Over 30's secure a playoff final berth

Green Briar O30's 2:1 Marblehead

The business end of the season kicked off at O'Connell Park in Watertown on a bright summer New England morning. Carrying a few injuries in the squad Gary Keane still had plenty of talent to choose from on the day.

The Briar dominated possession and spent most of the early exchanges in the Marblehead half. However as with so many other weeks this season the final product was not there and in fact the Marblehead keeper had little to do. Plenty of good positions came to nothing when our crosses were just not right or our deliveries over the top skipped to safety.

The best chance for the Greens fell to Michael Graham who got on the end of a Leo O'Connor cross only to see his close range header blocked off the line.

Disaster struck after 30 minutes when against the run of play Marblehead took the lead. A high ball towards the Briar penalty area looked to be under control. Conor Hannick calmly flicked the ball back to his keeper with his head only to find his net minder had also come to claim the high ball. The result being a soft own goal and a gift for Marblehead who had created little on their own.

The Briar definitely lost some shape after this set back and were very lucky to avoid going further behind. Tom McElwain came to the rescue with a last ditch block inside the 6 yard box. The ricocheted shot found the side netting as the Briar got away with one.

The second half saw just the reaction that Gary would have wanted. The players showed much more purpose and endeavour in the final third and the equalizer finally came from a reliable source. John O'Brien stood up an inviting ball into the box from the right wing and Leo O'Connor rose high to bury a great header.

With plenty of time remaining the Greens felt confident that a winner was there for the taking. As the pressure continued to mount on the Marblehead goal the ball was smashed home in emphatic fashion. Davey Coen beat two in the middle of the park and drove towards goal, drawing a third defender he slipped the ball right into the path of Leo O'Connor. From a relatively tight angle Leo cruched a shot that went through the keeper's hands and high into the net.

There was still time for one more dangerous break by Marblehead, the attacker getting behind the defense only to be brought down by the Briar keeper just outside the box. A lucky break for the team as a penalty shout rung around the ground. With a straight red card the punishment for the infraction, John Hickey stepped up to deputise in goal. John had a great game overall and his willingness to play anywhere on the park for his side is commendable.

The ensuing freekick came to nothing which allowed the Briar to roll into the playoff final next week and one step closer to their ultimate goal for the season. There were big performances throughout the side including John Hickey and Conor Hannick at the back, Gavin Hall in the middle, John Flannery patrolling the wing and John O'Brien hussling up top. But it would be the combination of Davey Coen and Leo O'Connor that tipped the balance and sent us marching to the final.

Line Up: Kelly(RC), Glynn, Hickey, Hannick, McElwain(c), Flannery, Joyce, Coen, Graham, Hall(YC), O'Connor Subs: O'Donnell, Keane, O'Brien(YC), McDonagh, Bagnell, Nassar, Shursky

Games for June 19th

Please be at the field at least 30 minutes in advance of Kick Off

Green Briar O30's vs Marblehead ( 9AM Kick-Off  )
O'Connell Park (Grass)
341 Mt. Auburn Street
Watertown MA 02472 (Map)

Lowell United vs Green Briar FC ( 5:15PM Kick-Off  )
Cawley Stadium (Turf)
450 Douglas Road
Lowell MA 01852 (Map)

Welcome return to winning ways for the Briar

Green Briar FC 4:2 Canon Sportif FC

It is fair to say that after such a poor result last week, when 3 points were left on the table, that this week's fixture was pivotal to the Green Briar's season. A loss could have left the Greens in the doldrum's of the league table but with such a tight grouping of teams within reach, a win could change the tone of an up to now patchy season and see the team climb the table.

The Briar opened brightly and some nice link play between Morton and Samati almost fashioned a chance after 1 minute. Canon's threat to the Briar goal was minimal during this phase of the game. In fact Braima Samati came close when he beat his man in the box but his side foot shot went just wide. The defense was definitely sured up with the introduction of Peter Miller as sweeper as the Briar grew in confidence.

The Briar converted their possession into a lead on 15 minutes. Requils Morton picked the ball up on the left edge of the box and with a quick move he beat his man and got off an beautiful right footed shot. Using the outside of his boot the shot curled across the keeper and into the far side of the net.

Five minutes later the Briar dodged a bullet. A high looping freekick swung into the box from the left was not dealt with properly. Ken Mullane completely flapped in his attempt to address the ball and the resultant scramble ended with a shot over the bar. A slice of luck? Maybe. It has been such suspect defending that has burned the Greens all season but on this day it didn't go in and the team went from strength to strength after that.

On the half hour the lead was doubled. Requils Morton was again involved as he shielded the ball from 3 would be challengers on the edge of the Canon area. As the ball broke goalwards Tom Miller played an intelligent header across goal to Braima Samati. His shot was parried by the keeper into the path of George Lumanyika who had the simple task of a tap in.

Only 3 minutes later it was a 3 goal lead. Davey Coen won a freekick in an inviting central position just over 20 yards from goal. Gary Cassidy confidently took the responsibility to drive the ball goalwards. And what an exquisite drive he produced. There is a purity and gracefulness to the talents that Gary brings to the field that seem to make his extraordinary endeavours on the pitch look effortless. Every ounce of energy in his educated right foot was channeled with perfect mechanics into the football to send it on an arrowing trajectory to the top right corner of the net. The ball nor the keeper deviated an inch left or right in the second it took the ball to find the net. To quote the man himself, "Ridiculous".

Just before the half Canon found the net from the spot. A direct freekick from 25 yards was hit high into the defensive wall. Tom Caldwell was adjudged to have handled the ball on its way and the resultant penalty was dispatched with little effort.

Nonetheless a marked improvement and a healthy 3:1 return for our efforts in the first 45 minutes. The only change at the half was the introduction of Gary Hennessy for Conor Hannick, a change that would ensure the Briar defense would not miss a beat.

Ten minutes into the second half Ken Mullane produced a top class double save to protect the lead. On 15 minutes Ken would also reject a point blank shot as his reflexes and positioning were excellent. This string of saves was extremely important to the Greens as 2 minutes later Cassidy did it again.

Braima Samati was released down the right wing on 62 minutes. With a quick touch and look up he delivered a great cross to the far post to an unmarked Gary Cassidy. Gary took the ball on his chest and struck a volley which he deliberately lobbed over the keeper into the top of the net.

It has been said of the great players that the game slows down, especially in the highly contested environment of the final third. Gary's elegant control and finish was completed with such an efficiency of movement that it looked like it was in slow motion. Yet another quality finish to add to his 2011 season's portfolio.

Although the Briar enjoyed a healthy 3 goal lead, the need for vigilance was emphasised when Ken Mullane found yet another quality save, diving sharply to his left to turn an 18 yard strike away.

Ken's goal would eventually be breached on the stroke of full time by a nice shot on the half volley that found the top corner. There was little that could be done with the strike to be fair to Mullane, whose over all 90 minutes was excellent.

Peter Miller at sweeper was also outstanding in a performance where all Green Briar players acquitted themselves well. Lowell United will complete the first half of the season next week and after this weeks result the game can be approached in a very positive frame of mind.

Line Up: Mullane, Hannick(45'), Goin, P Miller, Lumanyika, T Miller, Caldwell(75'), Coen(c)(YC), Cassidy, Morton, Samati(70')

Subs: Hennessy(45'), McCarney(20'), DelPieri(15')

A Slice Of Humble Pie for Over 30's

Green Briar O30's 1:2 Rovers FC

 

A perfect 10-0 record elluded the Over 30's as they were handed their first and only defeat of the campaign by Rovers FC at the Middlesex High School on a wet morning in Concord MA.

The game had a competitive edge to it from the start and developed quickly into a very chippy affair. The referee found it difficult to stem the tide of late challenges and extra curricular activity behind the play and the game simmered just below boiling point for the 90 minutes.

There were little in the way of chances falling to the Briar in the first half as the Rovers team succeeded in disrupting the rhythm of play and were coming out on top in the 50/50 battles. Rovers took the lead with a very nice finish close to half time.

A turnover in the middle of the park as the Briar looked to build from the back allowed a clean breakaway by a Rovers midfielder. Entering the box he found a curling shot that eluded John Flannery in goal. The finish had a quality that most keepers would have had trouble with.

The second half started with Flannery taking the field and Kelly taking the reigns between the posts. However it was to get worse for the Briar when a free kick from 30 yards was flighted towards goal. Kelly elected to punch the ball but didn't get enough purchase on it. The result was a ricochet off of an on-rushing attacker into the net.

Soon afterwards a shot was deflected by Conor Hannick and looped up into the air and off of the crossbar only to be cleared to safety. After this the Briar gained a foothold in the game and tried to mount a comeback.

Gary Keane, returning from injury, was found with a squaring pass 18 yards from goal. His shot however lacked the venom to trouble the goal seriously. Soon afterwards the Briar was handed a life line.

A driven corner from the left wing was handled in the box for a penalty. Gary Keane took charge of the ball and dispatched it to the left hand side of the net to make it 2:1 with 15 minutes remaining. 

The remaining minutes were dominated by the Briar and a slew of corners and shots peppered the Rovers net. None of the pressure yielded any clear cut chance until the final minutes.

A freekick from Gary Keane was headed goalwards. Leo O'Connor latched onto the flick on but his narrow angle shot flew across the goal to safety.

And that was it, the whistle blew and the Briar were handed with a defeat, and little complaints about the result either. The result proves that having a full strength team with strength in numbers is required for success even in Division 5 of the OTH league. Let's hope it is a lesson the team can take on board for next week's playoffs.

As a side note to the game, the Briar is delighted to welcome back Gary Keane from his knee surgery and hopes he can go from strength to strength in the coming weeks.

Line Up: Flannery, Glynn, Hannick, Concagh, McElwain(c), Kelly, Keane, Hall, O'Donnell, Hickey, O'Connor

Subs: Graham, Nassar

Green Briar O30's secure 1st place in Division on forfeit

Green Briar O30's 3:0* Boston Gunners (Official)

Green Briar O30's 5:2 Boston Gunners (Friendly)

It didn't happen the way it was expected to happen (i.e. by forfeit), but that wont take away from a season long effort that saw the inaugural Green Briar Over 30 team gell as a unit and lead the OTH Division 5C from post to post. This is only the preliminary work however, as the playoffs are around the corner and each player will need to ensure they get everything right to secure promotion from the knock out format.

 

With this in mind the Briar took the opportunity to scrimmage their short handed opponents on the day, in order to maintain their match fitness. With some Briar players volunteering to make up the numbers for the Gunners, it was game on.

 

With the edge taken off of the contest, it can only be assumed that the Briar players switched off. They found themselves trailing after 4 minutes to a speculative lobbed shot as the Briar defense allowed too much space at the edge of their box. This seemed to serve as a wake up call for the players.

 

John O'Brien had the ball in the net but did so from an offside position. John Hickey sent a drive over from 20 yards and he would turn provider minutes later only to see John O'Brien mistime his connection on the half volley.

 

With the chances going begging the Briar would find themselves 2 down after 20 minutes. Again sloppy defending allowed a shot from 18 yards to beat Ken Mullane and ricochet off the cross bar and up into the air. The next piece of action was pure magic.

 

Chasing down the loose ball, Tom McElwain found himself looking skyward and facing his own goal from 6 yards out. With no immediate pressure around him Tom decided to take "the clearance" on the volley. Showing great agility he contorted his body into a position Gerd Müller would have been proud of. And just as Gerd did in 1970 versus England, Tom smashed the ball home on the volley with aplomb. The next edition of the Merriam-Websters may have a picture of Tom next to the words Horses Ass as he pole vaulted into the lead for the not so coveted end of season award.

 

Things needed to improve in the second half if the Briar were to save face. The inspiration for the come back came all the way from the west coast of Clare. Patrick "Muscles" Kelly from Kilkee Co. Clare with forever be spoken in the same breath as Rossi vs Brazil in 1982 and Fowler vs Arsenal in 1994. Kelly in 2011 was the hatrick hero. The first player in the history of the club to record such a feat.

 

His first on the road to Green Briar immortality came just after the 5 minute mark of the second half. He controlled a diagonal ball to the left edge of the box with his first touch and with a dip of the shoulder and a flick past the defender he made room for a shot that was driven with such ferocity, low to the keeper's left, that as the keeper got a hand to it, he was unable to change the tragectory of the ball's journey to the net.

 

 His second came in the most oppotunist of fashions. A ball that was bouncing around the Gunners box was contested in the air by Gavin Hall and Elie Nasser. As Hall fell one way and the ball fell the other, Kelly pounced on the loose ball like a stray cat behind Fitzpatricks of Kilkee and hit a sublime shot on the half volley low to the keepers left.

 

The trifecta was completed just 10 minutes before full time. John O'Brien unselfishly passed the ball off in the box to Kelly. From closer range than his previous two strikes it was merely a formality for him to control and shoot to the net to crown a great performance.

 

In other news, John O'Brien scored two sloppy goals to complete the victory.

 

Line Up: Mullane, Glynn, Concagh, Hannick, McElwain(c), Kelly, Joyce, Hall, Shursky, O'Brien, Hickey Subs: O'Donnell, Caldwell

Games for June 11th and 12th

Please be at the field at least 30 minutes in advance of Kick Off

Green Briar O30's vs Boston Gunners ( 8AM Kick-Off  )
JUNE 11th
Danehy Park (Grass#3)
166 New Street
Cambridge MA 02140 (Map)

Green Briar O30's vs Rovers FC ( 8AM Kick-Off  )
JUNE 12th
Middlesex School Field
1400 Lowell Road
Concord MA (Map)

Green Briar FC vs FC Canon Sportif ( 12PM Kick-Off  )
JUNE 12th
Danehy Park (Grass#3)
166 New Street
Cambridge MA 02140 (Map)

Another tough defeat for the Briar

Suchi FC 4:2 Green Briar FC

With a weakened squad through injury and general absense, the Green Briar looked to bounce back after their heavy defeat last time out against Olympiakos. Alas it was not to be against a Suchi side that the Briar players will feel were there for the taking.

As the game started, the Briar was not at full strength but nonetheless began brightly and when Peter Miller took the field the team settled down and played some tidy football on the familiar turf field of Colombus Park in South Boston.

The Greens could not convert their possession into a lead however and with a combination of individual mistakes and a backline that was exposed for pace, Suchi raced to a 3:0 lead at the half. Every player is prone to a mistake but repetitive untidy play and poor decision making in the defensive third suggest problems with concentration and composure under pressure rather than anything to do with bad luck. Such school boy errors will need to be eliminated if the team is to get back on track this season.

A teams's ability to play as a united front in the face of heavy pressure and an individual's ability to dig in with his fellow team mate showing support, comradery, concentration and accountability for their own performance level will help the Briar right the ship and pick up the points they know the hard work in training deserves.

The players showed great desire to get back into the contest in the second half. Captain Colin Goin had a hand in the Briar's reply. A great driven freekick was met in the 6 yard box by Brian McGuinness who powered a crisp header to the net.

Unfortunately Suchi FC found a fourth with a quality goal from distance to restore their 3 goal cushion. Green Briar came again however and added their second from the spot after a handball in the box. Brian McGuinness stepped up and bagged his brace confidently.

Rob Coyne was next to threaten the Suchi goal. A late run into the box was perfectly timed to meet a low cross from Eamonn McCarney. His sliding strike only found the under side of the bar and bounced to safety. As the Briar pushed forward in search of the comeback, another defender got into the action. Gary Hennessy found a yard of space in the box but was unable to connect with his head as the ball flashed across the goal.

With two games left before the mid season break, the Green Briar have a chance to forget the recent run of poor results and start climbing the table again. That can start on the 12th June against fellow strugglers Canon Sportif FC. This is a tie that should be targeted for a good performance as Lowell Utd wait in the wings the following week.

Line Up: Mullane, Hennessy, Goin(c), Lally, Coyne, Claus(75'), McGuinness, Doonan, Samati, McCarney, DelPieri(15')

Subs: P Miller(75',YC), G Clarke(15')