Briar pick up an excellent point away from home

Lowell Lusitanos 1:1 Green Briar FC

Lawrence Veterans Memorial Stadium was the venue as Lusitanos and the Briar renewed acquaintances to kick off the 2nd half of the MSSL season. The game had been pushed to mid week at the request of Lusitanos who had many players representing Portugal in the N.E. Lowell World Cup the previous Sunday.

Lusitanos had gotten the better of the Briar on the opening day of the season but the Greens could have given a better account of themselves. As a testament to how things change over the course of a campaign, only 3 players who started in game 1 of the season, lined out against Lusitanos to begin proceedings last night.

As always in games up north, the players would be tested physically, mentally and emotionally as Lusitanos, a perennially good side, would use every advantage of their home field and local support.

The opening 10 minutes was good from a Green Briar perspective. Peter Miller and Gary Clarke saw off any early danger allowing Brian McGuinness to create from his withdrawn striker role. Brendan Mitchell had a shot blocked from close range and Braima Samati had the ball in the net only to be called back for offside.

On the 13th minute mark Lusitanos took the lead against the run of play. A poor Lusitanos kick out was left unchallenged in the middle of the park allowing the ball to be worked forward easily. The striker found a pocket of space and from 25 yards struck a driven ball low to Fernando DelPieri's left and into the net.

In response the Briar had a penalty shout for hand ball waved off and later Kieran Caldwell connected with Braima Samati from a free kick. The striker sending the ball over narrowly on the volley.

Lusitanos came again and were very unlucky not to double their lead when their captain struck the cross bar from a dead ball from 25 yards out. Minutes later a late challenge on a Lusitanos player degenerated into a bench clearing confrontation with accusations of foul play all around. The result of which was a card for a Lusitanos bench player and the Briar captain Davey Coen.

The remainder of the half saw chances at either end. Fernando DelPieri came up with 2 great saves to keep the Briar in it and Coen volleyed over from another Kieran Caldwell delivery. Entering the half one down was disappointing but the players knew the game was still in reach.

Early in the second half Gary Clarke was tenacious in the tackle and produced a great cross to Braima Samati. This time the man from Guinea-Bissau cushioned a volley over the keeper but also just over the bar. As the Briar pushed for the equalizer both Tom Caldwell and Brendan Mitchell picked up yellow cards.

With 25 minutes remaining big Leo O'Connor and new boy Keith McLoughlin were introduced to freshen up the attach. Five minutes later Gary Clarke lost his battle to overcome his ankle problems and was replaced by the versatile Tom Miller.

On 83 minutes the Greens were dealt another blow. Tom Caldwell received his second yellow and ultimately his marching orders for an innocuous challenge the referee determined was worthy of a booking. The ensuing minutes were spent dealing with confrontational fans and the Lusitanos bench as Tom Caldwell and Joe Nolan were asked to leave the grounds before play could restart. The delay was at least 5 minutes.

Such instances are the mental and emotional challenges I referred to earlier. Challenges that need to be met and overcome so that the players can produce on the pitch (where it counts) and earn their right to something from the game.

The Green Briar players were indeed up to the task. The remaining 10 men fashioned an unlikely equalizer with 2 minutes remaining on the stop watch.

Fernando DelPieri came out of his goal to take a free kick from inside the Briar half. Most players had advanced to the 18 yard box in an attempt to make something happen. The ball was flighted to the edge of the 18 where Leo O'Connor rose and met the ball to flick it goalwards. Still in the air, Peter Miller dipped low to head it backwards into the path of Keith McLouglin who had found a yard of space at the back post. On the half volley, Keith sidefooted the ball to the right corner of the net leading to rousing celebrations from the visitors.

The final minutes were a nervous affair but the Briar rear guard held firm for the well earned point. This performance was by far the best of the season with skill, determination and physicality on display from every player. DelPieri in goal kept us in it with some timely saves, Peter Miller and Emmett Doonan led a solid back line. Tom Caldwell put in a typically energetic and influential performance coming off of injury and Brian McGuinness continued his great form, linking well between midfield and attack.

Line Up: DelPieri, Mitchell(YC), Doonan, P Miller, Clarke(70'), Moran, T Caldwell(2xYC), Coen(capt.)(YC), K Caldwell(65'), McGuinness, Samati(65')
Subs: T Miller(20'), K McLoughlin(25'), L O'Connor(25'), T Beausang, B, Claus, C Hannick