Hard fought win for Over 30's

Green Briar O30's 2:1 Harvard

With only a few games to go in the season and holding the lead in Division 5C, the Briar needed to navigate a tricky game against Harvard on a holiday weekend with many squad members absent. In fact Harvard would also be struggling for numbers on the day but nonetheless put in a decent performance.

This week's game would start like many others this season. The Briar are notoriously slow starters and with many players clearing their heads from a night of drowning the Champions League sorrows, it was to prove an even slower start than usual.

The Briar were struggling to unlock the offside trap of Harvard and it could be said they squandered much of the possession they enjoyed in the early going. Time and again the Harvard defense was aided by mis-timed runs and even slower deliveries out of the back resulting in an annoying number of offside decisions.

Kevin O'Donnell contributed with at least five offsides in the space of the first five minutes he was on the pitch as he tried to cheat the line and gain that yard he has lost in recent years.

The notable chances in the first half fell to Stephen McDonagh. After a cross was only half cleared, Kevin O'Donnell turned it goal ward. A defender stopped the attempt on the line and the rebound fell to McDonagh who snatched at his shot and sent it over from 6 yards. Later he would be on the end of a teasing cross from John Hickey only to see the effort go over once again from a free header at the back post.

Gavin Hall added to the abysmal showing in front of goal minutes later when an untimely bobble undone his good run from midfield and his shot went harmlessly behind for a goal kick.

The deadlock was finally broken with a nice strike from distance. A ball over the top from Paul Glynn on the right wing was mistimed by the Harvard defender and Michael Graham settled the ball to play a neat one-two with Gavin Hall on the edge of the box. After receiving the return ball he found space for a shot from just outside the area. His effort looped into the top left corner over the despairing keeper.

With the slender 1:0 lead at the turn the game was still in the balance. That lead would be relinquished fairly soon after the restart when an innocuous ball over the top caught Conor Hannick and Danny Concagh flat footed. Danny won the race to the ball but hurried his back pass which rebounded back off the keeper to the trailing Harvard attacker who made no mistake with his finish.

A rude awakening for our side who began to rue the missed chances from earlier. The response was good however as the Briar made some good chances in the ensuing minutes. Conor Hannick was unlucky not to hit the target from a towering header from a corner kick and John Hickey spurned two good chances also. His first effort finding the side netting from a barreling run of his own when perhaps the squaring ball was the better option. Later he was on the end of a cross from the left but shot wide on the half volley.

The lead was finally restored with a great move down the right wing. John Hickey made a run and was found with a nice ball over the top. He charged to the bi-line and cut an inviting ball back to Leo O'Connor who side footed the ball to the bottom left corner with deadly precision.

The Over 30's are doing well to keep the steady flow of wins coming in and with only 2 games left in the regular season they will need to regain some goal scoring form as the crucial playoffs approach.

Line Up: Keane, Glynn, Hannick, Concagh, McElwain(c), Graham, Joyce, Hall, Hickey, McDonagh, O'Connor

Subs: Kelly, Shursky, Nassar, O'Donnell

"Fast 6" Star filming in Watertown

The king pin of the Fast and the Furious franchise Eli Nassar (stage name Vin Diesel), took some time out from filming the much anticipated sixth installment of the high octane film series (Fast 6: Watertown Drift) to check out the team playing. The boys were more interested in why he left Jordana Brewster on the set rather than the unusual plot twist of his character, Dominic Toretto going under cover as a german footballer.

Games for May29th

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

Green Briar O30's vs Harvard ( 9AM Kick-Off  )
Fillipello Park (Grass)
110 Arlington Street
Watertown MA 02472 (Map)

5-Spot for Over 30's

Minutemen FC 1:5 Green Briar O30's

The Over 30's continued their winning ways at Cutter Field in Sudbury in the return fixture against Minutemen FC. It would be a another day of goalkeeper by committee as John Hickey and John Flannery took a half each just as they did in the previous meeting with Minutemen.

A few of the Briar players were struggling with their first touch early doors on the wet turf field surface. As the opening half progressed the team's passing and movement improved.

The scoring began after a low cross from Kilber-Stearns was spilled in the box by the Minuteman keeper. Leo O'Connor was quickest to react, picking the ball up in the area with his back to goal. With a neat turn and chipped shot Leo found the net with his seventh goal of the season.

Gary Keane was hoping his bench could produce some magic on the day and immediately after the introduction of Conor Bagnell good things began to happen. Bagnell's movement and link up play with strike partner McDonagh was excellent and eventually bore fruit.

The lead was doubled when Stephen McDonagh created some space for himself inside the area. Although the shot was on, he unselfishly laid a nice squaring pass to Conor Bagnell. Conor allowed the ball to roll across his body and then wrapped his left foot around the ball to find the net with a low shot.

Conor returned the favour minutes later.  He gained possession on the right flank and cut the ball back to Stephen McDonagh at the edge of the box. Stephen swept a beautifully curling shot across the keeper and high into the left side of the net.

Making the turn at 3-0 Gary Keane still felt there was much room for improvement from his side particularly with their use of the ball in good positions. One key change at the half was the introduction of John Hickey upfront with John Flannery taking up the goalkeeping duties.

Keane did not get what he asked for however. The Briar side began the second half with very sloppy play. Less than emphatic and decisive play at the back invited pressure on the Briar goal as the side generally lost some shape and control of the game.

John Flannery's goal was living a charmed life at times as his back line were making poor decisions and getting a little too cute in trying to play out of defense. Flannery turned a shot over the bar on one occasion and a deep cross bounced off the crossbar and behind on another occasion.

The clean sheet was lost in typically sloppy fashion. The Briar defense were looking more like the Keystone Cops rather than the side that leads the division. The ball was poked home at the back post between Flannery and Glynn after the Minutemen attack was allowed too much space initially down the right.

So the Briar needed to come again in an attempt to regain the ascendancy, if not on the score sheet but in general play. John Hickey was definitely making use of his time in the field. Time after time his incisive runs down the right flank produced dangerous deliveries into the box. One delivery in particular flashing across the six yard box with nobody gambling at the far post.

It would be Hickey who would add to his assist total when he delivered a corner at pace to David Coen. Davey crashing the box and bundling the ball home in true Lee Chapman fashion. Davey would nearly add to his total later on with a sweetly stuck shot from distance. The inside of the right post was all that stopped the ball as the Minuteman keeper was beaten all ends up.

Leo O'Connor has been enjoying a rich vein of playing and scoring form this season, however he is not immune to the odd howling miss either. An absolutely exquisite in-swinging delivery from a free kick on the right was literally put on a plate for O'Connor. Leo only managed to blast the ball over from close range however.

An important trait of a great goalscorer is a short memory and minutes later Leo O'Conner shook off the missed chance from before to score his eighth goal of the season in the OTH league.

David Coen gained possession on the left and drifted inside and across the 18 yard box. A delightful reverse ball found Leo O'Connor in space in the box and O'Connor would slide the ball home under the keeper.

That would round out the scoring on the day as the Briar inch closer to their playoff berth. Although the score suggests a dominating performance, the Briar's play in the second half was poorer than the quality that Gary Keane expects and demands from his side. As the regular season closes out, the Briar will hope to tidy up their play in preparation for the playoffs.

Line Up: Hickey, Glynn(YC), Hannick, Graham, McElwain(c)(YC), O'Donnell, Coen, Hall, Flannery, McDonagh, O'Connor

Subs: Kilber-Stearns, Kelly(YC), Shursky, Gillick, Bagnell

Green Briar FC suffer heavy defeat to Olympiakos

Boston Olympiakos 5:0 Green Briar FC

A visit to Rotch Playground to meet Boston Olympiakos was always going to be a tough assignment. Even with many squad members unavailable or injured the Briar still fielded a quality team. The quality of the Olympiakos outfit was never in doubt however, including quick and strong players such as former New England Revs player Khano Smith. It would be their strength and speed of play and ruthless finishing that would prove the difference in the tie.

Two minutes after kick off the Briar survived a close call from an Olympiakos corner. Ken Mullane in goal producing a sharp double save from a powerful header and subsequent rebound. The threat from set pieces was always going to cause problems and this was an early warning sign.

The Briar settled into the game nicely after this and played some nice football on the expansive Rotch field. On 17 minutes Olympiakos took the lead from another corner. Using their height advantage, they attacked an inswinging delivery and with suspicions of hand ball waved off the goal was awarded.

The Briar took this set back in stride and fashioned their own chance on 32 minutes. Brian McGuinness won a ball in midfield and swept a cross field pass to Tom Miller. With a nice step over Miller found a yard of space to deliver a good cross to the back post. The ball was met by Braima Samati, but his header was just wide of the target.

On 42 minutes Brian Claus attacked his marker with a driving run and slipped the ball back to Braima Samati whose sharp shot went wide right. The Briar were content with the first half performance and felt the tie was still within reach for the second half.

The opening 10 minutes of the second half was to prove decisive and the talented Olympiakos players came out with guns blazing to score a hatrick of goals in the blink of an eye. A break down the left on 47 minutes lead to an Olympiakos player cutting in and across the 18 yard box. As Mullane advanced to close the angle, the ball was slipped passed the Briar keeper and also Conor Hannick as he attempted a despairing block.

Three minutes later a simple breakdown in passing as the Briar tried to play out of defense saw a through ball elude Colin Goin and roll into the path of an on rushing Olympiakos player. Ken Mullane attempted a last ditch tackle but commited a foul and a spot kick was awarded. Khano Smith made no mistake with the penalty.

Yet more damage was inflicted to the Briar goal 2 minutes later. Conor Hannick was put under pressure in his left back position and he left a back pass short. The wayward ball was collected by Smith and he found the net with a near post finish from a tight angle.

Somewhat shell shocked from this blitz of pressure, the Briar took some time to settle back into the rhythm of play that helped them contain their talented opponents in the first half.

On 63 minutes a very unsavory challenge from an Olympiakos midfielder on Tom Miller was lucky not to cause serious injury. Miller took exception to the wreckless challenge above his ankle with a retaliatory reaction. Both men would receive straight red cards and early marching orders. Miller could feel a little aggrieved to see red after being the victim of such a cynical foul.

The Briar struggled to create anything clear cut in the second half and were unlucky to concede a fifth when a long range shot found the net off the under side of the bar after Mullane attempted the save.

On the stroke of full time Conor Hannick made a nice double save on the line to prevent conceding a sixth, but the tie was well gone at that stage.

A tough 2 week period is now followed by 2 weeks without a competitive fixture. This will hopefully allow the squad to regain some health and work on things to right the ship for the 3 matches in June.

Line Up: Mullane, Hannick, Goin(c), Lally(66'), Hennessy(57'), McGuinness, O'Connor(75'), Claus(55'), T Miller(RC), Morton, Samati

Subs: McCarney(35'), Lumyanika(33'), Coyne(24'), DelPieri(15')

Over 30's Maintain 100% Record

Green Briar O30's 2:0 Lexington Eagles

The second round of fixtures of the Spring season kicked off with the return match against the Lexington Eagles. Scattered showers had left the surface slick and wet, so it was clear that players' first touch would be key.

With twenty players to choose from, it would have been hard for Gary Keane not to put out a great side. Gary initially omitting John Hickey from the starting eleven but was quick to make the correction to the line up after seeing the incredulous look on Hickey's face. He would stick with his big front man even though his goal scoring form has waned in recent weeks.

The first chance of the morning fell to John Flannery. A deep corner was delivered to the back post by Kevin O'Donnell. John turned the ball towards goal with a stooping header only to see the ball deflected away inadvertently by team mate Leo O'Connor.

A few minutes later the Eagles responded with a long range free kick. The effort was dipping under the bar before it was turned over brilliantly by the goalkeeper.

A couple of chances fell to Tom Walsh in the first half. He failed to find the net with his head from a delivery from the left and earlier he had spurned a great chance from 6 yards out. John Hickey providing a cut back ball from the bi-line.

Another great chance was crafted by Kilber-Stearns on the right. His good cross was wasted in front by Graham who couldn't time his jump properly.

As the second half was developing there must have been some concern building on the bench as the deadlock remained unbroken. Chance after chance was coming and going without the net being found.

Good crosses from both wings failed to be converted. John Hickey heading over from close range after a pin point cross from Kilber-Stearns and John O'Brien also failing to find the mark with his head from a Tom Walsh cross. Later John O'Brien would be in 1 on 1 with the keeper but a heavy first touch saw the chance wasted.

The Briar finally found the net when a scramble in the Eagles' box only lead to a poor clearance. The ball was collected on the left by Graham and was clipped back into the danger area. Tom Walsh rose at the back post and connected with a looping header that found the net at the far post. John O'Brien was quick off the mark to follow the ball goalwards but was unable to rob Walsh of his second goal of the season.

Once the lead was established the Briar continued to make good chances. The lead was doubled after a driving run from Leo O'Connor led to an own goal. Running all of 40 yards from halfway into the Eagles' penalty area, O'Connor rode a despairing challenge and dragged a right foot shot across the goal. With the defender facing his own net and under pressure to clear, he stabbed the ball into his own net to double the lead for the Briar.

As the game was winding down there was time for Walsh to miss two more sitters that could have led to a second half hatrick. A beautiful deep cross from Vladimir Shursky was headed back across goal to an unmarked Walsh. He could not find the killer touch however as he saw a weak header easily collected by the goal keeper.

Later, Conor Hannick cleverly found Tom Walsh from a close range freekick. With everyone expecting a shot, Hannick produced a nice lay off to Walsh unmarked in the box. Tom collected the ball and sliced his shot terribly wide.

Although the Briar completed another comfortable victory and kept a clean sheet, it will be important for the sharpness in front of goal to return as the team builds towards the playoffs.

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

Subs: Graham, Walsh, Kilber-Stearns, O'Brien, Kelly, Nassar, Shursky, Higgins, Gillick

Games for May 15th

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

Green Briar O30's vs Lexington Eagles ( 9AM Kick-Off  )
Fillipello Park (Grass)
110 Arlington Street
Watertown MA 02472 (Map)

Green Briar FC vs Boston Olympiakos ( 6:00PM Kick-Off  )
Rotch Playground (Turf)
50 Randolph Street
Boston MA 02118 (Map)