First to Third

Sunday September 16, 2012
Chestnut Hill, MA - Let me be the first to apologize for this writer's delay in getting the game recapped properly and posted on the site (I know I'm apologizing to all 4 of you that actually follow and read this blog).  Due to this beat writer's reliance on Red Wine to stave off lower back pains this week coupled with a hellish work week (oh what's that you say, you thought this was a fulltime paid gig?  Unfortunately http://brooklinefc.blogspot.com/ does not have the funds to cover an actual web domain, let alone a salary and benefits for this amateur sports writer).  SO with that being said this will be short and not so sweet recap of what little memory I have from last Sunday.

I'm not sure if it was the ides of September, the cool fall weather or the fact that Brookline FC just didn't have it going this past Sunday but the lads in yellow struggled to salvage a point against a strong Irish Village squad.  Once again BFC had a very strong and deep bench for the match but they were unable to capitalize on their numerical advantage and wear down Village's squad with high tempo soccer.  From the first whistle BFC was slow to act and react.  Irish Village struck quickly and efficiently and slotted home an early lead.  The boys spent the better part of the first frame trying to find their rhythm and pull even with Irish Village.  With the opening 45 minutes all but in the books, BFC was able to get on the scoreboard with some good ball movement inside the box - Steve Kaye deftly controlled a loose ball cut to open space found a wide open KG who cleanly slotted the ball lower left for 8 yards out.  1-1 heading into the break.

The second half saw both squads pushing for the equalizer, the boys in yellow had the lion’s share of the possession but that's not to say that Irish Village were not dangerous.  The lads from Irish Village were on the wrong side of lady luck during this match, having had multiple opportunities to take all three points in the match.  While on the other side of the coin, BFC when in possession could not find their mojo in the last 20yds of the pitch to notch a game winner.  Their inability to play balls through the defense and on goal squandered multiple odd man rushes deep into Village’s final third.  After the allotted 90 minutes the man in the middle decided to gently put both teams out of their misery and blow the whistle to end the match.  It could be said that Irish Village were unlucky to come out of the game with only a single point, conversely BFC were fortunate to come away with at least a little something for their efforts this cool late summer morning.

As noted the prior week, BFC cannot afford to drop points if they want to contend for the D5 promotion spot.  This lack luster result allowed PAAC & Alliance Soccer club to leapfrog BFCl, leaving our boys in 3rd place, two points adrift of the table leaders Alliance and one point adrift of PAAC for the second and final playoff spot.

Brookline FC is back at it this weekend 10am, at Skyline Park in Chestnut Hill versus Harvard (2-0-1).  This is a must win week for the boys in yellow and maroon, anything but a win and they can all but kiss that promotion good bye for the second season in a row.