and some inaccurate shooting kept the scores level. Mike O made a crucial save from a low shot and Mike A cleared the danger for a corner.

Kel Kau eventually broke the deadlock when a swift move down their left flank drew the defence, only for a flat cross to be played into the box, allowing the free player time to shoot and score from 12 yards. They could easily have been two goals ahead when a low cross from the right winger was met in the middle, but Mike O somehow managed to steer the shot from point blank range over the bar.

In the last part of the first half we began to get into the game. Some good pressure by Andy on the left forced a defender to play a hasty pass back to his 'keeper, who ran from his goal to clear the ball. The ball dropped to Abdullah, thirty yards out, and he calmly took a touch before hammering a shot into the top of the net. The goal settled us and we began to put together some passes and slow the game a little.

In the second half we started creating some concrete chances with good movement off the ball and great passing. Chris caught the DiStefano express with a pass between two defenders, and Joe's cross was only half blocked by a defender, before being smothered by the keeper. Then Abdullah collected the ball on the right, ran for the end line a played an inviting low pass across the face of the goal; Tony, (at the risk of overdoing the locomotive metphor) steamed in at the back post but couldn't quite make enough of a contact to turn the ball into the net.

We took the lead when Abdullah split the defence with a pass to Karsten who ran in from the left and beat the keeper from 10 yards. And it only got better as Karsten turned provider, getting past a defender on the right and laying the ball back to leave Steve S with a simple tap in.

Kel Kau were reeling at this point, and when they advanced into our half the central defensive trio were solid and getting plenty of help from the midfield. They had a couple of chances, but Mike in goal dived at the feet of a player coming in from the right side, and blocked a powerful shot that came in from a narrow angle on the left.

Other chances came and went: Karsten hit a fine volley from a corner that grazed the crossbar; Abdullah ran into the box and hit his shot across the goal onto the post; and Karsten, fed by Ivan's back-heel, found himself in acres of space twenty yards out but hit his shot well over the bar.

A fine team performance with a huge work rate from everyone, only slightly sullied by Peter's yellow card for kicking the ball away after Kel Kau were awarded a free kick - the impetuosity of youth.

Squad: Mike O, Mike A, Schec, Tom, Bruno, Andy, Karsten, Peter, Steve S, Chris, Ivan, Joe, Abdullah, Kirk, Tony.

MPS Newton 5 - 2 Stoughton

2011-10-25T22:15:00.000-04:00

We managed a win in our return game against Stoughton by a healthy margin, but we were made to work hard for the victory, both by Stoughton and our own mistakes.

It was a chilly, damp morning with the sun was just rising above the trees as the game kicked off. We had the ideal start as, within the first couple of minutes, Abdullah stole a Stoughton pass, ran unimpeded towards goal and loosed a shot from the edge of the area that clipped the post on its way into the top right corner.

It didn't take Stoughton long to get back into the game. A free kick from 20 yards was hit low through a forest of legs, took a slight deflection, and ended up in the bottom corner. We regained the lead when a cross from the right eluded the Stoughton defence and found Karsten at the back post, who fired in from 10 yards. Our third goal, on the half-hour, was a mirror image of the second: a high cross, from the left this time, flew over the heads of the Stoughton defence, and was met by Samuel, rushing in to poke the ball home from 6.1 yards.

The second half started as well as the first: Marc spread the ball to the right corner, where it was picked up by Chris, and another cross was played in over the defence. Andy, standing at the angle of the penalty area, remembered his own half-time advice (take a second on the ball), lined up his shot, and planted the ball into the top right corner of the net.

We started making things difficult for ourselves about fifteen minutes into the half. Stoughton weren't applying much pressure, but we were giving up the ball needlessly. Mid-way through the half Stoughton pulled a goal back after we lost the ball in front of their goal. The ball was quickly played to the midfielder on the left side, and with our defence crying offside he carried the ball quickly into our penalty area and beat Mike with a low shot. Smelling blood, the Stoughton players now raised their game and started causing lots of trouble. The deficit could have been reduced further but for a fine save by Mike, low to his left, from a shot that emerged from a tangle of legs.

The pressure meant that Stoughton were leaving gaps at the back, and Abdullah was picked out on the right side of the box. His shot was blocked by the keeper, went straight back to him, and he unselfishly squared the ball to Tom for a simple tap-in.

Squad: Mike O, Jean Bruno, Mike A, Eric, Tom, Steve S, Andy, Abdullah, Ivan, Chris, Marc, Karsten, Kirk, Samuel

Canarinho 2 - 2 MPS Newton

2011-10-21T00:09:00.000-04:00

What a glorious day for a game as we made the long trek to Rockland for our return game against Canarinho. The sun was shining, there was a bit of a breeze, and the grass pitch was slightly soft underfoot.

We had a good start to the game, and Canarinho couldn't get much of the ball at first. For all our possession and work, though, we didn't create many chances before Abdullah put a shot across the face of the goal after about 15 minutes. Canarinho gradually started to get into the game more as they worked to crack our offside trap. When the trap was breached after many failed attempts (and much moaning to the referee) Mike was off his line quickly to close down the danger. As the half closed out Canarinho were in the ascendant, having come close to scoring once when a dangerous ball across the face of our goal was missed by everyone.

Not long into the second half there was a suspicion of offside when Canarinho broke down the left side. As the defence moved across one man was left on the back post for a simple tap-in when a low cross came his way. We managed a quick reply: Marc played a long diagonal to Kirk on the left, and he carried the ball into the penalty area before driving a low shot between the keeper and his near post.

We had some chances to take the lead. Marc took a speculative pop from range, but the ball bounced back off the crossbar with the goalie well beaten. Steve Gans floated a cross from the right, but Samuel, unmarked at the back post, couldn't keep his header down. Then Karsten picked up a lovely through-ball and rounded the keeper but fluffed his finish, scuffing the ball wide of the open target. It was the little Canaries who took the lead instead: a driving run at the heart of our defence by their number 9, was followed by a slightly fortunate bounce on his pass that sat up nicely for a finish on the right from 10 yards. The lead didn't last long, though, as Andy played a lethal high cross/shot from the right. The frantically back-peddling keeper managed to stop the ball looping into the net, but his one-handed stop only dropped the ball onto Karsten's foot, and he made no mistake on the volley.

Squad: Mike O, Schec, Jean, Mike A, Ivan, Andy, Steve S, Joe, Steve S, Karsten, Abdullah, Marc, Kirk, Samuel

Recap Autumn 2011 - First Half

2011-10-20T23:28:00.000-04:00

We all know football is a game of two halves. Here's summary of some of the highlights and lowlights of slightly more than the first half of the season, gleaned from emails, hacked phone lines and insiders:
- disputed penalty in game against Canarinho leads to collapse
- Steve Shea swivels past most of the Stoughton team to set up Karsten for the easiest goal of his life
- bragging rights captured in hard-won battle against Kel Kau
- Mike O sees red against Medfield
- Nine hardy warriors start game against Crafty Vets and get pummeled
- Upswing in return game against Medfield

Recap Spring 2011

2011-10-20T22:56:00.000-04:00

At the end of the spring 2011 season the Golden Boot was refitted, this time to the foot of Pedro, the season's top scorer with six goals. The full table:


Pedro	6
Karsten	5
Kirk N	5
Samuel	4
Abdullah	3
Andy	2
Chris	2
Peter	2
Steve G	2
Kirk G	-1

Danvers 6 - 4 MPS Newton

2011-06-21T22:48:00.000-04:00

Memo for next year: kick-off at 11:00 isn't a good idea in the summer.

In our play-off semi-final game against division 1 North champs Danvers we were two goals down within five minutes. In the first minute one of their speedy forwards made the most of the lightest of contacts as he sprinted into the area, falling theatrically to win a penalty. A few minutes later a fast slicing move through the middle was converted to put us two goals behind.

We caught our breath and got back into the game as the half progressed. Fifteen minutes in we reduced the deficit when Pedro's free-kick was converted by Kirk with a looping header, but Danvers quickly regained the two goal cushion with another slicing move through the defence.

Using the wings was looking to be our most promising tactic, and we were again within touching distance when Andy's cross from the right flank was headed home by Pedro at the back post. A few other chances followed: Tom headed goalwards, Samuel gave the ball some extra momentum from his favourite position (2 yards out) but the keeper clawed the ball away; Karsten turned neatly at the top of the box and drove a shot just wide of the left post. Just before half time Danvers were two up again when Ivan's clearance from a cut-back only went as far as the top of the penalty area before being drilled back into the corner of the goal.

We started the second half in promising fashion, keeping the ball and probing for openings. Pedro collected the ball at the top of the box, turned his defender and was brought down inside the area. Kirk converted the resultant penalty, clipping the ball high into the right side of the goal. Ten minutes later one of the Danvers forwards pushed the ball past Mike A and proceeded to run straight into him. The ref awarded a very harsh penalty which was converted to put Danvers back in the driving seat. With energy levels dropping (in our team, anyway) the same battering-ram forward outpaced Ivan and slid the ball past Mike O to open a three goal gap. Although Pedro cut the deficit with a sweetly struck free kick from the left side, we couldn't get any closerr.

This was a fast and furious game, where we might have done better with a few more players, but we can't complain about a loss against an excellent team.

Squad: Mike O, Kirk G, Schect, Mike A, Tom, Ivan, Kirk N, Karsten, Abdullah, Andy, Steve S, Samuel, Pedro, Steve G

MPS Newton 1 - 2 Canarhino

2011-06-21T22:21:00.000-04:00

The less said the about this game the better. We played Canarinho on a rainy, blustery morning needing to take just a point from the game to be sure of a place in the play-offs.

We had most of the play in the first half without ever really putting the keeper under pressure. Abdullah had a couple of decent long range efforts, but Canarinho probably came closest to scoring with a shot into the side netting.

We made an impression early in the second half when Karsten headed in a cross from the left. Canarinho got back into the game when a looped cross from the left side went over Mike's head and dropped into the corner of the goal. Worse, with ten minutes left a free kick from the left side was drilled in, took a slight deflection and landed in the same corner.

A siege on the Canarinho goal followed. Abdullah had two decent chances but put both wide; Karsten seemed sure to score when a low cross skidded in from the right, but couldn't get a toe to the ball; Kirk's goal-bound header was cleared off the line, landed on the crossbar and was finally held by the keeper.

Luckily for us, the OTHSL ruled that Canarinho's win in game #5 of the season should be forfeit for fielding players without IDs, and off to the play-offs we go.

Squad: Mike O, Kirk G, Mike A, Pap, Antonio, Tom, Kirk N, Peter, Karsten, Chris, Ivan, Andy, Steve G, Samuel, Eric

Stoughton 1 - 4 MPS Newton

2011-06-08T23:08:00.000-04:00

On a lovely Sunday morning we played on the rolling hills of Stoughton's field, a pitch that looked like it had better grass coverage than usual, but turned out to be as uneven as ever.

We played an excellent first half, with Stoughton pinned into their side of the field, and the defence (Mike O, Kirk G, Tom, Mike A, Pap, Antonio) doing sterling work when called upon. Mike did have to make one good save, diving at the feet of a Stoughton player to block a shot mid-way through the half.

Our first good chance came from a free kick, when Abdullah drilled in a shot from 25 yards, but the keeper had seen it coming and was right behind the ball. Mike A set Ivan free down the right and Andy met his low cross at the top of the box, only to see his shot ricochet off a defender and fly wide. Kirk hit a high diagonal ball in from the right that went over the keeper and bounced up into the roof of the net, but was disallowed for offside.

As in the Medfield game, we couldn't capitalise on our pressure, and it took an own goal to open our account. Andy popped in a free kick from the right and the Stoughton sweeper, who normally plays in a forward position, directed a lovely header past the despairing dive of his keeper and into the bottom of the net.

There was some nervousness at the start of the second as Stoughton's sweeper moved into his more usual position harassing the defence. For a while Stoughton were putting us under pressure: it was almost as if they had an extra player on the field - which, after Samuel made a quick head-count, it turned out they did. But it was a set-piece that led to their goal: a free kick floated from the right to the back post eluded everyone except the Stoughton player who got a weak touch that was just enough to drop the ball over the line.

We responded magnificently, and a flowing move led to us taking the lead again. The ball was worked quickly from deep inside our half on the left up to Pedro on the right, and he got to the byeline and fed a pinpoint pass for the advancing Chris to slot between keeper and defender and into the net.

As the half continued the field opened up and Kirk, sitting quite deep, was able to distribute the ball to the wings (when the Stoughton number 15 wasn't hanging off his shoulders). Pedro waited at the back post to dive at a cross from the right, but managed to put the ball wide with the goal gaping. Another cross from the right caused confusion (in both teams) and a number of players (remaining nameless to protect the guilty), took a swing at the ball before it fell to Andy who managed to score from a couple of yards out with a scuffed shot.

Stoughton's keeper was being worked hard, and he made a couple of saves in quick succession, first blocking a shot then hoisting himself off the ground to palm away Eric's shot for a corner. He was beaten by Chris's 20 yard drive, but the ball clipped the top of the crossbar and went over. With fifteen minutes left Abdullah received the ball in a position that looked suspiciously offside, but he played the whistle and advanced on the keeper, rounding him and slotting into an empty net.

Squad: Mike O, Kirk G, Tom, Pap, Mike A, Antonio, Kirk N, Andy, Karsten, Chris, Ivan, Eric, Steve S, Abdullah, Pedro, Steve G

MPS Newton 4 - 0 Medfield

2011-06-08T22:46:00.000-04:00

In the sweltering heat of Memorial Day Monday, we wore our sweat suits (black shirts, black shorts, black socks, even some black shoes) for our postponed game against Medfield. There was an unusually good turnout of seventeen players, and even more spectators, as family and friends turned out for some entertainment.

We applied strong pressure in the opening minutes, but about 20 passed before our first decent chance, when Abdullah belted in a shot from the edge of the area. The first goal finally came when Karsten got his head, or possibly his shoulder, to Eric's cross from the left and the ball looped past the Medfield keeper. Kirk had a great chance a few minutes later, but his low drive from the right came back off the upright into the arms of the keeper. When the half-time whistle was blown we had just the one goal to show for all the first half dominance.

We supplied more of the same in the second half, with almost unrelenting pressure. Five minutes in, Karsten received the ball from Andy and split the defence with a through-ball for Kirk who calmly rolled the ball past the keeper. Medfield did have a decent chance shortly afterwards in one of their rare forays into our half, and Mike O had to be alert to get down low to his right and palm away a powerful shot from twenty yards out.

Karsten met a cut-back on the edge of the area, only for his shot to cannon back off the post. Shortly afterwards he was blatantly shoved on the edge of the area, right under the nose of the ref. As the Medfield players complained about the ref's decision to award a free kick, Peter stepped up and chipped the ball over the keeper and into the net, clipping the underside of the bar for added drama. This prompted Peter to leave the field - presumably he felt his work was done.

Pedro blocked an attempted clearance by the Medfield keeper, rounded him with the ball, but shot wide with a sole defender standing on the goal line - whatever happened to those contact lenses? Then Eric was put through with just the goalie to beat, but the keeper got down well and blocked the ball as Eric tried to go around him. With five minutes left Abdullah's lovely dummy on the edge of the box allowed him to step past the defender, run into the box and slot the ball home to give the score some extra polish.

Squad: Mike O, Kirk G, Mike A, Tom, Antonio, Peter, Karsten, Kirk N, Abdullah, Steve S, Chris, Ivan, Andy, Eric, Steve G, Samuel, Pedro

MPS Newton 1 - 1 Crafty Veterans

2011-06-08T22:32:00.000-04:00

From Samuel:

With 11 players in the second half vs Crafty Vet, we held our own and pressed very hard on CV. CV captain kept telling his team on the field that we had no sub and they should run us down. I believe we are the ones who made them run.

We walked away with 1-1 tie and one point.

FUFC 2 - 6 MPS Newton

2011-06-08T22:27:00.000-04:00

From Steve G:

This morning's result: Newton MPS 6, Foxboro 2. Goals: Karsten (2), Sam (2), Abdullah, Gans.

Canarhino 3 - 1 MPS Newton

2011-06-08T22:24:00.000-04:00

From Samuel:

not much to say about yesterday's game, we all know, we should have scored at least 6 goals.
1. PK miss by Pedro. Although Pedro did convert on the first one :)
2. 2 open net headers missed by Pedro
3. 2 Great corners by Abdullah in the 6 which we missed to convert
4. and lastly, Karsten hitting the cross bar with open net and on the 2 yard line.

Newton 3-1 Stoughton

2011-05-03T22:20:00.000-04:00

Our home game against Stoughton was played in perfect weather, on a less than perfect surface. Stoughton used to have the worst field in the division, but we're seriously competing now.

Turnout was solid for the first time this season, with eighteen players available to play. We made a good start, playing keep-ball from Stoughton - they barely touched the ball in the first ten minutes. It's a stretch, but think Barcelona-Real Madrid here. That said, they were the first to put a shot on target, comfortably dealt with by Mike O.

The team was functioning well, with the defence looking solid. A measure of the amount of panic in the defence is the Grosel Quotient, defined as the number of exclamations of "oh shit!" per minute of play. Sunday's quotient was low, and the defence capably handled the few chances Stoughton had.

While we had most of the possession, we crafted few chances, and our shots were mostly off target. Steve G hit a shot over the bar from five yards when scoring might have been easier, Chris put one over from the edge of the box, Abdullah hit the outside netting from twenty yards, and Gary also missed from a similar range.

Our opening goal came courtesy of a dreadful defensive error. Under light pressure the Stoughton left back played the ball to his keeper who took a heavy touch. Eric was alert and stole the ball, smartly squaring to Kirk to tap into an empty net. Five minutes later we were two up, another defensive howler gifting us the goal. Peter's through ball was chased into the area, but the first to arrive was a Stoughton player who steered the ball wide of his keeper and into the net. Minutes later a perfectly legitimate goal was disallowed: Eric latched onto Gary's free kick from the left and steered the ball into the net at the back post from close range, but the referee considered him to have been offside.

Stoughton came into the game a little more in the second half, but the defence stood firm. Mike A bravely blocked a shot from fifteen yards that might have caused some trouble, and Mike O made an excellent one-handed save from an eighteen yard shot that looked to be flying just inside his right post.

Andy delivered a great cross-field pass from the left to Karsten, twenty yards out on the right. Karsten took the ball to the bye-line and hoisted a cross towards Kirk in the middle. The cross was too high for Kirk, but the ball also eluded the keeper and fell just in front of Chris for the easiest of tap-ins from five yards (although we've seen some missed from there). Directly after the kick off a similar action led to what would have been goal of the season had it gone in (which it didn't - common problem with our shooting). Andy again crossed from the left towards Kirk in the middle, and he deftly chested the ball down to the feet of Chris, who drilled a half-volley onto the crossbar and out of play.

Twenty minutes from time Stoughton were awarded a soft penalty when one of their players keeled over under pressure from Antonio in the area. Mike O got a touch on the ball, but the pitch helped lift it over his hand and into the net.

On a day when it seemed like anything on target might have gone in we just couldn't hit the goal. Steve G started a move in midfield that ended with him hitting a shot from twenty yards over the bar. Kirk swung a pass from the right into Ivan's path and his half-volley skimmed the crossbar. Then Kirk screwed a shot wide of the left post. Chris, under intense (some might say illegal) pressure got past three Stoughton defenders, but his cross was almost out of Steve S's reach and spun off his toe and wide of the post.

Squad: Mike O, Schect, Kirk G, Mike A, Pap, Antonio, Peter, Gary, Karsten, Andy, Abdullah, Chris, Ivan, Steve S, Samuel, Kirk N, Steve G, Eric

Medfield 2- 3 MPS Newton

2011-05-03T22:08:00.000-04:00

Let's imagine nothing happened in the first half of this game. There were unconfirmed reports of somebody hitting a post, but it was all very uninteresting.

For 35 minutes in the second half we played the sort of game that's won us the division twice on the trot. Crisp passing, good movement, vision, support, rock-solid defence. We'll need to work on extending these periods closer to the full ninety, but it was a good start.

Five minutes into the half Ivan's corner was cleared as far as Peter on the edge of the box. He sent the ball back to Ivan, who drilled it back towards goal. The goalkeeper fumbled and Steve G was on hand to prod the ball into the goal from close range.

Two moves shortly afterwards saw us extend the lead to three goals. Peter collected the ball forty yards out, stepped forward and delivered a lovely pass to meet Pedro's diagonal run. Pedro outpaced the defence and the beat the keeper from close range. Then Mike A surged down the right, leaving defenders in his wake, and crossed to Pedro at the back post, who took his time and calmly placed the ball past the keeper.

We had other chances: Kirk drove one over the bar; Eric did same; Ivan almost reached the ball five yards out following another Mike A run down the right with a great delivery.

With ten minutes left we lost our composure and suddenly Medfield were back in the game. A relatively harmless low cross came in from the right, and Samuel stuck out a foot but didn't get the ball under control. He was felled by an onrushing player, another scored into the empty net and the ref allowed the goal to stand. Samuel redeemed himself a few minutes later when he palmed a shot around the post after a ball over the top let two Medfield players in behind the defence.

With the last touch of the game Medfield pulled another goal back when a powerful header was directed into goal from a corner.

This was a much better performance than last week, and the fourteen player turnout must be a record for this season.

Squad: Samuel, Schect, Kirk G, Mike A, Kelvin, Pap, Peter, Andy, Kirk N, Chris, Ivan, Steve G, Eric, Pedro

Crafty Vets 3 - 1 MPS Newton

2011-04-20T16:53:00.000-04:00

We played another physical game against the Crafty Vets, this time without the post-match riots. Although we played well in the first half and in patches of the second, the Vets muscled their way to a 3-1 victory with a little additional help.

The game was played on the Vets' wind-swept field, and even though the field is turf one side of it was reminiscent of our own home "turf" at Nahanton, waterlogged and heavy. One of the most important decisions of the game was which way to play if we won the toss. Mike O favoured playing with the gale in the first half, Karsten suggested playing against it so that the wind would be at our backs when we were tired in the second. This reporter has no idea who won the toss, but we played with the wind at the start.

Just a few minutes after kick-off Ivan had a gilt-edged chance when he charged down an attempted clearance and chased the ball into the area from the left. With the goal in sight he opted to cut the ball back when a shot might have been the better option (although, based on later effort, perhaps not). Karsten had a similar chance from the left a little later, but his effort shot curled wide of the far post (compare and contrast).

The Vets' attacking game was simple and effective: the ball was aimed at the corners for wingers or overlapping defenders to fire in crosses. One such cross from the right should have been collected by Mike about five yards out (he called for it at least twice), but Kirk G, sweeping in ahead of an advancing Vet had other ideas. Never has Kirk been so mercilessly effective in front of goal, drilling the ball past Mike to open the Vets' account.

We leveled when Pedro muscled a Vet off the ball, and, as the Vets whined to the ref, he played a clever ball into Karsten's path. Karsten took a touch, nutmegged the central defender and chipped the ball over the advancing keeper to tie up the game.

The second half was a struggle from start to finish. For the first 15 minutes we hardly advanced past the half-way line. The wind and the Vets pushed us hard, but it was Kirk who came closest to scoring their second goal when he sliced his attempted clearance from ten yards out, prompting Mike to dive quickly low to his left to turn the ball around the post. The Vets created some other good chances but didn't make them count: one accurate shot from the edge of the area, destined for the bottom corner, was deflected wide of the post by a Vet repaying the debt to Kirk.

We had our chances: after a nice build up Ivan shinned Pedro's cross from the right wing well wide, then turned another Pedro cross, this time from the left, over the bar with his head. Abdullah hit a cannonball drive from 25 yards that the keeper got an arm to, and Steve Gans looked to be fouled when trying to take the rebound, but the ref didn't want to hear about it. Another low cross from the left, this time from Andy, was met on the volley by Ivan but this one went wide of the near post.

With fifteen minutes left the Vets took the lead. A dangerous cross from the left skidded across the face of the goal and a player at the back post somehow managed to head the ball in from the tightest possible angle. With five minutes left they put the game out of reach when tired legs in defence couldn't clear the ball and a Vet slotted the ball inside Mike's right post from 15 yards.

Squad: Mike O, Mike A, Tony, Kirk G, Kelvin, Ivan, Andy, Karsten, Abdullah, Steve G, Samuel, Pedro

Newton 3 - 2 FUFC

2011-04-14T22:59:00.000-04:00

Andy's view:

It was a crisp morning at Newton South but you could feel that it would not remain cool for long. Dressed in their traditional all black strips, MPS 040 took the field for their home opener against FUFC.

The first 15 minutes were slow as each team tried to find their rhythm. FUFC seemed tentative, as though an MPS players would inexplicably fall down screaming in pain. Thankfully that did not happen and after some good wing play, the ball was served in to the box from the right, where Kirk calmly took it down on his chest and fired it low into the far right corner to open his account. (by Kirk, I mean Kirk N. as Kirk G. was still in bed).

From there on, MPS had the majority of the controlled play as FUFC played a more direct game. One such, play came from the goalie who booted (yes booted) the ball down field where 3 FUFC players were in alone on Mike O, who skillfully saved for a corner. After a scrappy and down right nasty last 10 minutes (FUFC's tackling became obnoxious as did their banter), at halftime it was 1-0 to the good guys.

After discussing how the next goal was crucial to wrap up the match, MPS conceded a weak goal. The crafty FUFC winger lulled the MPS makeshift defense to sleep with his Ganz like turns and then sent in a whipping cross to the "red shoed" forward who slid it into goal.

MPS had its chances but they went begging. Pedro slicing a breakaway wide of the post; Karsten dribbling through the defense only to see his shot blocked by all four defenders who had closed him down (no he could not have passed because Pedro was offsides). Chris reaching to connect with Pedro's cross 8 yards out, only to see it go for a throw (in fairness it had some pace on it). Then, a boot from the keeper, a flick from the racing forward, some dodgy tracking by the defense (I should know, it was my man that scored) and MPS was 1-2 down.

That seemed to spark the fire in the team and FUFC was on their heels for the remainder of the game. Pedro, who was in an epic battle with their sweeper, continued to make runs behind the back line. Once, twice, third time a charm. Pedro rounds the keeper puts the defender on his butt and slips the ball into the back of the net..... game tied 2-2. MPS continues to press, another great run from Pedro, Kirk slips in and fires a low shot that the goalie saves to his right, a flash of orange and... you know the rest. After that, MPS controlled/killed the game and it was over. It was not pretty but we will take the 3 points.
As an aside, there were 2 new players that played well on their first outing with the team. Phil played a great first half keeping his composure as left back. Tony, also had strong game as he filled in at sweeper, left back, left wing, right midfield and at one point striker.

And in case you didn't know the rest, here's Samuel's version:

After a dismal start, and being down 1-2 with 10 minutes left, samuel scores an amazing game winner with 5 minutes to go.

Weston 5 - 3 MPS Newton

2011-04-07T23:21:00.000-04:00

The less said about this game the better. Our opening spell was quite good, and for the first ten minutes or so we held onto the ball and moved it calmly around the park, letting Weston do the chasing. Unfortunately, they chased relentlessly for the entire game, and once our passing started going awry they were ready to pounce. We went a goal down after about 20 minutes, their centre forward latching onto a through ball and outpacing everyone on the right side before slotting the ball past Mike.

We had a brighter start to the second half when Pedro opened our account, scoring after chasing Karsten's fine through-ball. Moments later, in a repeat scenario, he slid the ball wide with only the keeper to beat. We briefly took the lead when Ivan's cross from the left looped up off a defender's head, and Andy was the first to react, directing a header into the corner.

From that point it was downhill, though. Weston equalised when a long punt was flicked on into the path of the centre forward and he ran through to score. Shortly afterwards he muscled Schect off the ball and slotted his third past Mike. Then a low cross from the left was deflected and found its way into the roof of the our net.

We settled down and started creating chances again. Unfortunately, we weren't converting them. Pedro's inviting cross from a free kick on the left of the box could have been turned in had Karsten breathed in the general direction of the ball, but it flew past him and past the back post. Pedro went on a weaving run that took him into the penalty area, around defenders and the goalkeeper, but his final shot on the turn flew over the bar. Kirk turned his defender and hit a great shot that brought a marvellous reaction save from the keeper. Finally, Chris played in an inviting cross from the right that Pedro latched onto and hammered into the roof of the net.

Weston were then punished when one of their defenders leapt with raised arms to block a shot. The ref awarded the penalty, and there was a chance to level the scores. Samuel remained true to our great spot-kick tradition and hit his shot against the crossbar. Worse, nobody was running in to get the rebound and the chance was gone. Finally, to cap a miserable morning, an audacious shot from 50 yards by Weston's right-side midfielder caught Mike off his line and landed in the goal.

Squad: Mike O, Schect, Mike A, Tom, Pap, Abdullah, Andy, Karsten, Ivan, Chris, Eric, Kirk N, Pedro, Samuel, Alex

Kel Kau Masters 4 - 3 MPS Newton

2011-04-07T23:01:00.001-04:00

Our opening friendly of the 2011 spring season lined us up against Kel Kau Masters, rising stars in the OTHSL firmament. We controlled the first half well and held a two goal lead at the break, but Kel Kau showed their talent in the second half, running out 4-3 winners.

The venue for our game was a breezy turf field in the south end. The team had come prepared for the cold: gloves, wooly hats even tights were on display, but there wasn't a snood in sight - we all know FIFA has our best interests at heart.

We started in a 3-5-2 formation, with Brian as our stand-in keeper. The initial exchanges were made a little difficult by the low contrast in team colours: Kel Kau in white shirts and black shorts, MPS in grey shirts and black shorts. Planning?

In the opening 30 minutes there were half-chances at either end, but nothing especially dangerous. Andy eventually broke the deadlock with a goal directly from a corner. Five minutes later he bagged a second. Kirk drove down the right, pulled the ball back, and although Andy's first (right-footed) shot was blocked, his left-footed half-volley from the rebound landed in the bottom corner of the net. Choosing which foot to use proved a problem for Andy shortly afterwards. Kirk again crossed from the right and Andy, six yards out, stumbled before knocking the ball straight at the goalie.

A very different game emerged in the second half as some defensive frailty was exposed and we conceded a goal in first minute. Abdullah had a chance to restore the two-goal cushion when he stole the ball forty yards out, approached the goal and decided to shoot from the edge of the box. The shot was a beauty, heading for the top corner only for a post to get in the way. The ball ricocheted across the goal and Kirk, sprinting in from the left, drilled it over the bar.

Within ten minutes Kel Kau were level when Chris, eight yards out and attempting a clearance from the left side, did a Nani and found the head of a Kel Kau player at the back post. Things got worse when Kel Kau were let in on the left and scored from close range. Brian in goal pulled off a couple of great reaction saves in the meantime, tipping one shot over the bar, and getting down low to his right to push a close range shot around the post.

Karsten put us back on level terms when he headed in Abdullah's cross from the left, but minutes later couldn't clear a low cross at the other end that was met at the back post to win the game for Kel Kau.

Notes and observations: we need to tighten up the defence; at least Bardot didn't score.

Squad: Brian, Schect, Mike A, Tom, Kirk G, Abdullah, Andy, Karsten, Ivan, Chris, Steve S, Kirk N, Pedro, Samuel, Mick

Framingham 3 - 0 Newton

2010-11-18T22:06:00.003-05:00

We knew our play-off semi against Framingham would be a difficult game: defeats home and away in the spring were the only blemish on our spring OTHSL record in Div 1C. There was the challenge of the gargantuan Framingham pitch, where 15-a-side could comfortably play.That difficulty was compounded by the now familiar story of limited resources in the play-offs: just twelve brave souls turned out for the game. Where's the commitment? Anyone would think some of the players have lives outside of the OTHSL.

On to the management summary: after conceding an early goal, we struggled for much of the first half against a creative and highly mobile Framingham side. By playing a high back line in the second half we compressed the field and had some good chances, but we fell to a breakaway goal ten minutes from time, followed by a further disputed effort.

In the first fifteen minutes of the first half we barely touched the ball. Framingham made good use of the available space and passed slickly and confidently. By the ten-minute mark they'd had four or five clear chances, and the first goal was of a high calibre. The ball was played into the centre-forward from thirty yards out on our right side. Fifteen yards from the goal, he took the floated pass, running, on his right foot and drilled it with his left onto the base of Mike's right post and into the goal.

Mike O was in fine form, and made a couple of great saves to keep the deficit to the single goal. In one sequence he saved from the goal-scorer on his right, then blocked the rebound on his left.

We gradually started to get into the game and created some chances of our own. Driving in from left side, Pedro hit a powerful shot from the edge of the box, but it flew well over the crossbar. The Framingham defence is vulnerable in the air and many of chances were coming from using the space on the wings. Pedro chipped in a lovely cross from the right that Ivan headed over from fifteen yards. On the stroke of half-time Andy dropped an equally tantalising cross into the penalty area, but none of a trio of players could get a head to it.

We decided to play a much higher back line in the second half, and for thirty minutes or so it looked like it might pay dividends. We were also helped by the presence of linesmen who had no hesitation in raising their flags when Framingham tried to spring our offside trap.

Early in the half Samuel was played into the Framingham penalty area and watched as his clipped shot across the face of the goal drifted just wide of the far post. The Framingham defence was clearly rattled by the extra pressure, and were arguing as Samuel (?) took a quick free kick thirty yards out and picked out Steve S on the edge of the area. Steve also shot across the face goal, but his shot skidded back off the crossbar and dropped at the feet of Andy, five yards from goal. Surprise or momentum prevented him from controlling the ball, which rolled harmlessly off his foot and into the arms of the goalkeeper. Shortly afterwards another shot from the left (sorry, can't remember, claims in writing please) was blocked by the keeper and fell into Ivan's path, but he blazed over the bar from fifteen yards.

It was only a question of time before the Framingham attack broke through our high defence. Mike had already saved from a breakaway, and another attack had ended with a shot against the post that ran close to the goal-line before he smothered it. With about ten minutes left one of the midfielders beat the trap and slid the ball past the advancing Mike to put the game out of reach. A few minutes later a third was added, albeit controversially. The Framingham player may have been offside when the ball was played to him, but he certainly handled the ball before slotting it into the goal from close range. The referee acknowledged the infringement, but let the goal stand.

The end of another great season, and we can be proud of the way we played, particularly the second half of the calendar. No shame losing to a team of this quality - well played, boys.

Squad: Mike O, Kirk, Mike A, Tim R, Tom, Steve S, Andy, Ivan, Pap, Steve G, Pedro, Samuel

Newton 3 - 2 Stoughton

2010-11-07T21:55:00.007-05:00

Given that our Nahanton field was soft in August, after weeks of dry weather, it's hardly surprising that we played our final autumn season game against Stoughton on a heavy, sticky surface. We needed a win to be sure of topping the division ahead of Stoughton and the Cohasset hooligans, and we duly delivered.

Despite the heavy surface the game was played at a high tempo. We opened solidly, and had Stoughton on the back foot from the very beginning. They were playing an effective offside trap, but Ivan sprung it early on when he made an angled run into the box and Karsten flicked the ball to him with the outside of his boot. Ivan turned as he shot and drilled the ball low inside the left post.

The relentless pressure continued and Pedro hammered a free kick onto the crossbar, before hitting the underside of the bar from Chris's low cross just minutes later. Pap put us two goals ahead when he poked home a shot from close range. Pedro was in the action again when he rounded the keeper after a defensive error, but could only hit the side netting from a tight angle.

Mike was practically unemployed in the first half, and was well shielded by the boys in defence. In the second half Stoughton pressed more, and scored a good goal when a corner kick from the left was met with a powerful header into the top corner. We regained the two goal cushion when Pedro headed down at the back post and Karsten hooked the ball in from close range.

Ivan came close with two headers in quick succession. The first, from Pap's cross, was looping toward the top corner before the keeper pushed it around the post. Andy put the ensuing corner back onto Ivan's head, and his glanced contact was cleared off the line at the back post. Then Pap almost scored his second when he headed goalward at the back post, but he ball skidded off the crossbar and along the goal-line.

Stoughton scored again to make the final twenty minutes very tense. A defensive mix up left the Stoughton player with a sight of goal, and he poked the ball through a crowd and past Mike. With ten minutes left an in-swinging Stoughton corner was flicked on past Mike, but Tom was perfectly placed and reacted brilliantly to head off the line.

Five minutes from the end Andy released Ivan with a throw-in into the penalty area, and he was tripped as he turned toward goal. Pedro's penalty was struck too close to the keeper, though, and he parried the ball away. We kept possession well in the last minutes, and the final whistle confirmed us as division champions.

Squad: Mike O, Kirk, Schec, Mike A, Tom, Tim R, Andy, Karsten, Joe, Chris, Ivan, Pap, Steve G, Samuel, Pedro

Crafty Veterans 1 - Newton 2

2010-11-07T21:50:00.007-05:00

We played an intense and bad-tempered make-up game against Crafty Veterans on their turf on a wind-swept hill on Saturday afternoon. When the final whistle sealed our well-deserved victory some tempers boiled over and there were ugly scenes reminiscent of occurrences in English stadiums in the 70s and 80s. Perhaps this is where some of the Veterans learned their craft?

It was clear from the start that it would be a physical game with the Veterans serving up some nasty tackles. The early play was mostly in their half, and the defence was under continuous pressure. Although we held the ball well and passed crisply, we didn't really trouble the goalkeeper until Gary hit a low shot from just outside the area that the keeper gathered at the second attempt.

Crafty Veterans attacked well on the breakaway, and they had some opportunities in the middle of the half, most of which ended with the ball floating in the swamp behind Mike's goal.

The deadlock was broken when Pedro collected the ball 30 yards out on the left. He played a looped cross directly into the path of the inrushing Karsten, and he belted a half-volley into the goal. Early in the second half Gary's free-kick from the right caused confusion in the Vet's penalty area. The ball fell to Chris directly in front of goal and he bundled it home from close range

With fifteen minutes remaining CV were back in the game. A series of long throw-ins had been causing us defensive problems and eventually resulted in a goal, as a throw from the right was flicked past Mike's left shoulder and into the net.

As the Vets probed for an equaliser the tension rose, as did the number of heavy tackles. The referee had been lenient throughout the game, and completely lost control of the game in the closing minutes. After the final whistle was blown a mini riot erupted with the CV supporters (yes, there were quite a few) spilling onto the field. Bodies were milling in all directions as some of our players tried to avoid punches and kicks - not exactly family entertainment.

Squad: Mike O, Kirk, Schec, Mike A, Tom, Tim R, John, Gary, Karsten, Joe, Chris, Ivan, Samuel, Pedro

FUFC 1 - 5 Newton

2010-11-01T16:30:00.004-04:00

An outstanding first half helped us sweep past FUFC on Sunday. In perfect autumn conditions we worked well as a team and created some great flowing moves. The second half was less than perfect, shall we say: we give up an early goal, struggled for the first fifteen minutes and lost Peter to a nasty ankle injury late in the game.

We gave some early indications of intent when Karsten cut a shot just wide of the left post after just a couple of minutes, and Chris headed over from the penalty spot. Fifteen minutes in Tim R delivered a great angled cross from the left that Pedro met on the run to head into the corner. We suffered a minor aberration shortly afterwards that gave FUFC a chance through the middle. The player tried to round Mike on his right side but he tracked across and smothered the shot well.

Service was resumed when Chris played a wonderful 50 yard cross-field pass to Ivan on the left, only for his low cross to be cleared out for a corner. Then Andy chased down a ball to the bye-line on the right and played a low, flat cross between keeper and defenders. Steve G was the most alert and poked the ball home from close range. Our third goal followed a bit of ping-pong in the area. Pedro collected the ball on the left, moved a little to the centre and drilled a shot home.

Goal number four was real class: Andy collected the ball inside our half and played it forward to Ivan on the right wing. He took a touch and flicked the inside to Pedro, who ran the ball forward and played a slide-rule pass into the area. Karsten had timed his run perfectly and swivelled to shoot high past the keeper. Just before half-time we broke through the FUFC defence on the left, and Chris again showed great vision. He played an angled pass from thirty yards to Ivan sprinting in from the right, but a defender's last-gasp stretch blocked the ball.

In the second half FUFC started much more aggressively. We were more relaxed and gave up a goal in the first five minutes. The FUFC build-up was hardly disturbed by a series of half-hearted attempts to get the ball, but the final pass was quality. The centre-forward ran on and hit a low shot, unchallenged, under Mike. It could easily have been 4-2 shortly afterwards but for some outstanding cover by Tim R as yet again a player was given time and space in the box. He hit a low shot that beat Mike but was cleared by Tim sliding in on the goal-line.

The middle of the half was more balanced, and we moved the ball better, forcing FUFC to chase a little. Steve S lined himself up for a shot from the centre, 25 yards out, but skewed the ball wide. Peter found himself in space 20 yards out and hit a decent half-volley that had the keeper diving to his right. Unfortunately, this burst of athleticism caused some damage to Peter's tender old ankle, leaving him writhing in agony on the floor. There was a lengthy interlude for flashing lights, sirens, police presence and plentiful profanity, before Peter was stretchered away with the promise of some serious pain-killers.

Notable in the last fifteen minutes was our fifth goal, another quality finish to a good move. Chris and Tim linked up on the right and the ball was played cross-field to Andy. His well-struck shot was blocked and looped up into the centre of the penalty area, where Karsten flicked the ball into the top corner with a kung-fu-style kick.

Squad: Mike O, Kirk, Schecht, Mike A, Tim R, Tom, Peter, Andy, Steve S, Karsten, Chris, Ivan, Samuel, Pedro, Steve G

Irish Village 0 - 0 Newton

2010-10-24T22:47:00.004-04:00

We dropped two points in a frustrating game against Irish Village. We weren't helped by a poor playing surface (new: with 30% more stones!), our inability to hit the target (the goalkeeper was rarely troubled), and a small squad (just 12 brave souls again).

We created enough chances to win the game, but our inaccurate shooting left us goalless. The first half saw three excellent chances go begging in the space of twenty minutes. First Karsten received the ball in the centre, made himself some space and hit a good, low shot (on target) that the keeper could only parry away. Samuel was perfectly placed to get the rebound but lifted the ball over the empty goal from close range. Then Karsten got in behind the defence on the right and delivered a tantalising cross to the far post. Chris rose, unpressured, and put his header over the bar with the goal gaping. Finally, Steve S delivered a dangerous corner from the right that caused panic in the Village defence, and after being cleared off the goal line and pinging around the six-yard area the ball fell to Steve G, but he also hit his shot over the bar from close range.

We created a couple of other chances in the half, Steve G curling a shot over from 18 yards, and Ivan hitting a rocket from the edge of the area wide of the goal. Irish Village never seriously threatened, and when the ball did make its way into our half the back three (Schecht, Mike A, Tim R and Tom rotating) dealt with it easily.

The second half was even more frustrating, with fewer clear-cut chances for us and a couple of scares coming from IV. Joe hit a decent shot (on target) from 20 yards early in the half, but the IV keeper dealt with it easily. A goalmouth scramble following another Steve S corner saw the ball cleared off the line into a crowd of players from where it eventually emerged to spin wide. With ten minutes left Ivan was played through on the left by Joe. His touch running into the penalty area was a little heavy, but he was clipped on the ankle by a defender and fell. The referee waved play on, and Ivan was unable to protest because two IV defenders had him pinned to the ground.

The Village almost sneaked the game at the last. Mike made a brave save when the ball was played in from the right and a Village player collided with him, falling onto his back for his efforts. And with just minutes left a well-worked move gave their centre forward a free header which he directed just wide of Mike's left post.

Squad: Mike O, Mike A, Schecht, Tim R, Tom, Karsten, Steve S, Joe, Chris, Ivan, Steve G, Samuel

Newton 5 - 3 Medfield

2010-10-19T21:28:00.005-04:00

We played a good team game against Medfield on Sunday, but a comedy of errors in defence and host of spurned chances up front made our task more difficult than it needed to be.

We started solidly and took an early lead when Karsten latched onto a ball spilled by the Medfield keeper. We were completely in control of the game but our lead lasted perhaps ten minutes. The Nahanton surface is seldom what can be described as smooth, but after the weekend's rain it was quickly cut up in the opening minutes. When Schecht, 25 yards from our goal and under light pressure, played the ball back to Mike, it bobbled a couple of times and Mike mistimed his clearance. The ball went directly to a Medfield player on the edge of the box who promptly scored.

Five minutes later Tom was dispossessed on the right just outside the box and the ball was quickly crossed into the penalty area. Mike blocked the first shot but the rebound was pushed into the net. It could have got worse shortly afterwards when a Medfield forward volleyed a shot from 10 yards, but Mike made a fine reaction save with his knees.

We started to come back into the game when Gary was fouled in a central position as he ran towards the Medfield penalty area. Pedro hit the free kick low around the wall into the right corner. Shortly afterwards he hit the crossbar from an almost identical situation.

Medfield took the lead again when Gary's clearance only reached the edge of the box. An accurately hit shot was curled around Mike and into far corner. We were back on level terms shortly before half time when Andy released Samuel on the left and Gary was first to his looping cross, thumping a shot into the roof of the net.

Medfield tired in the second half and we maintained fairly constant pressure, but couldn't convert our chances. Pedro twice headed wide from decent positions, and Gary also powered a header off the mark. Samuel hit the top of the crossbar after a smartly taken indirect free kick, and drilled a shot just wide of the near post from Ivan's low near-post cross. Finally, we regained the lead when Gary hit a free kick that the keeper spilled, and Steve G was perfectly placed to tuck away the rebound.

Desperate for an equaliser, Medfield pushed forward and created a few half chances, but some dour defending kept them at bay. With five minutes remaining they were still pushing to level the scores, until Mike Althcek started a move that wrapped up the game. His pass straight up the middle found Samuel unmarked just inside our half, and the Bionic Man ran with the ball towards the Medfield goal. The keeper raced off his line and saved Samuel's shot on the edge of the area, but the rebound fell to Karsten, who calmly lofted the ball over the keeper and into the goal.

Squad: Mike O, Mike A, Schecht, Tom, Tim R, Pap, Gary, Peter, Steve S, Andy, Ivan, Karsten, Steve G, Pedro, Samuel

Stoughton 1 - 0 Newton

2010-10-04T20:44:00.004-04:00

Stoughton's field has improved slightly since we last played there, some plant-life now covering the most of the uneven surface. We started Sunday's game with a minimal squad, twelve players present at the kick-off, with two late arrivals improving the numbers slightly. Just how big is our roster this season?

The entire game was something of a dour battle, with few chances created, much less converted. The referee introduced a whole new level of randomness to the proceedings, frequently stopping the game and leaving both teams bemused by his decisions.

Stoughton started with some slick passing moves, making neat triangles down the wings and mixing it up with some dangerous diagonal passes. We weathered the early storm well and the game then settled into a pattern where the ball moved mostly between penalty areas. In one of the rare good chances Mike O made another of his trademark saves, dashing from his line to block a pass to an advancing forward at the top of the penalty box. At the other end, Steve S started a move by cushioning a header to the feet of Andy, who played in Steve G, but his shot went wide of the right post. Stoughton, in turn, had a chance when a cross drilled from the left went across the goal. Tom thought about sticking a leg out, fortunately thought the better of it (certain own-goal) and ball skidded past him and the Stoughton player at the far post.

A bizarre sequence of events occurred with just a few minutes left in the half. The Stoughton keeper blocked a shot and dropped the ball right in front of Samuel, 4 yards out. Time (and everyone else) stood still as Samuel waited for the ball to bounce, hesitated, then poked the ball straight at the keeper who pawed it into the path of the onrushing Joe. The ball was duly dispatched into the net, but the referee considered Joe to have been offside. No amount of argument could convince the ref that Joe couldn't have been offside as he was behind Samuel when the keeper made the second save. The ensuing free kick was played across the goal straight back to Samuel standing just inside the box, but the referee felt the kick should have left the penalty area. Stoughton took the ball again and punted a long ball upfield. Kirk advanced, the ball bounced in front of and over him, and the Stoughton forward ran on and beat Mike with a low shot: a bad end to the half.

We upped the tempo a little in the second half, but still had difficulty in making a breakthrough. A square ball across the top of the penalty area was deflected out to Joe, but he couldn't keep his half-volley down. Pedro made himself some space on the right and advanced on goal but hit his shot over from ten yards. Later he supplied a cross from the left that Samuel headed wide with the goal gaping. Tim Rosa also had a decent effort from the edge of the box that flew wide.

We can complain about the poor standard of the refereeing, but the incorrect decisions didn't cost us the game: our inability to score took care of that.

Squad: Mike O, Pap, Tom, Mike A, Tim R, Kirk, Steve S, Andy, Ivan, Tim T, Joe, Samuel, Steve G, Pedro

Newton 3 - 1 FUFC

2010-09-26T21:48:00.008-04:00

We turned up to our second home game to find the pitch had rotated back to its original orientation - better for the goalkeepers, more difficult for the wingers. Our line-up for the game against FUFC was minimalist, just 12.5 able-bodied players.

The pattern of the game was very similar to last week: we dominated the opening half hour, eased off at the end of the half, struggled at the beginning of the second, then finished strongly.

We took an early lead when Gary drove through the centre before cutting the ball square to Karsten, who took a touch on the edge of the box before drilling in a low shot. A second goal almost came immediately afterwards when Ivan robbed a defender from the keeper's throw, but his snap-shot from the edge of the area hit the outside of the post. We didn't have to wait much longer before adding to the tally, though. Steve Shea put a cross in from the left, and when a multi-player collision ensued in front of goal, the ball ran back out to Steve who blasted through the crowd from a narrow angle. Shortly afterwards Pedro played a wonderful back-post cross that Samuel hooked over his head and wide. Get the knee above the shoulder next time, Samuel. Then Pedro was sent through by Karsten, moved past his defender and, with only the keeper to beat, slid the ball just past the post. Someone buy that man a protractor.

Mid-way through the half we went three goals to the good when the FUFC keeper fumbled a shot. Karsten pounced on the rebound and had his shot blocked, but Ivan side-footed the rebound of the rebound into the net from 8 yards.

We eased off the pressure and allowed FUFC to build some moves. Just before half-time Schecht was dispossessed with a sliding tackle close to the bye-line, the ball was brought out to create an angle and a shot was drilled high into the net to reduce the deficit.

FUFC attacked hard from the outset of the second half. We struggled to hold the ball and much of our defensive work was desperate. The defining moment came after about fifteen minutes when a cross from our right side was partially cleared and an FUFC player drilled a half-volley goalwards through a crowd of players. Mike made a stunning save low to his right, then blocked the rebound from one of the three advancing players, before gaining control of the ball by sitting on it.

After that shock we regained our composure and started to move the ball, making FUFC work harder. Pedro dropped a lovely corner at the back post for Gary, but his powerful header was off target. Schecht made a rare foray into attack, played a one-two with Ivan at the edge of the area and hammered in a low shot that the keeper did well to turn around the post. Pedro put in another lovely back-post cross and Ivan clattered a header against the angle of post and crossbar. In the dying minutes, Steve Shea made a wonderful run down the left into the penalty area, turning this way and that before finally running out of angle and hitting his shot at the keeper.

Squad: Mike O, Schecht, Mike A, Kelvin, Pap, Tom, Gary, Karsten, Ivan, Steve S, Samuel, Pedro, Steve (the .5) G

Newton 2 - 0 Irish Village

2010-09-19T21:38:00.006-04:00

Our Sunday outing was a hard game on a soft field. We welcomed Joe back from a spell in the co-ed wilderness, and Peter put in one of his occasional appearances.

Irish Village are a physical team, and they put in a typically robust, fighting performance. After two early goals we seemed to be cruising and looking to rack up a few more, but from the end of the first half we struggled to play any sort of passing game.

In the early stages of the game we pinned IV into their own half. A lot of the action came down the left side: Steve Gans had an early chance when he met Samuel's cross, but his header flew across the face of the goal. With less than ten minutes on the clock Ivan flicked the ball out to Samuel wide on the left. He carried the ball into the area and put in a cross for the resurgent Joe to head low into the corner. Five minutes later Samuel pulled the ball back to Ivan on the left corner of the penalty area, and he squared to Karsten. His first shot was blocked, but his second effort flew low past the keeper.

Other goalmouth highlights from the first half: Karsten diving to head a low cross that the keeper blocked at his left post; Karsten's lovely through ball that was picked up by Pedro, who beat his man only to slide the ball past the keeper and outside the post; and Peter collecting the ball in the middle in front of goal and, with Samuel and Pedro pulling the defenders wide, shooting over the crossbar.

There were also some interesting antics at the back. Mike O showed he may have some Colombian heritage as he collected a back-pass, rounded an advancing IV player and carried the ball 35 yards from his goal before laying off a pass. Later, a misunderstanding between the Mikes almost let in an IV player, but Mike O dropped on the ball after IV player took a touch. The ref saw it otherwise and gave a free kick for a back-pass, which IV shot over the bar.

In the second half IV pushed further up the field and caused us a lot of problems. At times we seemed to be playing some sort of 8-0-2 formation, with large gaps in our midfield, but we still created chances. Karsten had a good penalty shout rejected when he was axed down after getting past the last defender. Andy had a pop from more than 35 yards, and the keeper, with the sun in his eyes, did well to tip it over the crossbar. Kirk almost scored a spectacular goal after turning up, stealth mode, at the far post to connect with Andy's corner, but his volley flashed across the face of the goal. Tom had a decent hit from the edge of the area that flew over the bar. Ivan cut inside from the left and hit a low shot that the keeper turned around the far post.

The last quarter hour saw us doing some fairly frantic defending to keep IV at bay. They could have had at least one goal in the last fifteen but for good work by Mike O, Schect, Mike A and Tim Rosa in defence.

Not a totally convincing result, then, but three points in the bag, lots of chances created and our first clean sheet of the season.

Squad: Mike O, Mike A, Schect, Tim R, Kirk, Tom, Peter, Joe, Karsten, Ivan, Andy, Victor, Steve S, Pedro, Samuel, Steve G

Medfield 1 - 1 Newton

2010-09-12T12:59:00.008-04:00

A cool September morning, and just about enough of us turned up on time to kick off against Medfield on their immaculately groomed field. Medfield almost took the lead in the first minute when Mike A's generous pass to the feet of the tall forward set up a shooting opportunity, but he rushed his shot and sent it wide of Mike's right post.

Once the nerves had settled we built some chances. Steve G picked up Samuel's fine cross at the back post, and skewed his shot just wide of the post. Ivan received from Chris on the right side of the Medfield area, but his shot on the turn was well over the bar. Samuel received the ball at the back post, couldn't get the ball from beneath his feet, and the ensuing shot spun wide. Notice a pattern developing here?

At the other end, Mike made a fine save low to his left after a drilled shot from the edge of the area. Mid-way through the half he produced a brave stop at the feet of the speedy Medfield striker who'd burst into the area. By half-time this had turned into a finely balanced game

We started the second better than the first - no give-aways, for a start. We worked better and towards the middle of the half we were creating good chances. Victor drilled a shot just wide. A little later the ball was squared to Chris on the edge of the area, but his shot was screwed wide of the left post.

A sweeping move led to our goal: Ivan intercepted a pass on the left in our third, played the ball up the wing to Samuel, who cut it inside to Karsten. He pushed a pass forward to Pedro who outpaced his marker and smacked a clean shot past the helpless Medfield keeper.

We had another couple of opportunities after the goal. Steve Shea had a pop from thirty yards that dipped and would have gone in had the keeper not been paying attention. And Karsten made a strong run down the left wing and cut a wonderful cross for Pedro to head just over under pressure. Also noteworthy: Kirk made a brief cameo appearance in defence at this stage.

With fifteen minutes remaining we lost our way a little, resorting to long balls from defence, allowing Medfield to build from the back. Honourable mentions for Schect and Tom for a couple of important interceptions at this stage. Mike O kept us in the game with another brave save at the feet of the fast Medfield forward, then was alert when their right winger cut inside and hit a powerful shot. With ten left Medfield equalised: a long ball was flicked on and the tall striker had the composure to slot the ball just pass Mike.

This was a fair result given the performance of both teams. We should perhaps work on getting our shots on target before our next game.

Squad: Mike O, Schect, Tom, Tim R, Mike A, Kelvin, Karsten, Andy, Chris, Ivan, Steve G, Steve S, Victor, Samuel, Pedro

Newton 2 - 4 Crafty Veterans

2010-09-12T12:58:00.003-04:00

Such terseness, such brevity from the pen of our dear leader:

2 great crosses by Mick and Brads that both ended up in back of the net. Well done lads.

Spring 2010 Season Recap

2010-09-12T12:57:00.012-04:00

Another successful season rolled by with another top position for the team. Here's a review of our results in Spring 2010:

Newton	2:3	Framingham
Medfield	1:3	Newton
Newton	1:0	Stoughton
Hudson	2:4	Newton
Newton	5:2	Irish Village
Framingham	3:1	Newton
Newton	4:2	Medfield
Stoughton	1:2	Newton
Newton	2:0	Hudson
Irish Village	0:3	Newton

Top of the goal-scoring heap was Karsten, with an impressive total of 10 for the season: a worthy winner of the Golden ~~Boot~~ Ball

Karsten	10
Pedro	5
Bardot	3
Andy	2
Chris	2
Pap	2
Samuel	1
Steve C	1

Play-off semi-final: Newton 1 - 3 Concord

2010-06-21T23:49:00.006-04:00

Something's wrong with this picture: the play-off semi-finals, with home advantage, and as the ref starts the game we have one substitute while Concord have an entire team on the bench. Even at 8am the heat was intense, and we made our task more difficult by wearing our heat-absorbing black shirts. A hard morning's work was in store.

Our start was more characteristic of the beginning of the season: we were slow to the ball, allowing Concord to press. Within ten minutes Concord took the lead when a player burst through from the edge of the area, skirted a few soft tackles and struck a weak shot from 12 yards that somehow crept in at Samuel's left post.

Not long afterwards Samuel did an Iker Casillas imitation (Spain v Switzerland): as a Concord player chased down a through-ball, Samuel rushed out of his goal and attempted to block with his feet. The ball spun outside the penalty area where, luckily, the onrushing Concord player blasted the ball at his team-mate.

We began to take more control and for the last 25 minutes of the half we didn't give Concord any time on the ball - Joe and Steve harried the Concord midfield whenever they had the ball. Our best chances came mid-way through the half: Ivan had a pop from 20 yards that was top-corner-bound, but the Concord keeper easily plucked it out of the air. Shortly afterwards Bardot collected a poor Concord goal kick, drove straight into their penalty area and thumped a shot from a tight angle that their keeper could only parry into the net: think Maicon (Brazil v N. Korea) meets Snijder (Netherlands v Japan). Minutes later Bardot laid the ball off from the top of the D right into Ivan's path, but his rushed shot almost cleared the trees. For the remainder of the half we had all the possession but created few clear-cut chances. Mick took to shooting from distance; his last effort, launched from the proximity of the centre circle, skidded wide.

We had the perfect start to the second half when Victor danced through a forest of Concord defenders to meet a cross from the left (Bardot? Pap?) at the far post and bundle the ball over the line. Unfortunately (think USA v Slovenia here) the linesman and ref felt that Victor had been in an offside position and the goal was disallowed.

The game lapsed into a stalemate with most of the play occurring between the penalty areas and neither team able to make a decisive final pass. Apart from smothering a low cross from the left, Samuel had nothing more than routine work to do in goal. As time wore on our legs began to wear down. Twenty minutes from the end a Concord free kick from forty yards out on the left dropped around our penalty area, and the only person in the vicinity was the Concord number 16, who easily nodded the ball past Samuel.

As we pressed for a late equaliser, Concord broke down our left side and a powerful shot was delivered from the edge of the area just inside Samuel's right post. The minutes before and after the final whistle yielded some unsavoury moments and histrionics (think Nicolas Anelka, perhaps) - quel dommage!

With more players we surely would have had the beating of Concord, but in the end we simply ran out of steam. Still, another fine season to be proud of: well done boys.

Squad: Samuel, Kirk, Mick, Mike A, Tim R, Kelvin, Joe, Steve S, Pap, Ivan, Victor, Steve S, Bardot

Irish Village 0 - 3 Newton: Champions!

2010-06-13T21:45:00.006-04:00

Our mid-week game on Stoughton's awful pitch set us up nicely for the truly dreadful field that Irish Village had booked for our Sunday game. Heavy rain had made the few patches of grass slick, but mostly the surface was uneven mud. A win here would confirm us as division champs, but a dour defensive display by Irish Village made it difficult.

The Villagers only had 11 players and defended capably for the first half. They had one cast-iron chance, when a free-kick from outside the box on the right was glanced onto the underside of the crossbar by Mike O.

At the other end there was plenty of good goalkeeping too. The keeper touched Mick's header onto the crossbar, Bardot's shot onto a post and another shot by Mick from fully 25 yards on the post. The keeper was proving to be Bardot's nemsis as he turned numerous shots around the posts and over the bar. There was plenty of desperate defending, but we couldn't prise an opening in the first 45.

The second half was more of the same as the Village people were pinned into their own half for long periods. Samuel had two fine chances directly in front of goal, the service each time coming from Bardot on the right, but his touch was heavy on the first pass, then he miscued from close range on the second. Finally, midway through the half Schect hit a free-kick from the right near the half-way line to the edge of the IV area. Samuel touched the ball back and Karsten struck an inch-perfect left-footed drive that went in off the base of the post. A couple of minutes later Pap played a cross from the left that took the keeper by surprise as it bounced in front of him and directly into the roof of the net.

To their credit IV didn't give up and kept pressing to stay in the game. The referee gave them a generous penalty when one of their players headed the ball onto Steve Gans' arm, but Mike was equal to the kick and also bravely gathered the ball at the second attempt.

Another Karsten goal wrapped the game up shortly afterwards. He didn't make great contact with the ball from ten yards out, but it looped up and over the keeper into the net.

Squad: Mike O, Schect, Mick, Tim R, Mike A, Pap, Andy, Joe, Karsten, Steve G, Ivan, Tim T, Victor, Bardot, Samuel

Stoughton 1 - 2 Newton

2010-06-10T22:07:00.005-04:00

After a couple of false starts ten days ago and a forfeit from Hudson, we clinched a play-off place with a hard-fought victory over Stoughton on a rain-swept... what was it, exactly, that we played on? There was a slope into the bushes on one side, and the odd rock showed through a surface that was unevenly covered with what looked like sea urchins or dishwashing brushes. The field hardly improved the quality of the game, which was scrappy and disjointed.

Stoughton started the game with only nine players and we piled on the pressure to try to score an early goal. In the first couple of minutes Victor cut in from the right and pulled the ball back to Ivan, who hit a dipping shot from 20 yards that almost surprised the keeper. As Stoughton got up to full strength Karsten came close when his far-post header from a right-side corner was tipped onto the crossbar by the keeper. Karsten then made a good run down the left and cut the ball inside for Bardot, but his shot hit the side netting. We eventually opened the scoring from a set-piece: Mick drove in a free kick from the right side and Karsten connected about eight yards out to flick the ball past the keeper.

Stoughton played a very physical game, and there was some drama when one of their backs wrestled Pedro to the ground. The ref eventually resumed control and the game went on. Towards the end of the half Mick was floored by a disgraceful two-footed lunge that merited worse punishment than the yellow card the ref produced.

Although we kept the ball in the Stoughton half for most of the first period, they had a couple of fast forwards who were always dangerous on the break. Mike A and Pap made some timely interceptions from the wings and Mick and Ivan stood firm in the centre; Mike O in goal had little to do. With just seconds left in the half, though, Stoughton equalised with their first real chance, a solid header from a corner on our right side.

The second half was a little more balanced as we tired in the difficult conditions. Stoughton started to hold the ball better, but our defence cut out most attacks before they became too threatening. We were fairly toothless in attack, although Bardot had a good pop when he picked up a loose ball thirty yards out and hit a daisy-cutter just wide of the post with the keeper beaten.

With about ten minutes remaining Mick intercepted a pass just inside our area, juggled the ball between two Stoughton players, and sprayed a perfect pass out to the right wing. Joe (I'm reliably informed) collected the ball and played it forward to Pedro, who slipped as he tried to get around the keeper. He got quickly to his feet but was felled again, this time by the Stoughton goalie: penalty, perhaps the only favourable decision we got from the ref in the second half. Pedro took the kick himself, calmly slotting into the left corner.

With the clock ticking down, Stoughton pushed forward and almost equalised when Mike O advanced to collect a tame cross. The ball bounced off one of those sea urchins and skidded past Mike's right hand. Luckily, the lurking Stoughton attacker was equally surprised and Pedro cleared the ball to safety. At the other end, Bardot made a weaving run on the right that took him past defenders to the bye-line, from where he pulled the ball back for Karsten to tap in. What was a perfectly good goal was bizarrely disallowed by the ref, claiming that Karsten had been offside. In the end it made no difference as we confirmed a play-off spot and now have a chance to win the division.

Squad: Mike O, Mick, Pap, Mike A, Tim R, Ivan, Andy, Karsten, Joe, Victor, Tim T, Steve G, Pedro, Bardot
Moral support: Kirk

Newton 4 - 2 Medfield

2010-05-23T21:21:00.005-04:00

Clearly dissatisfied with the uneven surface of our Nahanton field, the ground staff seemed to have resorted to some sort of micro-ploughing, which left thousands of small earth cylinders on top of the grass. While this looked like it would further disrupt the run of the ball, when combined with the dry conditions of a lovely spring morning it gave us the season's best surface for our home game against Medfield.

In the opening exchanges we were looking the more dangerous, with Bardot very active and working hard. Up front, Medfield had their big target man (who missed the game five weeks ago), and a quick, skilful centre forward in blue boots. Medfield's attacks mostly involved picking out one of the forward pair, who would attempt to lay the ball off to onrushing players. Our defence, in particular the excellent Schect, had this completely under control and gave Medfield few glimpses of goal.

In the space of ten minutes in the middle of the first half we cruelly exposed some of Medfield's defensive deficiencies.

First Samuel crossed from the left, finding Andy unmarked about fifteen yards out. His shot wasn't the most powerful he's delivered this season, but was perfectly placed just inside the post, and although the keeper got his fingertips to it he couldn't keep it out.

Another high ball into the area was partially cleared, but then Karsten went all Klaus Fischer: with his back to goal, and the Medfield defence watching in disbelief, he executed an overhead kick that dropped the ball just inside the left post.

Just a few minutes later, Pedro picked up the ball inside the Medfield half and flighted a long diagonal cross to Samuel on the left. Having taken some flak earlier in the season for close range misses, Samuel silenced his critics with a powerful volley from twelve yards that was past the keeper before he'd moved.

Medfield came into the game more at the end of the first half, but were held in check by some excellent defensive work. At the start of the second half they started to apply more effective pressure. The passes to the front men were more accurate, and we started giving up the ball cheaply by resorting to long ball tactics. Mike made a number of saves from low shots at his near post, and parried a fine shot that had been destined for the top right corner of his goal. About twenty minutes in, Medfield saw a glimmer of hope when they scored with a looping header after a pinball session of headers in our penalty area.

Medfield's hopes were sunk within a minute by Pedro, though. He collected the ball about 35 yards out, took a few steps forward and launched a torpedo that sat neatly in the bottom left-hand corner of the Medfield goal.

With the three goal lead reinstated, we played more comfortably and held the ball for long periods, forcing Medfield to chase. They pulled a goal back from a corner with about 15 minutes left, but couldn't make any further impression on our defence.

Squad: Mike O, Schect, Pedro, Mike A, Kelvin, Pap, Tim R, Andy, Karsten, Joe D, Chris, Ivan, Tim T, Victor, Bardot, Samuel, Steve G

Framingham 3 - 1 Newton

2010-05-16T22:07:00.003-04:00

What a glorious morning for a game of football: balmy temperatures prevailed and a slight breeze sighed as we prepared to play on Framingham's immense billiard-table-smooth pitch. This report may prove totally inaccurate as some of the action was taking place at distances that required binoculars to see.

Framingham play a fast passing game and they started in the same fashion as in the season-opener in Newton, pushing the ball around with quick, accurate passes. It's a measure of how we've improved since then that we absorbed the early pressure well and created chances of our own. One approach that worked well against Framingham's compact defence was to play the ball over the top to a runner, and Steve Shea had our first chance in this fashion. Running on to a clever lobbed pass, he forced a fingertip save from the keeper as he shot for the far corner. Our goal came from a very similar move as Andy played Karsten in behind the defence and he beat the keeper with his shot into the right corner.

As the half progressed Framingham started constructing more dangerous moves but were being closed down around our penalty area. A few long range shots didn't trouble Mike, but close to the end of the half they hit the underside of the crossbar after a swift build-up. At the end of the half we were probably deserving of our lead, but only just.

Rather than slowing the pace in the second half, as many believed they would, Framingham started applying more pressure. As they pushed more and more into our half, our play began to break down, with the consequence being yet more pressure. We resorted to long-ball tactics and the results were predictably disappointing, the ball mostly returning to Framingham's possession. Mid-way through the half nerves were jangling when Ivan blocked a ten-yard shot on the line with his knee.

With less than twenty minutes remaining Framingham made their breakthrough. The striker affectionately know as Dredds was played into the right side of the area and seemed to be lining up a shot, but stopped and rolled the ball along the six-yard line for a simple tap-in by one of the legion of waiting players. Five minutes later they took the lead when their most impressive player ran into the right side of our area and slotted a perfect shot past Mike and in off the far post.

Around this time one of the most bizarre incidents of the season occurred: a crowd invasion, vaguely reminiscent of the English game in the early '80s. Steve C won the ball with a hard challenge, but was deliberately kicked as he took the ball away. The ref stopped play, booked the Framingham player and awarded us a free kick. Steve C moved over to the right wing, and was subjected to a barrage of abuse and, if I'm not mistaken, a missile in the shape of a water bottle, as the mob on the sideline lost all concept of reality.

A goal down, we started fighting more aggressively and created a few good opportunities. Three players missed chances coming in from the left side: Karsten narrowly missed the target with a low shot; Chris hit the side netting; and Steve G hammered his shot over the bar.

With five minutes remaining we continued to press for an equaliser, but Framingham scored on the break, the forward cutting inside from the left and drilling in a shot from twenty yards.

A disappointing result, then, but we were beaten by the better team, which is no reason to pout, stamp feet, or throw tantrums.

Squad: Mike O, Mike A, Tim R, Pedro, Mick, Kirk, Ivan, Kelvin, Chris, Joe, Andy, Karsten, Steve C, Tim T, Steve G, Steve S, Bardot, Victor

MPS Newton 5 - 2 Irish Village

2010-05-09T22:41:00.005-04:00

Unlike our earlier games in the season, we made a confident start against Irish Village on Sunday, passing the ball cleanly and moving well for each other. Before Village's first attack, commentators on the sideline were discussing the probable slowness of the rather rotund Village centre forward. He promptly showed some deft footwork and slotted a wonderful pass between Mick and Kirk. The winger collected the ball, rounded Mike and slotted home from a tight angle: we were a goal down within five minutes.

Happily, we continued in the same style as before, with Chris and Steve C both delivering useful crosses from moves that made use of the width. We levelled the scores after 10 minutes when Chris turned a defender on the left and hit a low cross into the box. It was just ahead of Steve Gans, but perfect for Karsten who fired home easily from close range.

We took the lead ten minutes later when Bardot shook off the attentions of a defender and squared the ball to Andy. From his favoured position 25 yards out he curled a lovely left-footed shot over the keeper and into the net.

We were using the wings well, but our moves were tending to break down around the penalty area as the Village players crowded us out. Mike A had a good run from the half-way line, then made his trademark play: get into a good shooting position, then loop the ball onto the crossbar.

Shortly before half time Karsten came steaming in from the left, and looked set to drill the ball into the top corner. Instead, whether by accident or design, his shot deceived everyone and trickled inside the near post.

Karsten wrapped up his hat-trick early in the second half after Bardot had blocked a clearance. Karsten ran onto the loose ball and calmly knocked his shot past keeper. More good work by Bardot, a turning flick-on from the edge of the area, set Karsten free behind the defence once more and he put his shot out of the keeper's reach again. At this point he was also subbed out to give others a fighting chance for the Golden Boot.

We had many more chances during the second half, squandering some in profligate fashion. Somebody (Chris?) hit the crossbar, Tim T had a header cleared off the line and Victor's shot across the face of goal couldn't be turned in by Steve C or Andy. Sam's run of close range misses continued, his partner in crime this week being Steve Gans. With the goalkeeper seemingly helpless the pair delivered what can safely be called a pass-back straight to the keeper.

A couple of minutes before the end we conceded a silly goal. Ivan hesitated before trying to clear the ball from the edge of the area with a header. The ball was knocked back in and Tim R couldn't quite reach the midfielder who shot past Mike.

Squad: Mike O, Pedro, Kirk, Mick, Mike A, Tim R, Ivan, Andy, Joe, Karsten, Steve C, Tim T, Chris, Samuel, Victor, Steve G, Bardot.

Hudson 2 - 4 Newton

2010-05-02T21:52:00.004-04:00

Hudson had raked their pitch since the last time we played there, and it seemed dry on the surface, but there was the usual small pond in the centre of the field. The week of fine weather also brought out the flies, and they turned out to be a much bigger irritation than the Hudson team.

We started slowly and gave away the ball regularly in the opening ten minutes. Hudson had us pinned back in our own half, and we couldn't seem to bring any composure to our play. This period culminated with the opening Hudson goal: a striker was played through on the edge of the penalty area and spun quickly around Mike as he came out of goal to meet him. The forward then hit a tantalisingly slow shot towards goal. Kelvin chased the ball and looked to have caught it, but just failed to make contact before it crossed the line - keep working on those sprints, Kelvin.

The goal woke us from our slumbers and energised the whole team: the remainder of the first half was a fine display of teamwork, accurate passing and clinical finishing.

We equalised within a couple of minutes when Bardot collected the ball inside the Hudson penalty area. While most of the Hudson players howled offside, Bardot muscled past a defender and drilled in a low shot. The keeper got down well but could only push the ball against the post. It rebounded along the line and Steve C beat the Hudson defender to poke the ball in at the other post.

Five minutes later Andy took a corner from the right, and Chris found himself in acres of space at back post. He directed an accurate and powerful header into the gaping goal.

Shortly afterwards Steve Gans knocked in a cross after good work on the wing. The ball was partially cleared, then blocked on the edge of the area, and it skidded to Bardot in his favourite space: from about 15 yards out on the right he rifled a shot into the top left corner.

Just before half time Karsten latched onto a ball just inside the Hudson half and carried the ball to their penalty area. With Samuel making a useful diversionary run, Karsten made one final turn past the defender and struck the sweetest low shot between the outstretched hand of the keeper and the far post.

Hudson started the second half with more intent, and started hustling down the lines. They applied much more consistent pressure than in the first half, and for a spell mid-way through it was reminiscent of the second half of our game last season. They were at their most dangerous from set-pieces. A 25-metre free-kick in the first half had already glanced the crossbar, and another in the second was tipped over by Mike. They pulled a goal back from a corner: the ball was cleared to the edge of the box but was thumped back in over heads and Mike's stretching arms. Pedro, playing as sweeper for the resting Kirk, made a number of very timely tackles in our penalty area. We lived dangerously when Mike got down well to a low shot and the Hudson stopper hit the rebound into the side netting.

Our second-half chances came in breakaways, and we should have made more of them. Has Samuel lost his knack of scoring from within spitting distance of goal? He contrived to hit the crossbar from a distance of 1 metre (possibly less), then muscled aside the challenge of Tim T to hit a shot straight at the keeper from 3 metres. Ces headed wide from a good far-post cross, and Bardot was thwarted by the keeper after he'd been set free down the right side.

Other highlights of the game included Joe's Stanley Matthews impersonation and, less amusingly, at least four yellow cards.

Squad: Mike O, Mike A, Kirk, Kelvin, Ivan, Mick, Tim T, the Steves (C, G, & S), Joe, Chris, Pedro, Karsten, Samuel, Bardot

Newton 1 – 0 Stoughton

2010-04-27T23:58:00.002-04:00

We came out on top 1 – 0 in an interesting match with a determined Stoughton team. Stoughton brought their 0-1-1 record and loud parking lot music to an 8 am game that seemed a bit early for them (they seem to prefer a 10 am starting time). According to Mike A, the weather was "perfect" – about 55 degrees at game time and "perfectly overcast" so that the sun would not have an impact on the game.

After a few minutes where each team got used to the bumpy pitch and yet another flat South African ball, Stoughton had the first good chance, but Mike came out of his goal and whisked the ball away. Soon after, the play of the game appeared out of nowhere. Steve Shea sent an ambitious yet impeccable 30+ yard pass up the line to a streaking Bardot. After a few touches, Bardot found Pedro in front of the goal. Pedro patiently turned and beat the defender and goal tender with a low, accurate shot.

After the goal, we controlled the ball for much of the half and had several scoring opportunities. (If Ivan were at the game, he would have remembered all of them, especially his own.) Standouts, at least for the stand-in blogger, include Bardot drilling one from the right side, Pedro nearly scoring on a rebound, Karsten dribbling to an open space and shooting left footed (but just wide), and Mick booming one over the post. Another highlight included Andy’s corner, which from mid-field looked solid, if it were not for the tree that reached out and grabbed the ball. For most of the first half, Stoughton could only muster some long shots that Mike found straightforward to bring in. In the last ten minutes, Stoughton applied more pressure, especially on counter attacks, but did not really make any of our devoted fans nervous.

For much of the second half, we kept the pressure on and generated several corner kicks and other crosses, many from Andy. On many of these, balls were finding the well positioning foreheads of men wearing white, but the ball did not find the back of the net. Perhaps we can get MPS out for a heading drill before the next game. There also were many other opportunities – each player interviewed by the stand-in blogger after the game (Bardot, Chris, Karsten) believed that they had at least 2 great chances to put one in during the second half. Andy nearly put in an unexpected one when our offense, including Sam, did a great job pressuring their defense's attempts to get the ball out of their end, but his 15 yard deflection of the goalie’s attempted clear went a bit wide.

Stoughton demonstrated its determination to find the equalizer in various ways – more energetic play than was seen in the first half, long passes to forwards, two yellow cards, and some colorful verbal assaults (one MPS player was told that he came to the game in dirty pants). For the last twenty minutes (maybe it was not this long, but it seemed really long), our play was a bit ragged – we gave the ball away several times in the mid-field. Stoughton continued to press. They had three good chances to score – on a break-away Mike came swiftly out of the net and pulled the ball away just in time; on a play where both passes were off-sides, Mike once again came out and grabbed the ball away; and on a 20 yard roller that looked like it might find the left corner, an outstretched diving Mike pushed the ball away, and then with Tim’s help was able to pounce on it before a Stoughton player could play it back in. Meanwhile, we had a few good opportunities to score – on several counter attacks and a nifty 50 yard one-toucher from the right side-line from Andy when the goalie was out of the net.

All-in-all, a good effort and one that certainly counts for three points in the tables. But not as much to show for some very good play in the middle of first half and beginning of the second half as we would probably like to see. (And some ragged play in the second half.) Some wondered if we didn’t have the best goalie in the world of over-40s men’s soccer, the score could have easily been Newton 5 (or more) – 2.

While many members of the offense could have been the player or players of the game given the several opportunities that we developed, Mike wins that prize for his dazzling stops in the second half that preserved the win.

Squad: Mike O, Mike A, Tim R, John, Kelvin, Kirk, Mick, Chris, Andy, Steve S, Victor, Pedro, Bardot, Karsten, Samuel

Medfield 1 (0) - (0) 3 Newton

2010-04-18T18:45:00.005-04:00

We won our first Div. 1 points with a fine team performance at rain-soaked Medfield. When the game started the ball was skidding quickly off the slick surface, resulting in some less than perfect ball control on both sides. While some of our passing was a little wayward as a result, it was generally much better than in last week's game.

The first half was fairly balanced and we had some decent half-chances: Tom had a good header on target but too close to keeper; Steve Shea and Pedro were both completely free in the penalty area but got in each other's way as they jumped for Andy's right side corner. Medfield had one good chance from the right that sailed over Samuel and clipped the underside of the bar before falling away.

We had the perfect start to second half: a patient build-up led to Joe slotting the ball through as Chris made a perfectly-timed diagonal run, and he clipped the ball past the keeper into the left side of the goal. On the quarter-hour Mike A won the ball on the right, moved into the space in front of him, and played a defence splitter for Pedro to run on to and score. Five minutes later Pedro notched up another as Chris won the ball on the right and played him in behind the defence. Either we've worked out how to spring the offside trap or Medfield's defence was leaden-footed.

Medfield then started to pile men forward and began to create chances, mainly coming from the wings. With about 20 minutes left they scored a bizarre goal after an attack had broken down on our left side. The ball was only partially cleared and a low cross found two Medfield forwards standing about six yards out in what were certainly offside positions. The ball was duly popped into the net and the referee first awarded us a free-kick, then changed his mind and awarded the goal on what he called a technical point - obviously a finer point of the laws that we'll all have to learn about.

Medfield almost drew one closer after another time-lapse decision when the referee first waved away (admittedly correct) shouts for a free kick, then changed his mind and gave the kick. The floated cross was met with an accurate downward header that would have sneaked inside the post had Samuel not been alert to turn it around the post. Another chance a few minutes later had Samuel beaten but came back off the post.

We'd suffered a few injuries in the course of the game (Tom - hamstring, Tim - knee clash), and had to reorganise five minutes from the end when Steve Schechter, who'd had a commanding game at sweeper, was forced out by a muscle pull. With Medfield continuing to push forward we still kept our shape and composure and ran out deserved winners.

Squad: Samuel, Mike A, Steve Sch, Ivan, Tim R, John, Chris, Andy, Joe, Tom, Steve S, Pedro, Bardot

MPS Newton 2 - 3 Framingham

2010-04-11T16:24:00.006-04:00

Season opener in Division 1, and for the first ten minutes against Framingham there was a touch of shock and awe. We were pinned back in defence, desperately trying to string some passes together as they peppered Mike's goal with shots. Gradually we managed to get some shape and started to actually play. As the half progressed we looked more confident in midfield and the ball was getting forward to Pedro and Bardot.

Our first real chance came when Pedro squared the ball to Joe who hit a shot from the edge of the box that had the keeper leaping high to his right to paw the ball away. Shortly afterwards a through-ball to Bardot was blocked by a Framingham defender's hand. Steve C took the free kick, pumped in a high cross from the right to the back post, and Pap got up to pop a header over the keeper.

Mike O was having an outstanding game in goal. Aside from showing a safe pair of hands when collecting some of the early Framingham shots, he had made a couple of excellent saves, first bravely diving between two oncoming Framinghamers to cut out an attack, then blocking with his legs when a forward was played through and seemed sure to score. There was nothing he could do about Framingham's equaliser, though. A ball through the middle had only been partially cleared by our defence; it was switched out diagonally to an attacker rushing in from the right, and he left Mike with no chance.

We quickly went ahead again after a scramble in the Framingham box. The ball spun out to Ivan on the left side of the penalty area, and his square ball across the face of goal was drilled home from a tight angle by Bardot.

There was some defensive rearrangement necessary when Kirk twisted his knee blocking a shot. Steve Schechter (yes, a fourth Steve on the roster) played as sweeper for remainder of half, but had to leave at half-time. Ivan, Mick and Pap then rotated the two central defensive positions, and it was Ivan's error that led to the second equaliser: he was robbed 30 yards out and a couple of quick passes let a forward in to shoot past Mike. Five minutes later a headed clearance dropped perfectly for a Framingham player 20 yards out. He hammered in a first-time shot that Mike was perfectly positioned to cover, but another player deflected the ball as it rose and steered it past Mike's right shoulder.

Framingham continued to move the ball well, but their moves down the sides were well covered by our full backs and their passes through the centre were mostly too ambitious. We made a lot of directionless plays for much of the second half, pumping long balls forward in the vain hope of finding a breakthrough. As the clock ticked down we found some more urgency and created a few good chances, but Framingham defended well. Mick hit a lovely strike from 25 yards that looked to be dipping into the left corner but the keeper got his fingers to it and pushed it around the post. Bardot made himself some space on the edge of the box only to see his low shot skid wide. And in the dying minutes Bardot's corner from the right side was met five yards out by Ivan's head, but a Framingham defender on the post was perfectly positioned to deflect the ball over the bar.

Squad: Mike O, Tim R, Kirk, Mick, Steve Sch, Mike A, Kelvin, Ivan, Pap, Victor, Joe, Steve C, Chris, Tim T, Steve G, Pedro, Bardot

Autumn 2009 Season review

2010-04-11T16:23:00.020-04:00

A quick retrospective on the autumn (or fall, if you prefer) 2009 season. First, the results:

Newton	2:0	Weston
Shrewsbury	1:2	Newton
Newton	3:2	Shake-Shake
Newton	4:1	Hudson
Wenham	0:8	Newton
Weston	1:1	Newton
Newton	1:1	Shrewsbury
Shake-Shake	1:0	Newton
Hudson	5:2	Newton
Newton	5:2	Wenham

Bardot once again won that coveted ball-shaped trophy, the Golden Boot:

Bardot	8
Karsten	6
Andy	4
Pap	4
Samuel	3
Steve S	3
Christer	1
Ivan	1
Mick	1
Victor	1

And one other highlight: we won the division.

Pre-season friendly #3

2010-04-04T22:57:00.005-04:00

Weston 1 - 3 MPS Newton

Our third game in the build-up to Division 1 was a friendly against Weston. We played a 4-4-2 formation, but it was more like a 3½-4½-2 when Weston gave us lots of time and space to move the ball.

We looked very good in the opening phase, moving the ball from side to side, playing to feet and forcing Weston to chase the ball. Our new blood, Chris, Pedro and Steve C (yes, another Steve) all played confidently and well.

Our patient build-ups in the first half started to yielded results, and Steve Shea, Karsten and Chris all had decent chances that missed the target. We broke the deadlock when Pedro swung in a dangerous cross from the right that landed in the six-yard box. Karsten stretched and barely made contact, but Samuel bundled in at the far post. Shortly afterwards Samuel had another opportunity on the left side but shot wide from close range.

Ten minutes from the end of the half Chris played a ball over the Weston defence (it wasn't all passing to feet) for Bardot to run onto. Weston had expected an offside decision, but Bardot simply ran through and rifled in a shot from 15 yards.

Weston kicked off the second half, played a few passes, then lost the ball in the middle of the pitch. Karsten collected the loose ball, rounded a player or two, played the ball off to Pedro on his right, got it back and slotted past the keeper - the half was less than a minute old. The play then slowed down a lot as Weston played more defensively. Chances were few and far between, but Pedro had a lovely chip from right of centre and 25 yards out that the keeper did exceptionally well to stop dropping into the corner.

Weston did have a decent chance to get onto the scoreboard when Kirk played a back-pass that went narrowly wide, but were rarely dangerous. With about 15 minutes remaining they managed to score a breakaway goal, Samuel (playing in goal now) just failing to make contact with the scuffed shot. I'm sure Bardot hit the post late in the game too, but can't recall all the details.

Overall a good result, but we can expect sterner opposition when the new season starts.

Squad: Mike O, Tim R, Kirk, Ivan, Pap, Steve C, Chris, Steve G, Steve S, Andy, Pedro, Bardot, Karsten

Div 2 Champions

2009-11-22T22:42:00.008-05:00

MPS Newton 1 - 1 Hudson Benfica (3-2 on PKs)

On an unexpectedly mild late-November morning we played Hudson on a field reminiscent of their own: heavy and waterlogged in places. No complaints about the weather, though: we could have been playing with an orange ball on frozen ground at this time of the year.

We started better than Hudson, and had them pinned back in their own half and looking nervous. Our attacks were breaking down around their penalty area, though, lacking a crucial final pass. Then, fifteen minutes in, Hudson scored with their first real attack. The ball was played to their central attacker with his back to goal, and he turned and hit a high looping shot from 25 yards. It went over Mike's head and dropped into the right corner of his goal.

The goal enlivened the game a little and Bardot had a decent chance when he got in on the right flank, but his shot was blocked at the near post by the 'keeper. Hudson had a chance and Mike did well to come off his line and block a shot from fifteen yards with his legs. A Hudson player was then given a yellow card mid-way through the half for time-wasting - possibly the earliest such warning in the history of the game.

Mid-way through the second half we equalised with a goal that was a mirror image of Hudson's. Mike Altchek played the ball forward to Bardot and he turned and unleashed a powerful shot from 20 yards that the 'keeper was helpless to block.

Fifteen minutes from the end Ivan received the ball in space on the right from Karsten (?). As his defender lumbered over to cover, he pushed the ball ahead and sprinted into the area, only to be axed down by a tackle that went nowhere near the ball - penalty. Andy stepped up and slotted the penalty kick... wide of the right post.

For all our possession during the game, Hudson created the better chances and were very dangerous on the break. Our defence played a great game to keep them out: Kirk was huge in the central role, and Mike O made a couple of saves at the end of the second half that kept us in the game. With 5 minutes remaining, the trickiest Hudson player twisted his way into the box and performed the full dying swan act when Ivan made contact. He stepped up to take the penalty himself and also slid it wide of the post - justice.

In the penalty shoot-out Steve Shea, Pap and Bardot converted their kicks, while Hudson missed the first, scored the second and fourth, and Mike stopped the third. Karsten stepped up to take our fourth to win the game, but his effort was saved. Justice was done (again) when the dying swan (see above) stepped up to take the last Hudson kick and put the ball over the crossbar.

A great season boys, well played all round.

Squad: Mike O, Kirk, John, Tim R, Kelvin, Mike A, Mick, Tom, Andy, Tim T, Ivan, Steve S, Karsten, Pap, Steve G, Bardot, Samuel, Christer

Play-off semi-finals

2009-11-22T22:19:00.008-05:00

Hollis 2 - 3 MPS Newton (aet)

The arcane tie-break rules used by the OTHSL had us travelling to New Hampshire to play our division 2 play-off semi-final against Hollis. OTHSL rules reward the best defensive record, so we were on the road, despite our superior goal difference.

We started the game in fine style, and there was only one team playing in the opening 25 minutes. Hollis were pinned in their own half absorbing continuous pressure, and it seemed only a matter of time before we'd chalk up a goal. After fifteen minutes we took the lead with a move of simplicity: Ivan played the ball forward to Andy on the right flank and he flicked it inside inside to Bardot. With a quick turn Bardot accelerated past his defender, got to the bye-line and cut the ball back to Karsten, who scored from close range.

Minutes later, Karsten came in from the left and hit a shot from a tight angle that was blocked and partially cleared. Bardot collected the ball on the edge of the box, and struck a low shot that hit the base of the left post and skidded wide.

Hollis started to come into the game and had a chance when their fast centre forward was played in behind our defence. Michael came out of his goal quickly and made a brave save 15 yards out, but was caught by an outstretched foot. Hollis almost scored as the ball then ran out to the right, but the incoming player swept his shot wide of the post with the goal gaping.

Hollis had the ideal start to the second half. A speculative but powerful and accurate shot from 25 yards caught Mike unawares and although he took the sting off the shot it dropped down behind him and trickled over the line.

We had a good shout for a penalty when the central Hollis defender blatantly handled the ball to stop a cross from the right skidding past. The referee waved play on, but punished the same player later when he made what looked like a good tackle on Christer but was adjudged to have fouled him. Bardot stepped up and slotted away the penalty.

To make amends for the poor penalty decision, the ref awarded Hollis a penalty in even more dubious circumstances. One of Hollis' midfielders carried the ball into our box and was already off balance when Mike Altchek approached and he went to ground. Mike O dived the right way but couldn't keep out the well-struck penalty.

Extra time was beckoning, but Andy had a late chance from the right as he cut in and hit a good shot toward the far corner. The 'keeper somehow managed to stick out a leg and got a toe to the ball to turn it around the post.

In extra time we managed to have the better of the play but Hollis were always dangerous on the break. Tim Rosa made a crucial save when he blocked a header at the far post.We finally took the lead in the second period when Peter decided to take the direct approach: he played a high ball from the half-way line that Bardot managed to flick on with his head. Pap had timed his run well, got in behind the defence and hit a low shot first time that caught the 'keeper flat-footed.

Hollis had one more chance in the dying seconds when the scorer of the first goal drove in a shot from a similar position, but this one cleared the crossbar. We played the clock down and won a semi-final for the first time in three consecutive attempts. Finals beckon.

Squad: Mike O, Kirk, John, Tim R, Kelvin, Mike A, Andy, Peter, Tom, Tim T, Steve S, Ivan, Steve G, Karsten, Samuel, Pap, Christer

MPS Newton 5 - 2 Wen Ham United

2009-11-08T21:49:00.005-05:00

Champions!

For the second consecutive season we've run out top of the division, this time clinching promotion to the rarified heights Division 1. We needed a little help from other teams, admittedly, but turned in a fine performance against Wenham, particularly in the first half.

Absences meant some rearrangement of the team was necessary: Mike Altchek played on the wing, and Pap, who's played in many positions this season, had his first run in an attacking role - what a revelation that was.

After a slightly shaky start when we allowed Wenham to press for a couple of minutes, we settled and started applying pressure ourselves. Wenham seemed vulnerable when challenged quickly, and we didn't allow their defence and midfield to settle on the ball.

We went ahead after about 10 minutes. A cross from the right seemed to have got past Pap, who was advancing into the penalty box from the left. He managed to get the ball under control, swivel and hit a powerful shot in one smooth movement, and the 'keeper had no chance as the ball flew into the top right corner.

A few short minutes later, Ivan found some space in the left channel, 25 yards out. He fed the ball forward between two defenders to Pap, who held off the attentions of the defender on his right and stroked a low shot past the goalie and just inside the right post.

Jury take note: our third goal, on the half-hour, surely merits consideration for goal of the season. Ivan flicked the ball wide to Joe on the right and he carried it towards the corner before cutting it back. Ivan collected the pass on the edge of the area, turned a defender and played the ball square to Tim T. Rather than drive into the crowded box, Tim played a short pass back to Andy, who drilled his shot into the top right corner from 25 yards.

Five minutes later Pap completed his hat-trick in similar style. Andy played a cross from the left to the back post that was cut out, but the ball only went as far as Pap on the edge of the box and that top right corner bulged again as he connected perfectly.

Early in the second half Wenham got onto the score sheet with a curious goal. Mike O jumped to punch out a high punt into the penalty area. A Wenham forward jumped too, but collided with our Man of Steel and collapsed in a heap. All eyes were on the injured player, but Wenham popped the ball back into the penalty area and one of their midfielders turned it into the empty net. After a couple of minutes reviving the Wenham forward, the referee pointed to centre circle, awarding the goal.

We played a little casually and gave the ball away cheaply for the next fifteen or twenty minutes. Wenham made some openings but couldn't convert their chances, many of the shots flying high and wide. Somewhat against the run of play we scored a fifth: Andy released Mike Altchek on the right and his looping cross to the far post bounced and was nodded in by Samuel. Wenham pulled a goal back five minutes later, a throw-in being met with a glancing header six yards out.

For the last fifteen minutes we reasserted control and put together some good moves but couldn't add another goal. The goal count was irrelevant in any case, as Shrewsbury had held Hudson to a draw and our slightly better record in the head-to-head results puts us above them at the top of the table. Another satisfying season, now for the playoffs.

Squad: Mike O, Kirk, John, Tim R, Kelvin, Mike A, Andy, Joe, Tom, Tim T, Ivan, Steve G, Samuel, Pap

Hudson Benfica 5 - 2 MPS Newton

2009-11-02T21:43:00.006-05:00

That hurt, both the eye-watering scoreline and the number of niggling kicks, slaps and knocks we endured in this mauling. After a very promising first half, where we dominated and used space well, we folded in a second half that saw Hudson score three without reply and leap-frog over us to the top of the table.

Hudson's field was a little heavy in places, and the pine cones on the east wing added a little uncertainty to the ball's bounce, but the setting was idyllic and the weather could hardly have been better on 1 November.

After general agreement that the danger in the Hudson attack came from their speedy front-runner, we promptly fell behind to a goal from that forward. He raced onto a flicked header from midfield and slid the ball past Mike's left hand to give them the lead after less than five minutes.

Following the early shock we settled and started moving the ball about well. Steve S (?) took a quick corner on the right to Joe and he floated a wonderful cross over to the back post. Completely unmarked and unpressured ten yards out from goal, Ivan jumped and headed the ball a foot inside the left post - easy. Ten minutes later we took the lead when Andy chipped a free-kick into the box and Karsten timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and score with a diving header.

Hudson drew level against the run of play shortly before the half-time whistle. From a throw-in on our left side the midfielder got behind the defence and played a good cross to the penalty spot where the centre forward was lurking. He headed well but the ball rebounded off the crossbar. He was lucky that the ball came straight back to him and he was able to slot it home from close range, with everyone else seemingly stuck in some freeze-frame.

When we played Hudson at Nahanton they scored early in the second half and faded badly after that. No such luck this time as they started the second half completely revitalised and dominated the next forty-five minutes. For the first ten minutes of the half we couldn't get the ball past the half-way line. Hudson harried and hassled us, never giving us time to settle on the ball. They took the lead from a corner which was headed well from the penalty spot, but was going wide. An unmarked player on the far post got his head to the ball and steered it between the Mikes to make the score 3-2. Twenty minutes in, the lead was extended when they broke behind our defence on the left flank and a low cross was met cleanly in the centre.

We had our chances to reduce the deficit: Samuel and Bardot both chased a fine through ball and Bardot got his foot to the ball first but lifted it over the bar from close range. Shortly afterwards Christer was sliced down in the penalty area and the referee made the right decision, pointing to the penalty spot. Sadly, there was no spot, just a deep depression from which, the Hudson players insisted, the ball should be struck. Irritatingly, the referee concurred, and took no action when a Hudson player actually took the ball, carefully placed by Karsten on level ground, and dropped it back into the pit. A compromise was reached when Karsten put the ball on the edge of the crater, but his shot went a foot wide of the left post.

With legs tiring and heads dropping Hudson scored a fifth after a defensive mix up and put themselves at the top of division 2.

Squad: Mike O, Kirk, Mike A, John, Tim R, Kelvin, Pap, Steve S, Andy, Joe, Tom, Ivan, Steve G, Tim T, Christer, Bardot, Samuel

Rules of the game

2009-10-26T23:11:00.004-04:00

After Sunday's apparently controversial award of an indirect free kick following dangerous play by a Shake-Shake defender inside his own penalty area, I checked the authority on the Laws of the Game, FIFA. Law 12 states:

An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if, in the opinion of the referee, a player:

plays in a dangerous manner
impedes the progress of an opponent
prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands
commits any other offence, not previously mentioned in Law 12, for which play is stopped to caution or send off a player

News to me.

Shake-Shake 1 - 0 MPS Newton

2009-10-25T14:06:00.006-04:00

Tucking shirts! It seems that our first OTHSL defeat in almost a year was not caused by our inability to test the Shake-Shake 'keeper with shots on target. Nor was it caused by the woodwork / aluminium from which two shots rebounded. Nor, it seems, by our inability to take advantage of 30 minutes playing against ten men. No, the logic goes like this: Mike normally plays "untucked", we normally don't lose, ergo the 1-0 defeat can be attributed to Mike Altchek's shirt, tucked neatly into his shorts for the first time ever.

The early exchanges on a bright, sunny morning went end to end, with Shake-Shake carving out better shooting opportunities. We then dominated for long stretches as we closed them down quickly when they had the ball, and used the space on the wings to get in behind their defence. Steve Shea played a fine pass down the right wing, but Andy couldn't keep his shot from Ivan's looping cross low enough. Then Samuel was played in on the left and hit a powerful rising shot that the central defender cut out with a header that beat his 'keeper and flew just wide of the post.

Mid-way through the half Andy took a corner on the right and played it short to Peter. His low cross flashed across the face of the goal, and was met by Steve S at the far post, but the angle was tight and his shot hit the side netting.

Shake-Shake had a couple of good chances, one screamer from 25 yards that flew just over the crossbar, and a well worked opening that allowed the striker to turn and hammer a shot from the edge of the box that flew high and wide. Towards the end of the half an attacker was clean through but Mike O made a fine save to his left, holding the ball to stop any follow-up.

Shake-Shake took the lead early in the second half. They broke down our left flank, but the danger seemed to have been contained as we got bodies back behind the ball. A midfielder then carried the ball along the edge of our box, turned a couple of times and hit a rocket of a shot that dipped into the right corner of Mike's goal.

With thirty minutes remaining Shake-Shake lost a defender to a straight red card after a dangerous lunge that caught Victor on the calf and put him out of the game. Space began to open up as the half progressed, but we failed to take advantage of the extra man.

Bardot played Ivan into acres of space down the right. His low square cross, intended for Christer at the far post, was blocked in the centre and Bardot hit the free ball over the bar. Steve S got a head to Andy's free-kick only to watch the ball rebound off the post. In the ensuing carnage the ball skidded all the way across the face of the Shake-Shake goal and was cleared for a corner. After another scuffle in the Shake-Shake area an attempted clearance dropped in front of Ivan, but his volley hit the outside of the post. Minutes later Andy hit a dipping shot from 40 yards that the 'keeper had to scramble across his goal-face to tip wide for a corner.

Shake-Shake had their chances, a couple that ended in wayward shots from the edge of the box. Mike O made a couple of critical saves, though, one a low shot that he dived left to block, then scrambled to smother. Towards the end of the game the lone Shake-Shake forward cut in from the right, and when the cut back seemed the most likely play he hit a stinging shot aimed between 'keeper and near post that Mike blocked with a reaction save. John also made a couple of fine saves, one a painful-looking block of a powerful shot on the edge of the penalty area, the other a last-gasp sliding tackle to stop the sprinting forward making another foray down the right.

Shake-Shake played a fine game, created the better chances and played their offside trap confidently. Hudson drew with Weston, leaving us still a point clear at the top, so the showdown will be next weekend. And remember, Mike: no tucking.

Squad: Mike O, Kirk, Mike A, John, Pap, Steve S, Andy, Joe, Peter, Ivan, Steve G, Tim T, Victor, Christer, Bardot, Samuel

MPS Newton 1 - 1 Shrewsbury

2009-10-18T12:44:00.007-04:00

Shrewsbury came to Newton with a full squad on an unseasonably cold and wet Sunday morning. They'd been unlucky to lose the match earlier in the season, hitting the woodwork four times, but they were fortunate to leave with a point after absorbing pressure for most of yesterday's game.

The conditions were difficult: the ground was completely waterlogged, the ball skidded unpredictably, and players on both sides had difficulty keeping their footing. In the opening fifteen minutes Shrewsbury barely managed to get the ball out of their own half. Both Karsten and Bardot had glimpses of goal from narrow angles early on, but the Shrewsbury 'keeper had their shots well covered. Steve Shea had our first real chance when he was played through on the left, but a defender managed to make a last-gasp challenge to block his shot.

After the early pressure, Shrewsbury had a brief spell of dominance mid-way through. We were pushing back when out of the blue they scored a goal. An attacking midfielder collected the ball ten yards inside our half, ran forward unchallenged and hit a good shot from 30 yards that cleared Mike O and dropped just below the crossbar.

In the second half we started turning the screws and had Shrewsbury pinned back for long periods. Many of our attacks broke down with a poor final pass but we did make some good chances. Andy had a good dipping shot from long range that almost went through the 'keeper's legs (the ultimate nutmeg), but he stopped it by sitting on the ball. Karsten collected the ball on the edge of the area after a defensive error, turned and hit a decent shot towards the far top corner, but too close to the 'keeper, who was able to parry away. Peter seemed to have injured himself stretching to win the ball in midfield, but he was up and managed to hit a crashing volley low (yes, low) but wide of the left post.

Our best chances came from set-pieces: Andy hit a perfect free-kick from the right that Karsten met cleanly eight yards out, but the header hit the base of the post with the 'keeper well beaten. With the minutes ticking away Andy took a corner from the left and Bardot finally levelled the scores with a well-directed header into the top of the goal.

Minutes after the equaliser Shrewsbury had their only real chance of the half. Our defence had played an almost flawless game until then, but there was real danger when Shrewsbury broke down the right after a rare defensive error. Mike O handled the situation perfectly, though, cutting down the angle and diving to his left to blocked the shot for a corner.

Another frustrating game, then, but much more enjoyable than the stop-go match against Weston a week earlier. With Hudson beating Shake-Shake, it's a two-horse race for promotion to Division 1.

Squad: Mike O, Kirk, Mike A, Tim R, John, Kelvin, Pap, Steve S, Andy, Joe, Tom, Peter, Ivan, Steve G, Tim T, Karsten, Christer, Bardot, Samuel

Weston 1 - 1 Newton

2009-10-12T22:10:00.005-04:00

Our game against Weston on a bright, sunny autumn morning was supposed to be played on their vast grass pitch. At the last minute there was a venue change and we played instead on turf. A scrappy and staccato game ensued, with Weston defending dourly for 89 minutes, helped by the narrower pitch and some highly questionable refereeing decisions.

In the opening minute we looking dazed and bemused as Weston robbed the ball and ran it down our right flank. A quick pass was played inside and a powerful shot from 20 yards fizzed past Mike's ear into the top corner. So much for the Weston chances: the rest of the match was played out in their half.

Our equaliser wasn't long in coming as Bardot ran onto Peter's long pass down the right wing, cut inside and drilled a low shot that the 'keeper couldn't hold at the near post. A short while later Bardot repeated this run down the right and was scythed down as he cut in ahead of his defender. A quick survey of amateur referees on the sideline resulted in 100% in favour of the yellow card for this offence; the ref on the pitch did at least award a free kick.

For the remainder of the half Weston were often playing with ten men behind the ball, and weren't giving us much space to move. Lots of niggly fouls and physical play also succeeded in breaking up our rhythm.

In the second half we generated a few more chances, but when they arrived we had little time or space to capitalise. Ivan snatched at a rising ball only to see his shot from 15 yards bounce back off the crossbar. Karsten produced an acrobatic bicycle kick from a corner that hit Samuel and deflected wide. Mike A had a shot from the edge of the area that Steve G deflected off a defender, but the 'keeper was alert and managed to get down to the collect the ball. Pap put in two or three excellent crosses from the left that were closed out. And Andy hit a delightful free kick from 20 yards that grazed the outside of the post with the 'keeper stranded. These highlights aside, the second half was a continuation of the dour defending and hilarious refereeing.

But there should be no excuses: Weston played a tactically savvy game, switching the venue to a narrower pitch where they could more easily defend in numbers. Our failure to get to the bye-line and cut the ball back or otherwise put the 'keeper under pressure led to our first loss of points this season.

Squad: Mike O, Kirk, Mike A, Tim R, Pap, Steve S, Andy, Karsten, Victor, Peter, Ivan, Steve G, Christer, Bardot, Samuel

Goals, goals, goals

2009-10-05T23:20:00.002-04:00

We're half way through the autumn season, and here are some statistics from the 2009 spring and summer leagues. As an incentive to score more goals, just think that you could one day be the proud recipient of the Golden Boot Ball, like young Bardot here.

Summer
Andy	4
Eric	4
Peter	2
Bardot	1
Christer	1
Ivan	1
Mike	1
Paul	1
Steve	1
Tim	1

Spring
Bardot	11
Karsten	9
Christer	5
Andy	4
Peter	4
Ivan	2
Mike A	2
Samuel	2
Victor	2
Joe	1
Steve	1
Tim T	1

Wen Ham United 0 - 8 MPS Newton

2009-10-04T13:41:00.004-04:00

We continued our good form in Sunday's game at Wenham. There had been some concern that the field would be unplayable after Saturday's heavy rainfall. While not quite a quagmire, it was certainly the heaviest pitch we've played on this season.

Judging by previous results, Wen Ham United were unlikely to be a push-over: they'd only won a single point from their previous four games, but all the results looked close. Surprisingly, then, they offered us little resistance, giving us all space and lots of time on the ball, which we put in the net a total of ten times.

Our goal-fest started with a brace from Andy: Christer played a pass behind the central defender for him to run onto, and he calmly slotted the ball past the 'keeper. Shortly afterwards Steve G collected a partial clearance on the left side of the area and played a smart short pass to Andy who drilled in a low shot from a central position.

Our third goal was a zig-zag affair that utilised all the space we were given. Christer played a pass from the left side of midfield to Bardot on right, he crossed to the back post, where Steve S rose and headed across the goal into the right corner of the net.

Karsten made a strong run through the middle, side-stepped a defender and struck a good low shot that hit the inside of the post and rebounded across the face of the goal. Shortly afterwards he made a similar but shorter run, then curled in a shot from the edge of the area to put us four ahead.

Other first-half chances included Andy shooting from the right 35 yards out when the 'keeper was out of position, only to see the ball skim wide of the left post. Bardot was played through the centre behind the defence and simply tapped the ball past the advancing 'keeper, but was adjudged offside. And Samuel was played through by Andy's pass, but despite some deft footwork - including, if I'm not mistaken, a Ronaldo stepover - he couldn't find an angle to get in a shot.

The second half wasn't long under way before the fifth goal was scored. This time it was Tim T playing the defence splitter, threading the ball into the path of Bardot, who hammered a shot over the 'keeper's shoulder and into the net.

Goal six was nicely worked: Andy received the ball in some space on the right flank, ran towards the bye-line and hit in a hard low cross. Victor stole ahead of his defender and poked the ball home from 5 yards. There was a short lull before goal seven, when Steve S played a short corner to Bardot, lurking on the right edge of the area. He took one touch to steady himself then hit a thunderbolt high into the left side of the goal.

Wenham then gave away a free-kick about 35 yards out from their goal. While the defence argued with the referee about the decision, Andy (I think) played the kick quickly to Karsten who ran through and scored. The ref awarded a goal but after protest from Wenham about what they considered an ambiguous signal, he decided to replay the free kick. At seven goals up we could afford not to argue that decision.We didn't have to wait long for the eighth goal in any case: Christer rounded out an excellent game with a good run in from the left, and scored with a low shot through the 'keeper's legs.

Other second-half highlights included Andy narrowly missing his hat-trick with a shot from all of 40 yards; Ivan's low drilled shot from Bardot's pass that the 'keeper saved with his chin; and a couple of good runs by Mike A that ended with shots clipped just over the bar.

This was a good game for our goal difference, but it's back to business as usual next weekend against Weston.

Squad: Mike O, Kirk, Mike A, Tim R, Kelvin, Steve S, Andy, Karsten, Victor, Peter, Ivan, Steve G, Tim T, Christer, Bardot, Samuel

MPS Newton 4 - 1 Hudson Benfica

2009-09-27T11:28:00.004-04:00

It had been raining heavily since the middle of Saturday night and our Nahanton field was heavy for Sunday's game. Our opponents, Hudson Benfica, came prepared for the wet weather conditions. As we huddled on a bench in the rain, the Hudson team erected a small marquee to cover their heads. The referee had also taken measures to stay dry, and ran the whole game wearing a baseball cap and an anorak - with the hood up. Needless to say, more than a few infringements during the game went unseen.

There was a cautious opening period, and Hudson adapted more quickly to the slippery conditions, showing good some good ball control and precise passing. In the opening 20 minutes there were few real chances from either side, then the game opened up a little. Andy took a square pass from Peter at the top of the area but hit his shot over. Then Peter connected with Andy's deep cross from the right but couldn't keep his header low. Benfica broke out and a striker hit a ferocious first-time shot from the right side of the box. The ball was heading for the top corner, but Mike got across smartly and dived high to his left to block the shot. Shortly afterwards Karsten powered a shot from a narrow angle on the right that skimmed the left post.

With about fifteen minutes left in the half Joe played a diagonal ball from the right to Karsten on the left. He drove into the box and played a low shot/cross aimed at the far post; Bardot ran in for a simple connection to give us the lead.

For the last ten minutes of the half Hudson exerted lot of pressure, searching for the equaliser. After some scrambles on the edge of the box Hudson had a good shot from the right side that Mike got down well to block but couldn't hold, the ball skidding across the face of the goal. The striker on the left post sized up his shot, but Ivan managed to get a leg in front of the ball and block the shot from hitting the gaping goal.

Hudson equalised early in the second half. A cross in from our right side wasn't cleared and their centre-forward collected the ball on the penalty spot with his back to goal. He turned quickly and drilled a low shot between Tim and Mike to level the game. Hudson continued to probe for openings in our defence, but the boys at the back did well to contain them.

Mid-way through the half we had a good shout for a penalty when Victor's shirt was pulled as he jumped for a high cross. Shortly afterwards we took the lead again after an inspired run by Andy. He collected the ball on the edge of the box, drove to the left-side by-line and cut back a wonderful cross. Samuel looked like getting there first, but the ball slid past him and Bardot, almost surprised, ran it into the goal.

Hudson were tiring now and gaps were opening up on both flanks. Bardot was set free on the right and was fouled as he passed his defender. Andy's free kick was met sweetly on the volley ten yards out by Steve Shea, and the ball flew into the top right corner.

The two goal cushion took some of the pressure off, but Hudson were always dangerous. A free kick right on the edge of our area was worrying, but it was hit high. With five minutes left we put the game beyond their reach. Karsten played Samuel down the left side, then met his low cross in the centre, leaving the 'keeper no chance with a low shot into the left of the goal.

This wasn't our best passing performance of the season, but the goals were top quality.

Squad: Mike O, Kirk, Tom, Pap, Tim R, Steve S, Andy, Karsten, Victor, Peter, Ivan, Joe, Steve G, Christer, Bardot, Samuel

MPS Newton 3 - 2 Shake-Shake

2009-09-20T10:37:00.007-04:00

Good money has been spent to see games nowhere near as entertaining as our Sunday clash with Shake-Shake. The game had action, drama and a chaotic final five minutes when the ball hardly moved.

We kicked off on a chilly morning, a heavy dew on the field adding an extra variable to the game. In the opening minutes the Shake-Shake central defender miscued a cross from the right, the ball falling right into Ivan's path. His first-time shot from the edge of the area brought a fine save from the goalkeeper, who dived high to his left to parry the ball away. A few minutes later the 'keeper was in action again, this time scrambling to his right to turn Steve Shea's outrageous 40-yard shot around the post. Andy delivered the corner from the left precisely to the far post where Karsten had an unpressured nod-in to give us the lead.

After largely controlling the opening twenty minutes we suffered a period when we simply couldn't keep the ball. Shake-Shake attacked repeatedly and when we cleared the ball the respite was brief. The equaliser came after the ball had bounced from player to player around the perimeter of our penalty area: a low shot from the left sat just inside Mike's right post.

Our concentration returned after conceding, and our second goal was a text-book example of how to beat the offside trap. With the Shake-Shake defence pushing out and Bardot in an offside position, Steve started a diagonal run from deep and met a perfect through-ball from Karsten. The 'keeper advanced but Steve rounded him and scored from a narrow angle.

We'd hardly held the lead for a couple of minutes before the scores were level again. A pass was played down our right channel to an attacker who was probably in an offside position. The referee saw things differently, however, and that attacker was away. Fast enough without the luxury of a three yard head-start, he ran through unchallenged and slotted the ball past Mike.

In the second half we were very successful in closing down attacks. Thanks to the close attentions of Kirk, Mike A, Tom, Tim, Kelvin and Pap in defence, and the hard work by the rest of the team, Shake-Shake were limited to snatched shots, easily dealt with by Mike O.

We had a few chances for a renewed lead in the later part of the game. Andy's chipped free kick was flicked over the 'keeper by Bardot, but hit the crossbar, and Joe's volley from the rebound flew just wide. From Andy's corner, Bardot struck a decent shot from the edge of the area, but Ivan couldn't get himself out of the way and the ball rebounded off his leg. And Karsten played another fine attacking pass, this time into Ivan's path. He cut inside the defender and struck a shot from the edge of the area, but it went well wide.

With just five minutes left Bardot appeared offside when he received the ball, 10 yards out to the right of the goal, but again the referee disagreed. The shot was parried by the 'keeper, but Samuel was lurking at the far post and stretched to put the ball back towards the goal. The 'keeper lunged and seemed to have pulled the ball back from the line, but Samuel, wriggling along on his belly, got his head to the ball and managed to push it over the line - possibly the (s)lowest headed goal ever scored.

Shake-Shake seemed to collectively decide that they could make the referee change his decision if they shouted at him for long enough. With the clock ticking down the whole team encircled the ref, remonstrating wildly. By the time some semblance of order had been restored the ref was preparing to blow the final whistle.

A great team performance with lots of running and hard work, and a deserved victory that puts us at the top of the division.

Squad: Mike O, Mike A, Kirk, Kelvin, Tom, Pap, Tim R, Steve S, Andy, Karsten, Victor, Tim T, Ivan, Christer, Bardot, Samuel

Shrewsbury 1 - 2 MPS Newton

2009-09-14T22:13:00.003-04:00

We ground out a fortunate but deserved victory against a skillful Shrewsbury side on Sunday. It was a lovely late summer morning, and Saturday's rain had made the field soft but not heavy. The grass was long, though, and there were some tired legs out there when the final whistle blew.

The opening exchanges were fairly balanced with both sides having good moves broken up in the last third of the field. We looked a little nervous in defence, and when Mike mis-hit a kick-out it gave Shrewsbury their first opportunity. The attacker hit the ball straight back from 30 yards, and there was a slow-motion moment, everyone standing still and watching as the ball sailed over Mike's head, only to hit the crossbar, rebound and be cleared.

Shrewsbury broke the deadlock with a quick break that came from an error on our left side. The attacker carried the ball about ten yards and unleashed a powerful shot from the left corner of the area that flew into the bottom corner of Mike's goal.

We fought back and equalised in the most unlikely manner. Shrewsbury had a corner that was well collected by Mike. He then punted the ball high towards Samuel, standing 10 yards inside the Shrewsbury half. The ball bounced perhaps 30 yards from goal, and, with two defenders and the goalkeeper closing in on him, Samuel managed to get under the ball and head it over the 'keeper. We watched in astonishment as the ball dropped neatly into the back of the net: it doesn't come any more direct than that.

In the early stages of the second half we applied more pressure and were rewarded by a sweet goal from Andy. Switching in from the right about twenty yards out, he seemed about to play a pass square across the top of the area, but then struck a hard, dipping left-footed shot that sat beautifully into the left side of the net. Bardot came close a little later with a free-kick from just outside the area that flew past the right post, and Karsten had a decent shot that was hit straight at the 'keeper.

Shrewsbury came looking for an equaliser, and were very unlucky not to get it. In an intense period of pressure they hit the post three times: one shot hit directly, another was turned onto the post by Mike, and Andy almost nullified his fine goal with an attempt to cut out a cross, the ball looping off his head and onto the post, with Mike stranded.

In the last fifteen minutes Shrewsbury were leaving gaps at the back. We had good shouts for a penalty rejected when Karsten ran onto a pass behind the defence and seemed to be pushed as he sized up his shot; then Ivan, teeing up the rebound, was felled by studs to the shin from the goalkeeper's desperate defensive lunge.

Other highlights included Steve Shea's midfield juggling act (beating three players without letting the ball touch the ground) and John's fine diving header to break up a(nother) Shrewsbury attack.

This was a great team performance that sets us up nicely for the season. Every department worked well in this game, and even the change from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2 late on went smoothly.

Squad: Mike O, Mike A, Kirk, Kelvin, Tom, John, Steve S, Andy, Karsten, Steve G, Victor, Tim T, Ivan, Christer, Bardot, Samuel

MPS Newton 2 - 0 Weston

2009-09-07T20:46:00.005-04:00

We had a rather inauspicious start to our Division 2 season on the lush grass of Nahanton. Weston worked their socks off to keep us under pressure, and it worked well for the first half, but a couple of late goals saw all three points coming to Newton.

The first half of the game is best forgotten, a combination of poor passing, bickering and long balls to nowhere, culminating in a missed penalty. When we did manage to string a couple of decent passes together, such as Andy's lovely through-ball down the right channel to Bardot, we were frustrated by the offside trap. Towards the end of the half Bardot tumbled in the area, and the referee didn't hesitate to point to the spot. Andy stepped up and placed to shot low to the keeper's left - just: the 'keeper got down well and held the ball. The noisy Weston supporters went wild, all six of them.

As the frustration mounted, some heavy tackles went flying in, resulting in cards for Mick and Peter. What does a card cost in Division 2? Shall we collect now or run a tab until the end of the season?

The second half started on a more promising note as Bardot collected the ball in the centre, 40 yards out, and played a diagonal ball to Peter who was steaming down the right. Karsten dived to meet Peter's perfect far post cross but got under he ball and put it over the bar.

Weston had been restricted to a few long-range shots in the first half, easily collected by Mike in goal, and one far post header that he had anticipated well and was perfectly positioned to catch. They had a couple of clearer chances in the second, one when Mick lost his footing at the half way line and an attacker took advantage. Kirk held up the advance well allowing Mike Altchek sweep the ball away. Then a well-directed but relatively harmless shot from 20 yards almost changed the course of the game. Mike dived to his right but the ball hit the ground just in front of him and bounced high over his outstretched arm, only to hit the post and come back into play. Luckily, the Weston attack were also surprised by this and had nobody running in.

After complaining to the ref about some serious shoving, Karsten was finally awarded a free kick for the lightest of touches on the right side of the box. Ivan's low cross was cleared for a corner, and Joe delivered the ball high from the right. Mick met the cross perfectly about 10 yards out and drilled a header into the right corner. Now Weston had to push harder, inevitably leaving gaps at the back, and Tom capitalised by playing Karsten down the left. Although he had to ride a tackle as he got close to goal, he kept his calm and placed his shot past the 'keeper to seal the victory.

We looked a little rusty as a team tonight, particularly in the first half. The long grass and narrow field didn't really help our game either, but we did well to pull a victory out of this one.

Squad: Mike O, John, Kirk, Mike A, Kelvin, Mick, Tom, Steve G, Andy, Peter, Joe, Steve S, Ivan, Christer, Bardot, Samuel, Karsten

Medfield 4 - 1 MPS

2009-08-28T17:15:00.003-04:00

Our summer league adventure ended in a hotly contested game against a very capable Medfield team. We held our own for perhaps 50 minutes, but conceding a couple of early goals that made our task much more difficult.

For the opening ten or fifteen minutes we were under severe pressure as Medfield passed precisely and smoothly. They had a shot saved on the line by the excellent Mike A, and another good shot from 20 yards well saved by Lee (I think that was his name - so many 'keepers). From that save the ball was played out to Mick who was dispossessed 25 yards out in the centre. The attacker took a couple of touches and shot powerfully from the edge of the area to give Medfield the lead.

We slowly started to come into the game, but some more sloppy defending on the left let a second chance and second goal in. Medfield were proving to be clinical in their finishing. That goal was somewhat against the run of play, and we continued to have the better of the game. Shortly afterwards Bardot beat the offside trap and put us back in the game with a strong run that ended in him beating the 'keeper from 12 yards. Minutes later we broke through in numbers with Bardot on the ball supported by Gabriel on the left and Ivan on the right, but Bardot elected to shoot and dragged his shot wide.

Early in the second half Bardot was played down the right channel and rounded his defender with a great burst of speed. Alex raced towards the box and appeared to be hauled down as he outpaced his defender. In the meantime, Bardot had shot at the near post and the 'keeper parried for a corner. Pat, who had witnessed the foul on Alex, raced a good 30 yards to remonstrate with the Medfield defender and the referee, earning himself a yellow card in the process. Another decent move saw Alex narrowly failing to make contact with a good angled cross from Bardot on the right, and the ball skidded narrowly wide.

After absorbing a lot of pressure for the opening 20 minutes of the half, Medfield were always dangerous on the break, and went another goal up as we pressed for an equaliser. The attacker raced onto a pass through the centre and skillfully delayed his shot before touching the ball to his right to round Lee and finishing into an empty net. Medfield went four up with another break down their right side, the attacker hitting a low shot at the near post that Lee could only parry into the goal.

We were beaten by a better side, who were more creative and calmer in possession. We did ourselves no favours by playing everything through the middle or over the top towards the front runners. Still, a decent run in the tournament, and no shame losing to a quality side (who went on to beat Essex 6-0 in the final).

Play-off QF: MPS 6 - 2 Natick

2009-08-17T21:02:00.009-04:00

We treated our crowd of two fans to another goal-fest as we beat Natick comfortably to progress to the semi-finals. We looked comfortable throughout the 90 minutes, even though we played the last 25 with 10 men.

In the early stages we held the ball well and, for the first time in the summer league, regularly used the width of the Waltham pitch. Our first goal came from the flank: Andy chipped the ball over the defence for Ivan, who promptly lost the ball trying to get past a defender. The attempted clearance cannoned off another defender and landed right back in front of Ivan, and he gratefully accepted the second chance and hit a low shot in off the left post.

Natick replied quickly, pulling level after some confusion following a corner kick. The defence was a little disorganised as the ball bounced around the penalty area, and the clearance only reached the edge of the box. A powerful, well-directed shot was hit straight back into the left side of Ron's goal.

After that upset we dominated, holding well, supporting well and playing simple passes. When Bardot received the ball from the left with his back to goal, he laid it back to Mick, who belted a shot from fully 35 yards out. The goalie managed to take some of the sting out of the ball but it dropped behind him to restore our lead.

Our third goal came after Bardot hustled and hassled the right back who tried to clear from the end line, but played a perfect pass to Alex at the edge of the penalty area. He calmly hit his shot first time into the top left corner.

Shortly before the half-time whistle Victor squared the ball from the left to Joe B who hit a good shot from right of centre. The 'keeper managed to get across to his right to block, but Christer was following up and bundled the ball in from close range.

Leading comfortably at half-time, we got fresh blood when Karsten turned up, taking a break from spending time at airports. He made an immediate impact, turning a defender on the half-way line with a sweet touch and running toward goal, only to be tripped just outside the box. Gabriel and Andy stood over the kick for a long time before Gabriel hit it through the wall to make the score 5-1.

This year we've seen a couple of players fall and writhe in agony after a foot-treading incident. Peter took a different approach mid-way through the half, taking a retaliatory swipe at the Natick defender. The referee, a strict disciplinarian, immediately reached for his reddest card.

Natick were buoyed up by their advantage and quickly pulled a goal back. Our defence had been pulled out of position and missed a pass down the left channel. The ensuing pass sailed across the face of the goal and was headed in by the Natick midfielder who'd raced in at the far post.

With twenty minutes remaining Natick started to turn the screws, and we had to weather a short period of pressure, but Ron held a couple of long-range shots well. As the Natick team faded we started to create chances again. Notable moments were Steve Shea doing a slick turn followed by a 360 spin to work his way clear of the attention of a couple of midfielders, and Mike, operating in stealth mode, connecting with a pass at the edge of the area and sending a shot just wide and over the bar. In the dying minutes Christer made a run down the left and squared to Victor who had time to settle the ball and ponder his options before belting a shot over the 'keeper's head into the top of the net.

This was a well-deserved victory that brings us to the semis against the division 1 south champs. We'll be missing some players for that game, including Andy on leave, Peter suspended and Karsten stuck in some airport.

MPS 9 - 0 Acton

2009-08-05T22:05:00.008-04:00

Needing to win to be absolutely sure of a place in the play-offs, we cruised to victory against Acton in our final summer league game. We played well against a team that worked hard but created few opportunities.

From the kick-off we applied a lot of pressure and used all the space on the field - even Peter Bradley was seen making a diagonal run to collect a pass in the corner. Our first good chance came when Joe pushed a first-time shot wide of the right post after receiving Ivan's square ball from the left.

Goalkeeper error led to our first goal: the 'keeper picked up the ball in his area, rolled it out in front of himself, then picked it up again, an action not commonly seen since about 1992. Andy touched the indirect free kick to Peter, whose firm low drive sat neatly in the bottom left corner of the goal. Shortly afterwards Steve Shea's shot from the centre was blocked, but the ball was collected by Eric on the right edge of the box. He carried the ball square and hit a quick left foot shot into bottom right corner - the goalkeeper didn't even see it. With only 25 minutes played the game was wrapped up when Andy ran down the left wing and, with a couple of people screaming for a cross, beat the 'keeper at his near post.

Two speculative shots provided some fresh entertainment. With the 'keeper off his line Ivan cut out an attempted clearance but hit the awkwardly bouncing ball high and well wide. Peter's attempt a few minutes later was better: he lobbed his shot over the 'keeper only to see it bounce high and onto the top of the crossbar.

Mike created the chance for our fourth goal with a well-timed run as Steve Shea released a great ball between two defenders. Mike collected the pass, side-stepped the 'keeper and a defender and rolled the ball into the empty net.

In the second half Bardot came out of goal to take up his more familiar position (frequently offside) at the other end. Within a few minutes he was true to his promise of a goal as he cut inside a defender on the right and hit a shot that the 'keeper could only parry into the far corner. Gabriel created the sixth goal when he made a surging run down the left, rounded a defender and played a perfect low cross between defender and 'keeper. Ivan ran in from the right and hit the ball first time from six yards into the empty net - hard to miss. Andy scored a delightful goal to make it seven, first nutmegging an advancing defender, then hitting a high dipping shot from 25 yards over the 'keeper.

Peter scored the eighth. Perhaps we can run a short competition for the wittiest description of this goal, because I can't remember it at all. Finally, Christer was played in by another strong run and cross by Gabriel. He took the ball on the edge of area and had time and space to control it, advance a couple of steps and slot it past the keeper into the right side of the goal.

This was a thoroughly deserved victory against the weakest side in the league. The going can only get tougher in the playoffs.

MPS 0 - 0 Essex

2009-07-29T23:40:00.005-04:00

We fought out a tense and entertaining draw against Essex in oppressive humidity last Wednesday. Essex, who'd won all their earlier games, were always likely to be tough opponents. We had the lion's share of the play, while they created the clearer chances, but the draw was a fair result.

For the first twenty minutes we were pinned in our own half. Essex gave an early warning when a well-struck free kick hit the base of the right post in the first minute. Mike (in goal) and the rest of the defence were kept busy as Essex kept the pressure on. A couple of good shots went narrowly wide, and Mike got down well to his left to stop a low drive. Then he was off his line to clear a dangerous high cross.

We slowly managed to get into the game and ease the defence's workload. Passing began to improve and our composure increased as we moved the ball around. Some good moves developed down the right side, Tim Rosa overlapping well. Andy had our only real chance of the half as he cut in from the right and hit a shot with his left foot that the keeper blocked just in front of the post.

We put on a much improved display in the second half. After only 30 seconds Bardot cut in from the right and hit a stinging shot from 15 yards that the 'keeper held well. There was a much higher work rate in this half, and Victor in particular was working his socks off, giving the midfield wide options when we were attacking, then chasing back when Essex were in possession. He was released down the right side and, in getting by his defender, seemed to have closed down his shooting angle. His shot had so much spin, though, that it curved around the goalkeeper on the near post and went narrowly wide of the far.

Gabriel started showing well on the left side of midfield and had a good shot from just outside the box, but the 'keeper was right behind it. Then Bardot sprinted onto a Gabriel through-ball on the left side of the box, but his shot skidded across the face of the goal and narrowly wide. Minutes later Gabriel himself was through on the left side, pulled the ball back and seemed to be cut down from behind, but the referee waved play on.

Essex managed a couple of good chances with 15 minutes left. First their striker, put clear on goal, hit his shot well wide of the left post, then a foul by Tim gave them a free kick in front of our box. The ref gave an extra ten yards, placing the ball on the very edge of our area, but the kick flew over the bar.

Three minutes from the end, our defence suffered a collective hallucination: we were a goal down in the cup final. The two Mikes (sweeper and goalkeeper) were just inside our half, but the rest of the team was within 30 yards of the Essex goal as we prepared to take a corner. Samuel roared from the sideline as Essex broke quickly, but Ron managed to clear for a corner at our end.

Apart from the opening twenty minutes, we played some good football against a well-organised team. Essex don't have any single outstanding player, but they play well as a team - one to watch for the play-off final.

Squad: Mike, Mike A, Kirk, Ron, Kelvin, Tim, Tom, Andy, Joe, Gabriel, Eric, Victor, Christer, Bardot

MPS 2 - 0 Weston

2009-07-23T20:42:00.009-04:00

We played our first "home" game against Weston on the smart turf field at Waltham HS. The venue came complete with a crowd, admittedly for a different brand of football. Had they been watching they'd have seen an attractive game with plenty of accurate passing and patient build-ups.

The game started slowly, with neither side taking any risks. We were holding possession well, and Weston didn't see much of the ball during the opening stages, when we created some good chances. Peter had a decent shot from 20 yards that zipped past the left post. Kirk, in unfamiliar territory, ran onto an attempted clearance 20 yards from the Weston goal. Some might have taken a shot from that distance, with the ball sitting up nicely (perhaps it's what Kirk had in mind), but it looked more like a cross to the left where Paul headed into the side netting.

We finally broke through when Paul chipped the ball over the defence for Ivan to run onto on the right wing. His cross was too high for Alex in the middle but was collected by Andy on the left side of the box. He steered inside the defender, and held off continued attention as he made himself an angle. The shot was hard and low, and although the 'keeper got a hand to it he could only turn it inside the post.

When Weston did manage to come forward in numbers we were able to catch them on the break. Alex was set free on the left and as he surged toward goal he was cynically fouled; the defender was lucky to escape with a booking. We had a rare tense moment shortly afterwards when Weston were awarded a free kick in a central position 25 yards out after Mike obstructed their central midfielder. A short touch and the ball was sent over the wall and dipped, only to hit the post. The attacker running in couldn't control the rebound and shot wide and over.

Space opened up even more in the second half and we made some good chances by switching the ball from one wing to the other. Peter played Ivan in down the right wing but his outswinging cross was too close to the 'keeper with Christer running in. Peter then had a couple more twenty yard drives, both of which almost hit the target. Tom was in the action when Andy knocked in a cross from the right. He met the ball about 15 yards out and his piledriver of a shot was heading for the roof of the net when the goalie somehow managed to get his hands behind it and push it over the bar.

Weston did create some chances, but they were rare. One opportunity came when Mike slipped while chasing a Weston attacker, but Kirk got across quickly to cover and delay the attack.

Our second goal was unusual: the referee made a dubious offside decision in Weston's favour on the left, and the free-kick was quickly taken but blocked before if reached our half. A diagonal pass was played to Andy on the edge of the box (by whom, I wonder). He turned his defender, ran towards goal, took his time lining up his shot... and hit it straight down the middle. Luckily the 'keeper didn't get his body behind the ball and it slipped through his arms and into the net

This was a confident display with lots of good passing, excellent teamwork and the right result - streets ahead of the first game.

Squad: GK (name?), Mick, Mike, Kirk, Ron, Kelvin, Pap, Tom, Andy, Paul, Peter, Ivan, Victor, Joe, Steve, Christer, Alex

Lexington 0 - 6 MPS

2009-07-16T23:18:00.003-04:00

We got our summer season back on track with a confident and occasionally casual win against Lexington. The setting was idyllic, a balmy summer evening and a freshly mown pitch in a forest setting. Your correspondent turned up late in the first half and had just missed the rare spectacle of a Tim Rosa goal, an excellent strike by all accounts, but I can't report on hearsay. Eric had earlier given us the lead when the Lexington 'keeper couldn't hold his shot.

With a two goal cushion we relaxed and started putting some good moves together, but we missed the final incisive touch to increase the score. Pap made a run down the left and dropped a teasing cross into the six yard box only for the 'keeper to get a touch and push the ball out. Christer hit a powerful shot from the edge of the box that looked to be going just wide of the left post when Eric got a touch, but he put the ball wide of the right post. Joe hit a firm shot from twenty yards that flew just over the angle of crossbar and right post.

Late in the half Lexington had a good chance to get back into the game when a defensive error fed the ball to a lurking attacker on the edge of the box. Victor could only watch helplessly as the ball was curled over his left hand but it hit the crossbar and was cleared.

The second half started much as the first had ended: we were controlling the game, with occasional lapses in concentration. For a spell of ten or fifteen minutes the ball was given away cheaply and the defence looked a little disorganised. Lexington almost scored when a good low shot from fifteen yards beat Pap in goal but was stopped on the line by Tim Rosa. The shock of that close call seemed to galvanise the team and we increased the pressure considerably on the tiring Lexington team.

Joe fed Victor with a perfect angled pass from the middle to outside left, and Victor's cross was deflected for a corner. Steve took the corner and got the ball back from an attempted clearance. He rounded a defender close to the bye-line, ran the ball closer to the goal and deftly chipped a cross over the outstretched hands of the 'keeper, leaving Eric with a simple touch to score. A couple of minutes later Tom chested an attempted clearance to Eric on the edge of the box and he hooked the ball into the bottom left corner to complete his hat-trick. It was at this point that one of the Lexington defenders was heard to complain about shots defying the laws of physics.

Our fifth goal was a beautiful end-to-end move involving so many people that some names may be missing. Kirk played from in front of our penalty area to Tim on the left, who pushed it down the line to Tom; he cut the ball inside to Joe, from where it was sent to Paul on the right wing, half way into the Lexington half. Paul ran past a defender and cut in a low cross that the 'keeper managed to partly block, only for Steve Shea to step up and tap the ball into the gaping net. Easy.

Just before the end the Lexington 'keeper managed to get his fingers to another corner from the right, but Paul was on hand to knock the ball in from close range.

Squad: Victor, Mike, Kirk, Tim, Ron, Pap, Tom, Eric, Paul, Steve, Joe, Christer

Summer Season

2009-07-13T22:11:00.005-04:00

Hurricane 1 - 0 MPS

We kicked off our summer season with a long trip to our first game against Hurricane at Wenham. The pitch looked like it had been installed that afternoon, shiny new turf with a set of lines for every conceivable field sport. After dominating the first half and hardly letting Hurricane over the half-way line, we faded badly and conceded a soft goal to experience the strange taste of defeat.

Starting in a now unfamiliar 4-4-2 formation, Mike A and Mick were solid at the back; Paul and Eric started in the centre of midfield and held the ball well. We had a number of good attacks stemming from moves down the wings, but had difficulty converting our pressure into shots on goal. Mid-way through the half Mick had a good shot from 25 yards but the 'keeper was right behind the ball and held it well. After a penalty area scuffle towards the end of the half the ball broke free to Ivan about fifteen yards out. His shot was blocked and Steve Shea hit the rebound but just over the bar from eighteen yards.

The second half was a very different game: Hurricane were much more aggressive, not giving us any time on the ball and forcing errors. We were having difficulty stringing passes together, and when we found some space it was very quickly closed down by the Hurricane midfield and defence. Mid-way through the half Steve was dispossessed 30 yards out from our goal and there was nobody behind him to block the attacker from running through and slotting the ball past Samuel.

In the last fifteen minutes we came back into the game as Hurricane tried to put a lid on it. Karsten made some space on the left side of the box and threaded the ball square to Ivan, whose shot, while directed exactly at the far corner, was hit so weakly that the 'keeper had time to lie down and wait for it to arrive.

With a different referee we might have had two penalties during this final period. Paul ran onto a through ball played into the left side of the box. The 'keeper rushed off his line and seemed to make no attempt to play the ball as he piled into Paul, leaving him sprawled on the deck. Late on Karsten rounded a defender in almost the same spot and was hacked down from behind, falling at least three yards inside the area. In a novel redefinition of the rules, the referee awarded a free kick, the offence adjudged to have started outside the box. Mick hit the kick over the wall, but it was an easy stop for the Hurricane 'keeper. The final whistle was blown, leaving us with some work to do to get the summer season on track.

Squad: Samuel, Mick, Mike, Kelvin, Tim, Ron, Pap, Victor, Ivan, Tom, Eric, Paul, Steve, Christer, Karsten

Playoff semi-final

2009-06-21T23:33:00.005-04:00

MPS Newton 2 - 2 Needham (a.e.t)
(Needham won 4-2 on penalty kicks)

Our playoff semi-final against the wild-card team, Needham, was switched to their turf field because of the threat of a(nother) rain storm. The pitch was pristine and almost as wide as it was long - plenty of space for the wingers, perhaps?

We started well and Needham didn't really show in the first 15-20 minutes as we had them pinned in their own half. Andy had a good shot from just outside the box early on that forced the 'keeper into a diving save to his right. A little later Pap had a good header cleared off the line during a goalmouth scramble.

Mid-way through the half Needham came more into the game, and began to string together some good passes. We started giving the ball away cheaply and created some problems for ourselves. We were a little fortunate when Needham's central midfielder had two attempts at a shot from the edge of our area: the first came back to him off his own player, the second was well blocked by Mike Altchek.

Christer made a weaving run down the left side from half-way line, riding three or four tackles. When he got to the edge of the Needham area he held off another challenge, the defender fell, and the ref awarded Needham a free kick. Other than that curiosity, the referee had an excellent game.

As usual we started the second half more aggressively. Steve Shea created a couple of good chances by putting the defence under pressure, once on the left, once on the right. The pressure continued and when Pap made an excellent cross from the left into the six-yard area, Bardot was on hand to score with a lunging header.

Once we had the lead Needham were forced to put more players forward. The defence was put under a lot of pressure, and Kirk and Tim R made a series of timely headers to cut out long through balls. Samuel blocked a shot from 20 yards but the ball rebounded into the path of the portly Needham attacker. His first-time shot was on target but Samuel manged to get his hands to the ball and turn it over the bar. We had a few chances on the break, the best of which was when Bardot made an excellent run down the left side. The Needham 'keeper did well to get down and block his low shot.

Then, two lapses of concentration in the space of less than ten minutes allowed Needham to get ahead. Their first goal came from a corner, the Needham player managing to make enough contact under pressure five yards out to score. Their second goal was a carbon copy, except the attacker, surrounded by white shirts, was given space and made a good contact with his head to power the ball past Samuel.

Needham tried to lock the game down as we entered the last ten minutes. Andy shot again from the edge of the area, this time just over the bar with the 'keeper in trouble. Then Bardot had a shot from slightly closer that was blocked, but Karsten controlled the rebound with his right foot and curled the ball around the goalie with his left to tie up the scores.

As legs became heavy in extra time, Needham created the better chances. When Ivan stretched to clear a dangerous low cross from the left the ball could have gone anywhere, but it ricocheted off his shin for a corner. In the second half Needham's left-side attacker latched onto a ball played into the area, but Ivan blocked his shot enough to put the ball onto the post and out of play.

Penalty kicks were always going to be difficult against the imposing Needham 'keeper. Bardot placed the first to the 'keeper's right, then Tom hit his low but straight down the middle and the 'keeper blocked. Andy placed his kick to the 'keeper's left, but Kelvin hit it too close and it was saved. Needham had scored four at this stage and had booked a place in the final.

End of Season celebrations at the Boca Bar

2009-06-21T22:30:00.025-04:00

We gathered at Kelvin's Boca Bar to celebrate our promotion to Division 2. Kelvin and his team provided us with excellent food and drink, and made a special effort for the veggies.

The end-of-season awards were announced including the coveted Golden Ball (once known as the Golden Boot, but changed for budget reasons) as well as many other awards of varying degrees of seriousness, including:

Most Valuable Player: Mike A

Golden Ball: Bardot (10 goals in 10 games)

Best goal: Andy's first-time strike from the edge of the box in the second game against Shake-Shake

Most improved defensive player: Mike O

Most improved attacking player: Ivan

Lamest excuse for a shot: Samuel

Sartorial elegance in the new kit: Kirk

Most expensive yellow card: Tim R

Schwarzenegger award for muscle development: Tim T

Cambridge 1 - 9 MPS Newton

2009-06-14T11:53:00.003-04:00

It's not often you see tight-cropped turf. Either somebody inadvertantly ran a lawn-mower over Cambridge's hill-top field, or it's so old that it's been worn down to rubber chips interspersed with occasional blades of green. It is at least flat, and despite the heavy rain the small pond developing on the side never advanced past the touchline.

Ten minutes before the kick-off Cambridge had mustered a single hardy soul. By the time the referee started the game they'd managed to get a team of eight enthusiasts - relegation is so demotivating. To their credit, the eight put up a decent fight and managed to score a very good goal, but there were simply too many gaps for them to plug as we moved the ball well on the large pitch.

We scored a quick goal: Victor played a nice pass through the defence from the right and Karsten ran on to shoot easily past the 'keeper. Karsten picked up a second from Christer's cross shortly afterwards, and the race for the Golden Boot was wide open.

Mike Altchek, given the opportunity to have a run at the front, made the most of it with some perfectly timed runs. He ran onto Andy's through-ball and slotted the ball into the net; a couple of minutes later he collected Pap's pass with his left and beat the 'keeper with the outside of his right - or was it the other way around?

Ten minutes from half time Steve Gans, playing on the left, pushed a short pass forward to Joe, who pumped a low angled cross between the defenders for Ivan to run onto from the right. His low drive past the 'keeper's right hand hit the net... and came out the other side. Incredible force or simply an existing hole? You decide.

We created a whole host of other chances because of the amount of open space. Tim Rosa played a high cross from left to right that Ivan hit on the volley, low but well wide. Christer weaved in from the right and played the ball back to set up Steve G, but he mistimed his shot and it skewed wide (Peter: "it almost didn't even go out"). Joe (I think) had a fine shot from the edge of the area that produced an equally fine save from the 'keeper, who touched it over for a corner.

With a five goal cushion at half time Samuel decided to experiment. Mike O came out of goal to run the left side of defence, Ivan dropped back from midfield to the right and Kirk tried to train the pair on the job. Ivan's first pass as right back was played perfectly between Mike and Kirk, but Kelvin, who'd donned the green jersey for a spell in goal, was alert and cleared any suggestion of danger.

Bardot showed his Golden Boot intentions by lashing a pile-driver of a shot into the top of the net from close range on the right. He then scored a second from a similar position that merely caused the net to ripple.

Cambridge managed to pull a goal back at this stage when a careful build-up resulted in a dangerous cross from their left wing. Their best player met the cross with a powerful header from eight yards out that tore past Kelvin's left hand.

The Golden Boot was all tied up at this point, and a comically polite scene followed. Christer played across the box the Bardot in his favoured right-side position, but rather than shooting he squared the ball, setting up Karsten in the centre, who, in turn, played the ball back to Christer on the left. After you, no after you, no I insist... Christer ended the comedy by scoring from close range.

The calmest play of the game came when Andy collected the ball in a central position 20 yards out. Without moving from the spot he managed to nutmeg two players before playing a pull-back and spraying the ball out wide to the right side. Complete serenity.

There were also many chances that came to nought. Steve Shea went on a twisting run across the face of the Cambridge goal, but couldn't find enough space to turn in a shot. Andy tried an opportunistic shot on goal after the 'keeper had cleared from the right, but got under the ball and it went high and wide. Tom had a good snap shot from the centre that spun wide of the left post. And Pap cut in from the right and hit a low, powerful strike that also curled wide of the left post.Then Bardot put himself back on top of the stack for the Golden Boot as he thumped another great strike from the right side into the roof of the net.

The ref cut the game short by about ten minutes, the outcome clear. An impressive run of games means that we're in the elite group of three teams in the league undefeated this season - worthy champions.

Champions

2009-06-08T23:12:00.006-04:00

MPS Newton 4 - 1 Lowell Alligators

We started our second-to-last game against Lowell needing just one more win to be crowned division champions. After a shaky start we gathered some steam and pinned Lowell into their own half, but their 'keeper kept us at bay. The frustration mounted in the second half until an unusual goal got us on track for a division-winning result.

During the first ten or fifteen minutes we were looking a little nervous and our defence seemed leaky. More than once a player was moving unchallenged towards goal with a man free to pass to - a better opposition might have punished us in the opening stages. Fortunately, Mike "Safe Hands" Orscheln was as solid as ever in goal when there was a threat - not easy in the early stages, with the slick ball and slippery surface.

There was one bizarre incident early on. Lowell were lining up to take a throw-in when one of their players collapsed, writhing and yelling just outside our penalty area. Had he been blinded by the sun's reflection off Kirk's shiny boots? No, Kirk had merely trodden on his foot. Eventually realising he wasn't going to get a free kick, he hobbled of the pitch, to continue his scheming on the sideline.

We slowly began to take control of the game and created some good chances during a strong spell in the middle of the half, but were repeatedly denied by some good goalkeeping. Peter, Joe, Christer and Andy all had good chances blocked, and Karsten headed narrowly wide.

For the last ten minutes of the first half we once again allowed Lowell too much space and they looked dangerous coming in from the wings. This continued into the early part of the second half, when we were passing badly and giving the ball away cheaply. The tide began to turn after about 15 minutes when a Lowell forward collected a good pass into our penalty area. With the goal at his mercy, he wound up for a shot but had the ball swept off his boot by the sprinting Mike Altchek.

We then began to turn the screws and it seemed only a matter of time until we scored. Bardot had a great chance when he burst into the penalty area on the right, but his powerful dipping drive hit the crossbar.

The breakthrough came with a move of perfect simplicity that ended in the least conventional goal of the season. The ball was played across the midfield from left to right, then up to right wing to Andy, whose dipping cross landed just in front of Karsten on edge of the six yard box. Scoffing at the thought of playing the easy shot, he managed to chest the ball into the goal after it had bounced up to knee height.

The opening goal eased the pressure and we started putting together more fluid moves. Our second goal also had a slightly unusual flavour. Andy played the ball into the right corner for Ivan, and his far-post cross took a couple of deflections and looked to be heading out of play. While the Lowell defence waited for the whistle, Tom managed to pull the ball back from the bye-line to Karsten, who casually popped it into the net from a tight angle a couple of yards out.

Peter had already tried a couple of looping cross-field passes, and his third was the worst of all - as a pass. As a shot on goal from the right, it had that element of surprise that caught the otherwise excellent goalkeeper off guard, and he could only flounder backwards and watch the ball drop behind him into the left corner of the goal.

With five minutes left, Bardot set up Victor for our fourth goal. He made some space on the right, rounded a defender, and laid off a simple three yard pass that Victor hit first time into the far corner.

With five seconds left we conceded the softest penalty of the season. That same player who had been crying about his foot early in the game challenged Mike A for the ball on the edge of our penalty area. Realising he had no chance in this competition, he clicked his heels together, made a wish and did the full dying swan act just inside the area. The referee sympathetically pointed to the spot and Mike O had no chance as the penalty was struck to his right. The Lowell crowd went wild.

Five seconds later the real celebrations could begin. This had been a game with some hairy moments, where we alternated between sweeping moves that tore the Lowell defence apart and creeping moves that tore our defence apart. But there's the sign of a good team again - play well and win, play badly and still win. Here somes Division 2.

We retired to Bardot's garden for a barbecue, refreshments and detailed analysis of the game, season and international beers.

Squad: Mike O, Kirk, John, Mike A, Tim R, Andy, Karsten, Ivan, Joe, Pap, Steve G, Tim T, Tom, Victor, Bardot, Christer
Selector-in-chief: Samuel
Grillmeister: Bardot

Weston 2 - 2 MPS Newton

2009-06-01T21:00:00.006-04:00

We had a frustrating outing to Weston on Sunday, though the stage was beautifully set. The weather couldn't have been better, the huge pitch was in excellent condition, and the residue of Saturday's rain lay on the surface. Slide tackles were sure to be back in fashion.

While we created many more chances than Weston, we didn't capitalise on them, and went through a few spells of defensive meltdown that had coach Samuel fuming in his technical area. The meeting of our 3-5-2 with Weston's 4-5-1 also created a packed midfield, even on the wide-open spaces of that pitch. And we didn't use the available width, which is where we were so effective in our first meeting five weeks ago.

The slick field initially caused problems to both sides, plenty of players experiencing that "hole in the boot" feeling as the ball skidded away. Nevertheless, we started more confidently and had Weston pinned in their own half for most of the first twenty minutes. We took the lead when Andy's cross from the left was spilled by the Weston 'keeper and Steve Shea, with a deft swivel of his hips, displaced the closest defender and collected the ball for a simple tap-in.

Weston came into the game more as the half progressed and started causing us a few problems. Mid-way through the half Kelvin made a great last-gasp challenge and cleared the ball when it looked like the Weston forward would have a close-range shot at goal. Weston's equaliser, ten minutes before half time, came in the most unfortunate way. The ball was played into the left side of our box and a midfielder struck a good shot from about 12 yards that Mike managed to parry but couldn't hold. Tim Rosa raced in to clear, but so did Victor, and Tim's attempted clearance cannoned off Victor and into the net.

In the second half we created more clear-cut chances. Fifteen minutes in Andy collected a quick throw-in just inside our half and quickly released a low pass straight up the right channel. Bardot ran behind the defence to collect the ball ouside the Weston area and cut in before placing the ball neatly into the left side of the goal.

We still hadn't found a good rhythm, although we managed to create further good chances. Bardot collected the ball from a Weston goal kick and carried it straight to edge of the box, but his low shot went inches wide of the left post. Then the Weston 'keeper made a good save to stop Bardot rounding him and the ball skidded free. Victor cut the ball in from the right and Bardot's shot went just wide of the right post. The neatest move of the game had Andy playing Bardot free on the right, from where he clipped in a dangerous cross. Karsten, running in at the far post, climbed and headed powerfully just over the angle of post and crossbar.

Mid-way through the second half Weston were still looking dangerous and we seemed a little shaky in defence. For a spell we couldn't get the ball under control and string a few passes together. Fifteen minutes before the end, after another failed clearance, Weston played a high cross in from our right side that dropped perfectly into the box for a midfielder, who made no mistake with a powerful half-volley into the right side of Mike's net.

A slightly disappointing result, even though Weston were worth their point. The midfield was essentially blocked for most of the game, and we failed to use the copious width of the field. Still, one more victory is all that's required to take the title - roll on Lowell.

Squad: Mike O, Kelvin, Kirk, Mike A, Tim R, Andy, Karsten, Ivan, Joe, Pap, Steve G, Tim T, Tom, Victor, Bardot, Christer, Steve S
Sidelined: Samuel

Wayland Wahoo 1 - 4 MPS Newton

2009-05-25T23:19:00.004-04:00

Our Memorial Day encounter with Wayland took place on the best-groomed field we've played on this season. In a mirror image of our first game against them, we went through extended periods where we lost all shape and were under continuous pressure. Thanks to Mike Orscheln's solid handling, though, Wayland never had a chance of capitalising on their early lead.

The standard of the refereeing was once again questionable. Some of the Wayland tackles, while probably not malicious, were definitely late, and the ref wasn't providing much protection. That said, it also worked to our advantage: when Peter was robbed in midfield and fell to the ground with a yell, we were awarded a free kick. As a sporting gesture Peter played the kick directly to the Wayland 'keeper.

During the opening minutes the energetic Wayland side found their rhythm much more quickly than we did and had us pinned in our own half for long spells. They took the lead after only 10 minutes when a corner from the right bounced around our area before looping into the far corner.

We started to wake up after kicking off again and had a whole series of good chances before equalising. Steve Shea and Karsten both hit good shots from the edge of the area that went inches over the bar. Peter was played in behind the defence on the right, but he lifted his shot a touch high as the 'keeper advanced and the ball rebounded off the crossbar. Our equaliser came when Andy's free kick from the left was handled by one of the defenders in the wall; Andy hit the spot-kick low to the goalie's right to level the scores.

We were gifted another penalty just before half-time as Christer (I think), with his back to goal and the ball moving out of the area, was tackled from behind. Andy's strike was a carbon-copy of the first penalty kick, but this time the 'keeper got down well to parry.

The second half started with the game finely balanced - although we'd created many chances, the scores were level and Wayland were always dangerous with their long ball tactics. But we took the lead when Kelvin hit a free-kick from the left that caused panic in the Wayland defence, and the ball was only cleared to the edge of the area. Tom hit the ball back into the mixer and Peter poked the ball home from close range.

Like us, Wayland were energised by falling behind, and there was a worrying spell of 10 or 15 minutes where we were put under intense pressure. It was the sure handling of Mike Orscheln that kept us ahead - he held everything that Wayland hit at him.

Bardot relieved the pressure by scoring an excellent solo goal. He surged down the left side, swatting away the attention of three defenders before shooting low past the keeper. Shortly afterwards Bardot made a similar run down right and clipped the ball back for Karsten, who was unmarked in the centre of the box. With the goal gaping, he hit his shot at the 'keeper, who gratefully stuck out a hand and pushed the ball over. Karsten compensated by scoring the fourth goal: he ran onto an exquisite cross-field pass played from the left by Victor and easily found the net from 15 yards.

This was not our best performance of the season, by any stretch of the imagination. But it allowed us to show what good teams do - win, even when playing badly.

MPS Newton 3 - 3 Shake-Shake

2009-05-17T22:31:00.008-04:00

Sunday's game was a top of the table clash with our nearest rivals in the division, Shake-Shake. We took the lead three times, but in the end had to settle for a draw after a closely fought contest that we could have won. There were some breathtakingly bad challenges from the otherwise skilful Shake-Shake team - the number of two-footed challenges on the slick surface might merit a new name of Break-Break. Also notable was the number of missed chances: has Bardot's golden boot lost its sheen?

Heavy rain overnight and during the game produced some interesting movement of the ball off the surface. There was a cautious opening phase after Bardot once again attempted to score from the half-way line after the kick-off.

Shake-Shake are strong in the centre and our chances were most likely to come from the wings. We took the lead when Pete Bradley played the ball down the right side to Ivan. He took one touch to get past the full-back and delivered a low cross to the top of the penalty box. Andy turned on an uncharacteristic burst of speed to meet the cross and hit a sweet first-time shot high into the left side of the goal.

Shake-Shake levelled the scores with a pinball goal. Tim Rosa blocked a powerful shot from the edge of the box, but the ball cannoned back to the edge for another attempt which curled away from the diving Mike and hit the right post. The rebound skidded across the face of the goal and was hit in again from 8 yards, and although Mike had scrambled across and managed to parry the shot, it crept inside the left post.

Our second came from Andy's excellent free-kick from the left that landed right in the middle of the penalty area. Pete Bradley met it first-time and (his own words) it could have gone anywhere, but it bulged out the back of the net to restore our lead.

Within a couple of minutes Shake-Shake had tied up the scores again. Their left-side midfielder turned inside Victor and hit a low cross five yards out from goal where two attackers were queueing up for the simplest of knock-ins. For most of the rest of the half we lost our way, punting long balls forward in the hope of finding Bardot. We gave the Shake-Shake midfield too much time and our defence was under almost continuous pressure.

We had a good shout for a penalty turned down when Pete Bradley jumped to chest down a cross from the right. He landed on his back after one of the defenders ran through him, but the ref waved play on.

We started the second half in better shape and managed to dominate the first 20 minutes, when we could have (and probably should have) scored two or three more.

After some confusion between a defender and the 'keeper Bardot stabbed in a close-range shot that hit the left post. Pap drove the ball back across goal but it came so fast that Bardot couldn't make good contact and turned it wide. Later, Samuel collected the ball on the the left side of the box and managed to draw the 'keeper, who'd advanced to close him down. Sam managed to lure the goalie outside the box, turned inside him and delivered a cross to the far post, but Bardot's header hit the side-netting. Then Bardot managed to get in behind the defence on the right but dragged his shot wide of the left post.

We regained the lead about 25 minutes into the half. Andy played a lovely pass down the left channel for Tim Todreas, who sprinted onto the pass in the box but was chopped down. The referee had no hesitation in giving the penalty this time, and Andy placed it high to the keeper's left.

Shake-Shake levelled again with about 10 minutes left. A long cross-field pass from the right side of their midfield was hit about 15 yards out on the volley by the running forward coming in from the left. The strike wasn't particularly good but it wrong-footed Mike and the rest of the defence and the ball trickled inside the left post.

This was a very good game of football, the two teams displaying contrasting styles. Shake-Shake's passing game yielded precious few real chances, but they took those that they got. We created many more scoring opportunities than in the first game of the season, but weren't anything as ruthless in our execution.

MPS Newton 8 - 0 Cambridge

2009-05-10T12:02:00.007-04:00

We had an easy victory on Sunday which, on the evidence of the first 20 minutes, had looked unlikely. We struggled to find our shape in the early exchanges, and had difficulty stringing two or three passes together.

Mid-way through the first half our play began to improve and then chances followed in steady succession. Our first goal came following a high cross from the right that the Cambridge 'keeper only got his fingertips to, sending the ball to the left side of the box. Steve Gans turned it back in, and the 'keeper again got his fingers to the cross but spilled the ball as he fell. Victor was waiting close by and stepped forward to stab the ball across the line. A couple of minutes later Steve Gans again crossed in from the left, lower this time, and Samuel guided the ball into the right side of the net.

Cambridge almost pulled a goal back when a low shot was half blocked by Mike Altchek. The ball looped over the head of Mike Orscheln, who had advanced to close the angle, but he managed to scamper back and scoop the ball out before it crossed the line.

Our third goal was simplicity: John played a low pass cross-field from behind the half-way line to Bardot on the right, who carried it into the box and squared for Samuel to tap in. For us this was a mediocre first-half, but we still found ourselves three goals to the good.

To their credit, Cambridge started the second half in an attacking formation, but that left gaping holes at the back. Each of our second-half goals was relatively unpressured. The first of the half, and fourth of the match, came when Tim Todreas and Karsten found themselves with the ball between them at the top of the box, and Tim hooked it past the advancing goalkeeper.

Five-nil was a simply worked move: Tim Todreas played out square to Ivan at the half-way line, he pushed it forward to Christer who passed it into Karsten's path as he beat the offside trap, rounded the 'keeper and tapped home. Forget triangles: we play in squares. Karsten then picked up his second goal of the game when he made a diagonal run, picked up Ivan's pass, turned his defender and fired a shot between the 'keeper's legs.

Next up for a brace was Christer, who ran onto a long ball, lobbed the 'keeper outside the area and scored into an empty net. Shortly afterwards he cut across the top of the box and curled a lovely shot into the top corner.

There were many, many chances that didn't hit the target. In the first half Steve Shea hit the crossbar but had been called offside, and Christer shot narrowly wide of the left post after Bardot had put him through. In the second, Pete Bradley skinned the right post with a low shot, and Ivan, running in from the right, popped a couple of shots just wide of the far post.

We've now scored as many goals as we did in the whole of last season. Onwards to the battle of the big boots, against Shake-Shake next weekend.

Lowell Alligators 2 - 4 MPS Newton

2009-05-03T21:32:00.008-04:00

Our game in Lowell had almost everything: goals galore, a pair of penalty kicks, lots of yellow flashes from the referee and, above all, an outstanding display of teamwork. For the first time this season we found ourselves a goal down, but fought back to open a two-goal lead, weather a storm in the middle of the second half following a couple of refereeing curiosities, and finally run out 4-2 winners.

Remind me never to complain about the Nahanton field again - in comparison to the Lowell field it looks pristine. Apart from the large grassless triangle in each goalmouth - something I thought had disappeared with my youth - there was a significant barren patch in the centre and even the wings were worn through.

We wore black armbands and observed a minute's silence before kick-off as a mark of respect for Wayland Wahoo 'keeper Steve Camiel.

The field was short - so short that Bardot, receiving the ball from the kick-off, had a shot from the half-way line, but it was charged down. A lively opening from both teams followed, but Lowell drew blood first: Mike's scuffed clearance only found its way to the Lowell number 10 who hit a low shot into the left side of Samuel's net from the edge of the box. There followed a spell where Lowell were on the ascendant and could easily have doubled their lead but for an some outstanding defending. First Samuel managed to get his fingertips to a stinging shot that was heading for the top corner, then Tim Rosa made a marvelous last-ditch challenge to block a shot from 12 yards.

We came into the game more towards the end of the half, and started causing the Lowell defence some problems, particularly from set-pieces. Andy took a series of corners, including one that was met with a powerful header by Christer (or was it Bardot?), only to be headed off the line. Then Andy played in a low corner from the right that Christer met 15 yards out with an unstoppable pile-driver half-volley that levelled the scores.

Andy and Samuel had some inspiring words at the break and we came out roaring in the second half. There was more urgency in our play and we were harrying and chasing every ball. The Lowell players didn't like the increased pressure and started to make mistakes. We took the lead when Andy won the ball in midfield and fed Karsten, who played a looped pass over the defence and into the path of Bardot. The 'keeper got his hand to the low half-volley, but couldn't keep the ball out of the net.

Shortly afterwards Mike Altchek won the ball in a similar midfield position, and while everyone (perhaps including Mike) expected a pass over the top of the defence, a clever, low, angled drive was sent between the central defenders. Although at least two of our players were in offside positions, Karsten, who had timed his run beautifully, was not: he collected the pass, calmly rounded the 'keeper and tapped the ball into the goal. The Lowell players were outraged, but the ref's decision was correct.

The middle of the second half was a rather ugly affair with some nasty tackles flying in on our players and a couple of curious refereeing decisions. First the ref waved on an unintentional but clear handball that allowed Lowell to build an attack from the midfield that resulted in a corner. When Steve Shea jumped for the ensuing cross, a Lowell player bounced off him and fell to the ground. The referee pointed to the penalty spot to give Lowell a lifeline, and Samuel had no chance as the penalty was placed low to his right.

A penalty decision in our favour followed, but Christer appeared to be fouled twice, possible three times before the ref awarded it. Christer picked up the ball in the right corner, rounded a defender and stayed on his feet as the defender lunged, then tapped his ankles as he moved away. At the third attempt the defender managed to fell Christer, by which time he was already well inside the box. Steve Shea hit the kick to the 'keeper's right, but too close: the goalie wasn't a big man, but he didn't have to move far to parry the shot. In the ensuing chaos Steve and Tim Todreas were the first to the rebound but neither could score.

Lowell had more chances during this period of pressure, but the defence (variously Kirk, Mike, Tim Rosa, Kelvin and John) did a great job to keep them at bay, and Samuel held well when called upon. The air was finally taken out of Lowell's bubble when Bardot beat his defender on the right and the 'keeper could only parry his shot into the path of Andy, who tapped home from five yards.

This was a great show of character and an excellent team performance against difficult opponents. Every player contributed something to the hardest-fought victory of the season so far.

Spot on against Weston

2009-04-26T22:13:00.004-04:00

MPS Newton 4 - 1 Weston
A commanding display of passing football this morning keeps us at the top of Division 3S with maximum points from our first three games. But for some good work by the Weston 'keeper, the score could have been much higher. The only blemish was conceding a late goal.

Weston started brightly, with one of their attacking midfielders giving our defence a few difficulties during the opening exchanges. But after fifteen minutes we'd started to stamp our authority on the game, making some good passing moves, using the width, and switching the pace.

Midway through the half Ivan had three attempts on goal in quick succession. First he made a low lunging header under pressure that went wide of the left post. Then he hit a tightly angled shot low from the right that the 'keeper blocked. And finally he ran onto Christer's inch-perfect pass into the right side of the box and arrowed a shot into the top left corner.

Andy got into some space on the left of the box, and hit a shot that the keeper did well to parry, and the defenders managed to clear.

In the first 30 minutes of the second half we increased the pressure and had Weston pinned back. Our second goal, 10 minutes into the half, came when Andy hit a corner from the right. Christer, racing in at the far post, got up well and headed into the roof of the net. Shortly afterwards there was a goalmouth skirmish and the clearance only reached Andy, standing just outside the box. He took one touch and volleyed a shot that was destined for the bottom right corner, but the 'keeper did a great job to push the ball around the post.

Fifteen minutes into the half Karsten played Joe free inside the area, the 'keeper hesitated, Joe feinted a shot, then slid the ball into the left side of the net for 3-0. (Thanks to Steve Shea for the editorial contribution). Minutes later Joe burst through at the top of the box and hit a low shot that beat the 'keeper, hit the inside of the post, and rolled all the way along the goal-line before being cleared.

Our fourth goal came when Andy saw Karsten starting a run and angled a cross from 25 yards out on the right that Karsten met with a glancing header that put the ball just inside the left post. Steve Shea's audacious 40 yard effort bounced in front of the goalie, but didn't cause him much difficulty. And even the defence got involved in the shooting: Tim Rosa's powerful drive from a square pass 25 yards out skidded a few feet wide.

With ten minutes left Weston found their second wind. They started pressing with more urgency and eventually the centre forward, who'd spent most of the game trying to kick our defence, turned well inside the box and hit a powerful shot from 12 yards that Samuel managed to get a hand to but couldn't keep out of the net.

An all-round solid performance: good passing, defending, use of the wings, and plenty of shots on goal, adding four goals to our tally (although Bardot lost some ground in the hunt for the Golden Boot).

New turf, Nahanton style

2009-04-21T22:31:00.005-04:00

MPS Newton 2 - 0 Wayland Wahoo!

Following three games on turf, our first home game, complete with 8 AM kick-off on real grass (gasp!) was always likely to be interesting. I was under the impression that the Nahanton field was being resurfaced during the autumn 2008 season, but no: there was certainly more green to be seen, but that just helped to disguise those familiar bumps.

Wayland adapted quickly to the conditions and kept the ball in the air as much as possible. Unfortunately, there were spells in the first half when we copied their approach, and it didn't look at all pretty, the ball travelling from one end of the pitch to the other without many touches. When the ball did hit the deck, the unpredictable bounce added a little more randomness than usual to the mix.

When we were making short passes we were in complete control of the game. We had an early chance when Steve Shea made some space for himself on the right, but he hit his shot straight at the keeper. Then Steve's cross from the left cleared all the defenders and was met by Bardot close to the penalty spot. The shot was good, sending the 'keeper the wrong way, but it went a yard wide of the left post. The lead came after good work by Bardot down the right flank. He drove in a low cross that was deflected past the 'keeper by a defender, but I think we can credit Bardot with the goal - he's already a strong contender for the coveted Golden Boot.

Wayland manufactured a couple of half-chances, but they mainly originated from long speculative punts into the penalty area. Samuel was equal to the one decent first-half shot on goal, saving with his knees.

In the second half we dominated completely, and Kevin was in control of the penalty area when the ball did break through. Pete Bradley was brought down in a central position 25 yards out, and as the Wayland defence dallied about organising a wall, Steve Shea stepped up and hammered the ball into the net. Sadly, the referee insisted on a retake, which Andy struck past the left post.

After hearing Andy instruct the forwards to stay central during the second half, Samuel spent ten minutes lurking around the corner flag. When he moved into a more central role it opened up space on the left side that resulted in a second goal. Andy played Ivan down the left channel; he checked, pulled the ball back and sent a low cross into the centre. Bardot, standing 8 yards out, simply directed the cross inside the right post to make it 2-0.

The referee had been very sympathetic to Wayland's offside calls throughout the game, but on the one occasion when we played the trap in the second half -leaving two Wayland players offside - he waved away our calls. When the ball went out of play he was subjected to a Bradley barrage, which luckily didn't result in any card-waving.

There were other chances: Tim Todreas, having a strong game on the right side of midfield, had two decent shots in quick succession from the edge of the area. Ivan skipped past a lunging defender on the left but mis-hit his cross as an attacking posse raced in. Victor got free on the left, but shot from a narrow angle when a cut-back might have yielded a goal.

Overall a strong performance where we controlled the game for long stretches. Now if we could only do something about that playing surface...

Shaken, not stirred

2009-04-06T22:47:00.005-04:00

Shake-Shake 1 - 4 MPS Newton

We had an excellent turnout for our first spring season game against Shake-Shake, freshly promoted from division 6. The field in Dorchester was brand-new turf, and the weather, cool and sunny, was perfect for a kick-about.

We started in impressive fashion - and I don't mean our smart new outfits courtesy of Pete Bradley's MPS. In the time it's taken you to read to here (unless you're a speed reader), we were a goal up. From the kick off a few had a touch (Kirk and Pete have been claiming assists) and Karsten played a direct pass down the left to the edge of the box. Bardot ran on and hit with the ball with the outside of his right boot low into the left side of the goal.

Minutes later, the Shake-Shake 'keeper attempted to clear the ball from the edge of the area, but Andy reacted quickly and blocked the clearance. He quickly controlled the ball and placed it between the stranded keeper and an equally forlorn defender to double our lead.

Shake-Shake were playing a physical game and gave us a couple of free kicks around their penalty area. Andy hit a direct kick wide of the right post, and shortly afterwards an indirect kick was awarded twenty yards in front of goal. Steve Shea touched the ball to Pete - who's clearly been practicing his shooting - and he hit a hard, low drive into bottom corner. We were 20 minutes in and three goals to the good.

As the half progressed, Shake-Shake came into the game, and had a few long range shots on our goal. Mike was commanding in goal when more dangerous situations arose. Twice he leaped to take dangerous high balls, first using John as a landing pad, then tumbling over the back of an attacking player and landing painfully - but kept a firm hold on the ball each time.

Our fourth goal, shortly before half-time, was similar to the first. Bardot ran on to a pass down the left side and used the outside of his boot to lift the ball over the 'keeper and into the far corner of the net - he made it look so easy.

In the second half Shake-Shake started playing more and we lost the thread for long periods, expending lots of energy to win the ball only to lose it almost immediately. Our chances were few, but pretty clear-cut when they came. Ivan ran onto a low cross from the left but hit his shot off a stretching defender and out for a corner. Bardot had a chance for his hat-trick from a similar position after Christer drilled in a low cross from the left. His shot again beat the keeper but bounced off the bar.

For all their confident passing, Shake-Shake were not making good chances, and Mike Altchek was sweeping well. Eventually they did carve an opening, and when Tim's clearance didn't get past the edge of the box, a powerful shot came back between him and the stretching Kirk, leaving Mike Orscheln with no chance.

This was a strange game where we absorbed a lot of pressure and had to work hard to get the ball. When we did get it and managed to control it, though, we were ruthless - I can only recall one shot off target in the game. Four goals and, more importantly, three points in the bag.

Friendly in the Frozen North

2009-03-29T22:51:00.009-04:00

Beverley 2 - 6 MPS Newton

Who gets up early on a Sunday morning to drive 50+ miles for a game of footy in the freezing cold, at a totally exposed occasional ski resort? MPS Newton Over-40s - well, eleven hardy souls anyway. Beverley could only field eight players, so Tom donned a white jersey and Andy elected to stay covered on the sideline, leaving us nine-on-nine on a wide pitch - there was clearly going to be lots of space.

We were all drenched before the game started, but with the wind at our backs we were quickly into our stride. A few early moves broke down in front of goal, but then we had a dominant spell that yielded six goals.

First onto the score sheet was Tim Rosa. Sprinting from midfield, he timed his run perfectly, latched onto Joe's slick pass over the defence, and kept his head to slot past the advancing 'keeper.

Shortly afterwards Ivan spotted Tim Todreas in acres of space on the right flank and delivered a pass for him to run onto. Tim carried to ball to the Beverley penalty area, cut inside his defender and squared the ball across the top of the box where Ivan was running in to strike a low shot into the left corner of the net. Minutes later, Joe's angled pass to the top of the box was met on the run again by Ivan, and struck sweetly past the 'keeper's right hand.

The Beverley defence was playing very flat and, given the amount of open space, it was a risky strategy. There were no offside calls as our midfield sent pass after angled pass through the line for the runners. Tim Todreas ran onto a pass some 35 yards from goal and carried the ball to the penalty area before calmly lobbing the 'keeper.

Similarly, Christer was set free, one-on-one in front of the goal. The 'keeper managed to get a touch to the ball as Christer rounded him, but couldn't keep the ball out of the net.

For the sixth goal, Steve Shea was set free on the left and went on a twisting run, first rounding the goalkeeper, then a defender before, with the goal gaping in front him, unselfishly squaring for Tim T to make the simplest of tap-ins.

In the last 20 minutes Beverley starting putting some passes together, and Tom was showing well in an attacking midfield role. After some useful work at the top of the box, a clever pass was played inside the box to the centre-forward, who hit a low, firm shot just inside Samuel's right post

Beverley scored again with the last kick of the game. A high, looping cross from the right, which initially looked bound to go out, was held up by a freak gust of wind. There was a slow-motion moment as everyone watched the ball suspended in front of the goal. Nobody was more surprised than the Bevereley player at the far post when the ball dropped onto his boot laces and trickled over the line. Then someone hit the resume button and we all woke up.

The game was a little artificial because of the amount of space, but we managed some good passing moves on the few occasions we were under pressure. And eleven goals in two games is quite a tally - keep up the shooting boys.

Spring season 2009

2009-03-22T18:56:00.002-04:00

Wellesley 3 - 5 MPS Newton

First division Wellesley invited us to their spiffy new turf field at the Sprague School for a pre-season workout. We had a good turnout, including two close-season signings, Karsten and Bardot. Whatever happened to the official unveiling?

We were working with a new W formation in midfield, and Wellesley wather wapidly... rather quickly took advantage of some early misunderstandings between midfield and defence and opened the scoring, Samuel having no chance in a one-on-one against a sprinting Wellesley forward.

After the couple of early errors we settled into the new formation and started testing the Wellesley defence. Bardot and Joe both forced saves from the 'keeper, and Steve Shea tried some of his signature shots from outside the area. Our first goal came from a set-piece: Joe moved well to connect with Steve's corner from the right, the 'keeper parried and Karsten knocked in the rebound from close range.

Wellesley were looking shaky on the set-pieces as Pap crossed in a free kick from the left and Christer took a touch in the 6-yard box before driving the ball past the 'keeper. The third goal was a sweeping move originating deep inside our half. Ivan played the ball to Karsten on the right, and he carried the ball before releasing Andy. After passing the obligatory couple of players, Andy pulled back from the bye-line and Karsten shot, then scored from the rebound. I see a pattern developing here.

We started the second half much as we'd finished the first, making lots of scoring chances. Mike Altchek joined the fray with a great overlapping run on the right, and his cross was met by Andy who powered his shot under the crossbar to make it 1-4.

Wellesley came into the game a little more as the half progressed and pulled a goal back when John unluckily deflected a cross past Bardot, who had switched from attack to goalkeeping at half time. However, we rallied and recovered the three goal margin when Christer played a great through ball to Tim Todreas, who had timed his run perfectly and slotted the ball calmly into the lower left corner of the goal.

Wellesley scored a late consolation goal that revealed one of the dangers of the 3-5-2 formation. The ball was worked up the left (our left, that is) and Bardot made a good save from a powerful shot. The advancing midfielder on the right had got ahead of Ivan, however, and had an unpressured header from the rebound.

Overall, an excellent start to the season: good passing, lots of movement and even half-decent shooting.