2004/2005 Soccer Season Roundup

Soccer News

6/5/05: The final game of the season had the Gaels playing NY Ukrainians in the very familiar surroundings of the Verazzano Sports Complex. The First Team had wrapped up fourth spot in their League and automatic Champions League qualification however the Reserves were looking to move up in to fourth spot with a victory. This was not going to be an easy task against the Ukrainians Reserves who would clinch the League title for the third year in a row with a victory. The conditions were perfect for the Astoria players and with sweltering temperatures, the signs were good for the Gaels.  The Reserve Team management made some radical positional selections at kick off putting Joe Butler in goal, Ger O' Brien at center back and Phil Troope up front. For the first two minutes it seemed like a masterstroke however 4-l down at the break and changes had to be made. Having ran himself into the ground in the first half Dave Browne went into goal, Andy O Mahoney and Butler were put up front and John Beirne was told to "sit in the middle". The game finished up 5-2 in Ukrainians favor. Quote of the day came from Joe Butler at half time when he declared " no goalie would have stopped those goals" 

In the First team game the management did not want to take the approach of the radical positional changes that the Reserve team did in case they would upset the camaraderie and goodwill built up among the team. One positional move had Nestor Allen back at left back so he could communicate better with his Center Backs. John Beirne was asked "to sit" again in the middle. Astoria went 2-0 up in the first twenty minutes, Nestor put away a free kick from the edge of the box and Rabbitt scored a great header from a corner to put the Gaels in the driving seat. However it was not to be and Ukrainians got two goals back to leave the final score at 2-2.  Nobody knows for sure what happened for the two goals conceded, any feedback would be very appreciated.    

Overall this season both teams can be satisfied with their performance.  For their first year up in this Division both teams acquitted themselves very well and can look forward to next year on building on this and hopefully challenging for the title.     

Well done to the players and management of both teams for a great effort put in throughout the whole season.

5/15/05: It was back down to Verazzano again this week with our second last game of the year against Empire FC. The Reserves started off very positively and were 2-0 up after 20 minutes with goals from Damian Ward and David Browne. Empire were awarded a penalty on the half hour mark which they scored and this left the score 2-1 at halftime. Empire grabbed the equalizer 10 minutes into the second half and after this Timmy Lynch made some great saves for the Gaels to keep the sides level. Both sides had some good chances to grab the winner but it finished up 2-2.

The First Team were coming off a bad performance against NY Fury the week before and were out to make amends. Victory today would solidify their position in fourth spot and also ensure that they would be playing in Division 2 again next year. The Team responded with a very solid all round performance. They got the go ahead goal after 15 minutes from Barry Feeney. They dominated the game for long periods after this but were unable to get the vital finishing touch to put Empire away. The Gaels defended very well throughout and limited Empire to very few chances. It finished up 1-0 to Astoria and now they can look forward to the final game of the season on June 5th against NY Ukrainians.

5/8/05: At a very windy Verazzano pitch the Reserves drew 1-1 with NY Fury in a very closely contested game. Barry Feeney put the Gaels up after 30 minutes however Fury equalized ten minutes into the second half and that's how it finished up. The First Team put in a very poor performance and went down 2-0 to a strong NY Fury side. They will be hoping to make amends next week when they take on Empire FC at the same venue.

4/24/05: An eventful day in the Metropolitan Oval on Sunday. The Reserves started it off with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over the Banatul Reserves. Goals from PJ Burke, Brendan Reilly (penalty) and JP capped a great team performance. The First Team were in unstoppable form as well as they were leading 3-0 half way during the second half when the Banatul First team took a severe disliking to the Referee and walked off the field.  Goals from Derek McKenna (2) and Michael Conroy had the Gaels in complete control of the game however it remains to be seen what the outcome of the the League Arbiter's decision will be before the Gaels can claim the points.

5/4/05: The League Arbiter determined that the result stands and Astoria deservedly take the three points.

4/17/05: The Reserve Team were hoping to build on their victory over Kandia a few weeks back when they took on FC Japan in the opening fixture on Sunday however they went down 1-0 to a late goal. The First Team went down 2-0 after again playing well and being on top for long periods of the game. Japan took their two goals well and Astoria will need to learn how to keep these games tight even when they are on top . It will be a big test of character in the coming weeks for the remaining four games however it is still very much in their own hands and next week they will be happy to be playing in the Metropolitan Oval where hopefully a change of scenery will bring a change in fortune.

4/10/05: The First Team played Banatul SC at the Verazzano Sports Complex on Sunday in what was a make up fixture from before the Winter break. In what has become customary now Astoria put in a very good effort in the first half creating some good chances but a combination of bad luck and poor finishing meant the sides were scoreless at the half. Ten minutes into the second half and the Gaels got caught by a sucker punch after failing to clear out of the back line. Astoria raised their game again and despite hitting the cross bar and coming close a number of times Banatul grabbed a second goal with ten minutes to go and that is the way it finished. It was another tough loss for the First Team however if they can keep bringing the same effort every week the results will come.

3/13/05: Both teams played FC Kandia in Allerton Field in the Bronx on Sunday March 13th with the field barely playable after the recent snowfalls. The Reserve Team ground out a hard fought 1-0 victory with the winning goal scored in the first half by Neil Ritchie. The First Team were playing the unbeaten  runaway leaders in the Division and despite dominating for periods and creating some good chances they were unlucky to go down 2-0.