West United vs. Blue

** BDSL Summer 2017 **

#9505

This was perhaps the biggest game of West United's history. A consistent .500 team who had never won the league and often failed to provide results against the top teams, the last few seasons of building up the team to compete were finally starting to pay dividends.  In this late season tilt against the perennial powerhouse Blu Stars a good result was essential.  It was the game the doubters pointed to that would expose West United as an overated team who just kept hanging in there at the top spot through luck and circumstance.  The opening of the game was exactly what West United had hoped for, an evenly played affair with good possession by both teams.  Then in a lightning quick counter attack Blue Stars Shawn Moonen finished an excellent ball in to stun the West United faithful! 1-0 down against the team that has owned them since their arrival in the league.  At this point, in the past, the game would spiral out of control and West United would fold under the pressure of such a quality side.   This West United team, however, is proving to be different.  Minutes later, on a beautifully built play starting in the cental midfield and moving out wide forward Ryan Acanfora sent a beautiful pass into the box where Jason Kalls ran onto it and finished with authority!.  Just like that it was 1-1 again and you got the feeling that West United was finally starting to believe they could really pull this off.  The half would end this way with Blue Stars starting to feel comfotable in the midfield and perhaps getting a slight edge in possession.  The second would start with West United shifting there focus to play more direct and try and take advantage of a speed advantage they had up top.  This worked and pressure started to shift to the Blue Stars end. Adam Carl and Brian Kalls persistent speed runs were making life very difficult for the Blue Stars defense.   Then the moment that has been building up since his return from a lengthy hiatus.  On a free kick from the right side, Shawn Clancy played a beautiful ball into the box where Steve Grocott, while marked, managed to strike the ball perfectly on a bicycle kick and it soared into the net for a goal!  Many who saw the goal have already insisted it has to be in the argument for goal of the year in all of the BDSL.   With the scoreline now 2-1 West United were in the drivers seat but to their credit despite limited subs Blu Stars pressed on.  Soon after the goal in another strategic move in this superb game that was playing out almost like a chess match, Blue Stars shifted players around to add speed to there back line. They continued their possession game and maintained composure despite the highlight reel goal and after earning a free kick from the right side, just as West United fought back in the first half so did they.  The ball was sent into the box where a mad scramble led to a lunging goal by Todd Lesakowski.  2-2! Now a stunned West United team faced its ultimate test!  Even though this result would have served them well they persisted.  At this point the games intensity increased and once again, as happens a few times a year, the referee struggled with the fact that an Over 35 league is actually competitive.  He did nothing to control the game and thankfully both teams controlled themselves and put the intensity solely in their play.  Just as the game seemed to be settling into a draw central midfielder Jon Carter found the ball at his feet with space and saw an opportunity.  With a great run by Adam Carl making a diagonal run to draw a defender away from space and Sean Morrisey seeing this and making an intelligent run into the vacated space Jon Carter played a deep ball to Sean Morrisey who found himself alone on net from a difficult angle and finished with precision!   West United took a 3-2 lead with 12 minutes to go!  After this goal, West United did a great job defending the last minute attacks of Blu Stars and resisted just sitting back and instead when they had the chance countered to take pressure off of the defense.   And there it ended with a well earned victory over an excellant Blu Stars team to keep West United at the top of the table at 6-1-1 with only 5 goals conceded all season.  It is games like this that make this BDSL over 35 league a gem in the making!  Awesome intelligent soccer!  Controlled intensity!!  And sportsmanship at the final whistle....  The celebration for West United continued long into the night with strategy for the next huge game against a surging Aliens squad already being discussed.        

Man of the Match- Steve Grocott with perhaps the best goal of the season and his usual great defensive play.

Honorable Mention- Sean Morrisey for his composure to finish the game winner and keep West United top of the table.