MATCH REPORT; Clinton 3 Madison 2

Under strength Madison team hold on for respectable defeat

I missed the game but our intrepid reporter Jodinho managed to write down a few salutary comments about the match! I know i was off white water rafting but it does look like we have a real sustainability issue this season. When only 9 guys turn up for a game you know we are in trouble! It's amazing the team managed the score they did with a reduced team count. This proves we are a good team but we need a core set of 16 guys that more or less will turn up every week. Some tough talking and reality checking needs to happen......and soon!

Report by Jodinho

"An undermanned Madison Celtic faced a revamped Clinton squad Sunday, with Madison proudly staying in the game by playing a controlled and energetic game. As the teams warmed up it became clear that Madison had only 9 players….where was Tom the Coach? Carlos? New recruit Todd? Seems that lack of communication was the culprit once again, as Tom the Coach failed to let his team know he wasn’t playing and he incorrectly assumed that Carlos and Todd got the word that the game was to be played in Clinton and not Madison....even the referee didn’t show up, and Clinton, with a full team of 18 players, agreed to contribute one of their players to act as ref.

Just prior to kickoff, Enrique was able to convince one of his spectator amigos to join the Madison side so that the team had 10. With the new infusion of young Latin players on the Clinton team, Madison had its hands full! Clinton struck quickly, scoring a quick header teed up from just outside the box, in the first five minutes of play. It looked like it was going to be ugly, but Madison pulled together with La Boca and Enrique leading the charge. The Celts had a number of chances on goal via breakaways as Clinton was mostly controlling the ball. La Boca and his defensive line held strong through the first half and the halftime whistle found the score 1-0 Clinton.

Fortunately for Madison, another of Enrique’s amigos, Andre, showed up at half and suited up to make a full strength team of 11. Not more than 2 minutes into the half Clinton scored again to make it 2-0!!! Instead of hanging their heads, Madison played harder, though the midfielders Fribeka, Scottie and Jodinho were literally running in circles and up and down the pitch. Andre provided two quick scores for Madison with skill and pace that wasn’t available in the first of play. A number of flagrant fouls ensued and the teams became rowdy and aggressive. A Clinton player was taken down in the box with about 10 minutes to play and the penalty kick was struck cleanly into Madison’s goal. Madison continued to push and missed a couple of equalizers, and the game ended on bad note with one of Clinton’s players writhing in pain on the ground and both teams completely at each other.

Post-game, several Madison players made it clear that they would no longer be playing on the team if only 9 or 10 players can be fielded."

MAN OF THE MATCH; La Boca; he played great D and shut down their primary scorer....though his Boca nearly got the better of him......