MATCH REPORT; Yellow Jackets 2 Madison 2

"Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em "
Twelfth Night (II, v, 156-159) Shakespeare or La Boca?

Another game that was there for the taking; another game that slipped away from the Celts. Although Woodbridge were clearly one of the more organized teams that Madison have played, they did not deserve to get a point out of this match. Madison controlled possession of the ball and were the more inventive and aggressive team throughout the vast majority of the game. However, they fell to the twin problems of not taking chances when they arrived and contriving to be punished heavily for a couple of rare defensive lapses.

A strong and deep Madison squad turned out on a gloriously sunny morning ready to put their unbeaten record to the test again. The much anticipated, and feared, 22 man squad did not actually happen on the day due to last minute injuries, call offs and party recuperation's.

The team that did take the field quickly got into their stride pressing the opposition and getting some early shots in to test the Woodbridge goalkeeper. The Celts defense was once again in superb form dealing easily with every attack and setting up most of the early midfield play. However, after a strong start the Celts started to lose their way and some of the passing became woeful, compounded by bad decison making and an inability to see a team mate unmarked and available. The Celts were struggling to find a fellow player in space and sometimes sent forty yard passes up the field to no one in particular when a short pass would have been more effective. This player "blindness" got so bad that Dejan could have opened up a hot dog stand on his side of the field without attracting the attention of his team mates. Luckily for the Celts the Woodbridge team were equally as bad at holding on to the ball. As the half progressed it still looked like the Celts were the more likely team to score so it came as a shock when Woodbridge managed to take advantage of a rare defensive error to squeeze the ball past Bruce to go one up. The Celts tried to respond after this setback but were clearly knocked out of their stride and were happy when the half ended to allow them to regroup.

The second half started very strongly for Madison with some great attacking runs and shots on goal. Unfortunately most of the shots were going wide or over the bar. Halil was running hard and making the opposition defence work but was having no luck in front of goal. Arniesto and Ilhan were having the same problems. Although the Celts were chasing an equalizer their shooting was becoming increasingly erratic. Just when it looked as though it was going to be one of those days Dejan got the ball wide on the Madison left. For a split second he noticed the Woodbridge goalie a few yards off his line and fired in a superb arcing shot right over his head from a good thirty yards out and into the net. A fantastic equalizer which really galvanised the team to push forward even harder. And though Woodbridge were still somewhat of a threat moving forward it was clear that Madison were the team going for the win. And the go ahead goal for the Celts, when it came, was another stunner. Halil received a a wonderful ball from Telat, controlled it in the penalty box, shimmied past a defender and slammed a beautiful shot past the despairing dive of the Woodbridge goalie. Madison now in their full pomp, pushed for the third goal that would effectively finish off the game. Several attempts at goal came close including a great shot by BOR that crashed off the post and a gilt edged chance for Arniesto to score against his old team. It was not to be, and as surely as the Earth turns upon its axis, Madison must also give up cheap goals. This time a penalty, as a hard hit ball that smashed off Gogglitos hand was judged to be deliberate. A brave attempt by Bruce was not enough to stop the equalizer but it set the scene for a non stop siege of the Woodbridge goal. The last ten minutes of the game saw chances come and go for the Celts but they could not get their nose back in the lead. An unfortunate draw for a team that deserved so much more. On the plus side Madison are still unbeaten after four games all on the road. Some strong defensive play just needs the reward of a bit of luck up front. Maybe someone has to get out there and try to achieve some greatness, no reason to be afraid of that? Shakespeare knew a thing or two about great plays.......

Ode To La Boca ( By Arniesto....)

To score or not to score—that is the question:
Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The shots and volleys of outrageous fortune,
Or to take aim against a solid crossbar
And, by opposing, score them. To shoot, to sleep
No more—and by a goal to say we end
The heartache of a thousand natural misses
That flesh is heir to—‘tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wished. To shoot, to score
To score, perchance to win. Ay, there’s the rub,
For in that dream of goals what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this trodden soil
Must give us pause. There’s the respect
That makes calamity of such long fields.
For who would bear the whips and scorns of …La Boca……

MAN OF THE MATCH; Johnaldo..... and why not? Strangely, he very rarely gets mentioned in these reports but he had a reasonably effective game and just beat out Telat and Halil to the award this week!