FC QUAKE 3 ALDEN ECLIPSE? 1

Continued our quest for the 2-seed after we ran a bit of a gauntlet in June to come out with another solid month of 2-0-2 +6 Soccer. After a really rough and tumble match Thursday against Southtowns Pediatrics that saw us bow out of Tehel Cup, must say playing a lower level team Sunday was a blessing. Not going to get detailed in this one, as it was the type of game I hate playing. Cant blame the 10 guys who showed for Alden and battled hard Sunday, but just a slow, lethargic pace seemed to have us rather unfocused and sloppy, not what we need nearing playoffs.

Anyways, 6pm rolled around we had 14, Alden had 7. I had Miro wait as long as he was willing to wait for them to get the 3 more guys they expected to show and by time we kicked off around 6:20 they had 9 and got their 10th quickly. Game pretty much played out in one fashion for entire 80* minutes. We would gain possession, build from inside out into their final third with little to no resistance. Then someone would take a crappy touch/shot/cross right at their GK or out of bounds. Alden was playing hard defensively with 9 guys sitting back and waiting for us and 1 guy roaming hoping to get a break off punts. Entire half went this way, with Alden even getting two decent looks Eaton had to be sharp on (Really shame on us for that). We went to the sideline 0-0 and pretty frustrated. Not sure what it is about this type of games but we just didn't have our heads into it.

Second half we came out and definitely looked better, more sharp and direct. Some nice through balls and 2v1 work with our CM/F's were consistently springing guys in on goal, and we broke through about 55' when a nice play by the savvy vet Tommy Schwaab was rewarded by Mammoliti flicking him in alone around the 15 yard mark and Tommy buried it side netting. Not very long later another build up to the Alden 18 found the normal gaping spaces for our OM, and it was Reid this time playing a nice ball in to Fisher who housed it from pretty close range. 2-0 FCQ 65'. We then decided to go back to sleep on the field and managed to somehow give up an odd man break to Alden off a turnover in our half. They made us pay with a nice through ball and finish. 2-1 70' and some yelling to be had by us, inexcusable to not get Eats a CS in this one. Game didn't really change even with Alden feeling a little life as we continued to overall possess 80-20 or better. They had some tired, frustrated Dmen by this point doing a lot of complaining and hacking and seeing some Yellow shaded their way. One such instance their CB tried tackling Mammoliti late after he had released a pass already. That ball sprung Reid again who crossed into the 12 yard area, a defender/GK miss touched a bit and T. Bonadonna well positioned himself to volley the loose ball home near post. 3-1 FCQ 75' and game over at that point. Couple more good looks from us the following minutes, our newest member Mo trying to get acclimated to the club and playing some minutes all over nearly got his first off a set piece that Bonadonna placed nicely into the 18 onto Mo whose left footed full volley just skimmed wide of the far post.

* Around 80' mark their same CB again tackled Mammi and this time tried keeping him down by essentially scissoring him (Gross) as Rick tried getting up. Ricky tried kicking out of the guys leg clamp and apparently caught him in the chest/chin area. Guy went nuts screaming for a foul, Rick obvious frustrated with his shenanigans had couple words for him and things started to get hot. Ref showed both guys YC and their captain decided it was quitting time, not much argument from me other than wishing we had a few more goals with 10' still left to go. Miro called it and we retreated to the bench then Gecko's for some cold beverages.

GG to the 10 from Alden who came and played as hard as they could for 80'. Few salty guys on their backline but everyone else I interacted with are good veteran guys frustrated by attendance. They have some vets who can still play at this level for sure and hopefully they can sort things out for next year and find some more committed young players to fill around them. We move on to Nickel City Wanderers...

is 'Pediatrics' meant as an insult (haha)?  (I watched most of your game v Southtowns, by the way...was Rouse playing?  He's supposed to be their best player, and I didn't notice any possession-dominating CM play...but I'm not sure I'd know him to see him.  Pinzone and Booker looked good, and the team was certainly strong overall, but I'd think that the Bantu team we just played are better....)