Aldergrove v Surrey Classics FC
Aldergrove NW
23rd. October 2011

Weather and Conditions: Sunny and warm with long grass

Classics go one better than City ..........
On a day when Manchester City travelled to Old Trafford to record an incredible 6-1 drubbing at the home of ManUre, the Classics did their own little bit of travelling as they visited their old foe Aldergrove and they did even better than the multi-million pound City stars. The goal-fest started after just three minutes when Chuck McGill ran the ball into the box and, falling to his left, slotted a hard drive from 20 yards to the left of the keeper and into the net. McGill slid onto his knees with his arms raised to receive the adulation from his team-mates. The second goal came after 20 minutes after Alan Massender took a long run down the left wing and centred the ball to Gordie Macklin on the far post. The beady eye of Macklin noticed an unmarked Chris Arcari lurking in the goalmouth and he unselfishly pass the ball to him to give Arcari one of his easiest ever goals as he simply had to tap the ball over the line. A five year old child could have scored it!

Three minutes later, Massender went on another dangerous left wing forage. He was giving the Aldergrove defence a torrid time and he had more space on the wing than an astronaut on a trip to Pluto. This time Massender was not as generous as he cut inside, like the greedy player that he can be, and hammered the ball home for the Classics third goal. In the 33rd. minute a right wing dash from Pat Rohla, just back from international coaching duties with the Trinity Western University revival, resulted in him cutting inside and slicing through the defence to unleash the ball into the bottom left corner with the outside of his right foot. He looked upwards to thank a higher being!

aldergrove    aldergrove

The Classics defence need to be mentioned here as the forwards always seem to get the credit. The defence was resolute and although it sounded like constant one way traffic, the home side did make the occasional break but the Classics defence stood strong, gelled by an impressive display from Doug Rosenlund who's distribution and eye for unmarked space was impeccable. Without the defence, the forwards couldn't score so credit where it is due for once.

It was Massender again in the 33rd. minute who was through on his own and one-and-one with the keeper. The keeper came out to narrow the angle but Massender cleverly chipped the ball over the advancing rearguard and, although the keeper got a fingertip to the ball, the ball ended up nestling in the goal to give the visitors a 5-0 lead. There was a huge defensive mess up in the Aldergrove goalmouth in the 40th. minute which allowed Massender to play about with the ball for an unreasonable amount of time. Eventually Massender released the ball to Alfie Deglan for a shot on goal but Deglan completely mishit the ball and it cannoned off a defender and landed in the mid left side of the goal for a remarkable own goal. With one minute remaining in the half a Rohla right wing cross was headed narrowly over by Chris Arcari so the chance to make it seven was missed. Almost on half time another right wing dribble from Rohla did bring a result when he passed the ball to Massender who had the simplest of chances to complete his hat-trick which he did with some flair.

aldergrove    aldergrove

The second half kicked off and Aldergrove soon had a goal back. A right wing break caused some confusion in the Classics defence and a rare slip from Rosenlund allowed an attacker to get a shot in on Dean Herbert who was staking a claim to become the permanent keeper at the Classics in the continued absence of Pancho Villa who has recently been exiled to Mexico. The shot trickled slowly into the left side of the net. The goal was a consolation as no fightback was ensued and in the 50th. minute Macklin chipped a curler into the bottom left hand corner to record a fine goal. Probably the best goal of the game came in the 85th. minute when Macklin passed the ball to Warren Crowley who was situated on the penalty spot. Crowley leathered the ball home with a devastating right foot shot to the left of the keeper which sent the Crowley Convention into ecstacy (not methylenedioxymethamphetamine but the good kind). There was a slight delay shortly afterwards and nobody could work out the reason why but the referee explained after the game that Jim Eden had dropped his cigar so he stopped the game as it constituted a hazard.

Two minutes from time, a through ball was chased by McGill and although the heart was willing, the legs were incapable and the chance of a double figure score was gone. All credit to Aldergrove who, despite being second best on the day, continued to play with good spirits and showed the sportsmanship that is expected as they continued to try their hardest under difficult conditions. Power to them! Special mention must also be given to the supporters who laid on a veritable smorgasbord of delectables to celebrate Erin's birthday. The Crowleys chose to not miss the game and decided that a tailgate party at the end of the match was the best and only way to celebrate such an occasion. What could be better – a birthday and a 9-1 away win. Manchester City, bow your heads to superiority.

Final Score: 1-9 (0-7)

Stats
GK: D. Herbert
MGW: C. Arcari
HT: A. Massender
Crap Award - G. Macklin (because he wore different coloured socks and as he forgot to give away the award)