Oneonta/New Paltz

Sorry I took so long to write a new entry but the holiday weekend got in the way.
A lot has happened since Friday, notable we have had two games, an extended weekend and the mighty reds of Liverpool have moved a step closer to getting new owners.

Let’s start with the important stuff of SUNYAC footy. On Friday we hosted Oneonta in a huge game. Not only were they top of the standings in the conference but they are consistently one of the better teams in the conference and region. It is always a tough game but they are the ones we came to Plattsburgh to experience. We were coming off a good week of training in which Waterbury, Spear and Kelleher had installed this new discipline system that consisted of lots of running and punishments. Nobody is complaining about the system as we are working a lot harder and there is more competition that is apparent now.

We started the game like a house on fire, we were all over them and that was in large part again to Erik, his ability to win every header stops the other team from getting out of their own half. Early in the game we won a free kick and I sent one in, Lojo and a couple of their players all collided and the ball fell to Shaughnessy and he tucked it away to give us the perfect start. For the rest of the half we kept the pressure up but couldn’t find the second G.

We knew that the next goal would be important and we needed one in the second half to finish them off. Again, early in the half we got a free kick and I decided to have a go and luckily it went in by sending the goalie the wrong way. Byrnes has pointed out that I can’t score from open play but that’s ok because he can’t score from inside the 6 yard box.

After that goal we had a couple of scares with Oneonta having some scrambles in our box and Martin took one to the face from point blank range to preserve the clean sheet. Martin then went up the other end and crossed it to Chad who took all of 9 touches to control the ball and then lashed one into the side netting for his first goal of the season. His celebration was a bit weird though when he sort of jumped on me and then lost balance and that started an impromptu piley-on. Chad has been working hard this season after missing the last one with an injury and he adds a little something to the team, it’s nice to have him back.

Worm got some minutes up top and he didn’t disappoint when he finished a clear breakaway to make it an emphatic 4-0 win. There is nothing like smashing one of your rivals to send a message to the rest of the conference. Some teams think they already have it wrapped up but there is a long way to go and we have a chip on our shoulder at the moment and I don’t think anyone wants to play us.

The next day we had New Paltz coming to town and they are always a tricky opponent. They actually try and knock the ball around, something I respect, and they can cause some problems. We knew that only a positive result would be acceptable otherwise the Oneonta game would be for nothing. I tried to put that into my pregame speech but Payne had told me the day before that although my speeches start well sometimes I ramble on and he now has the job of nudging me when he has had enough of my spiel.

We were playing against a strong wind but we started well and played some quick passing combinations but we could get that goal. They were also causing us some headaches with their deep crosses and we needed to get into half time either level or in front. Near the end of the half Martin capped a good individual weekend with his first ever goal. I took a free kick and just tried to put it in the POMO (position of maximum opportunity) and he leapt the highest to nod it in. it was a really important goal as they were dangerous and it knocked them back down to size a bit. We were a lot more settled in the second half and seemed to control the game more. Our pressure paid off after we put a ball in the box and after another scramble Shaughnessy knocked it in. he always seems to be there for the easy goal and none of us understand how he does it but he does. With a 2 goal cushion the game was a little more comfortable and we finished it off with 3 minutes to go. We were awarded a free kick in our own half and I drove one into the box and Hamilton flicked it on for an amazing goal, it was truly a brilliant finish. That marked my 33rd career assist and I broke the schools all time record for assists. I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone I played with. Every single one of them helped me set this record in one way or another and it is a great honor and I am definitely full of pride.

Everyone took a break for Columbus Day, I went to Boston and bumped into Jay Sousa, arguably the programs greatest player, and he had some kind words to say about the record and the team and hopefully we can make more of our ex-players proud by our achievements this year.

In huge news Liverpool won their court battle and is now free to sell the club. It looks like the owner of the Red Sox is going to buy us and although I am skeptical about more Americans (no offense) I am also excited about the future of our club.
We leave tomorrow for Fredonia and Buff State in another huge weekend. We need to get another 2-0 weekend and keep the pressure on the other SUNYAC teams.

Til' next week here is a wonder G by one of my new favorite Liverpool player's, Raul Meireles: