Games this week

For games, please be at the venue no later that 30 minutes in advance of kick-off.

OTH League Game 9
Sun June 3rd: Dover-Sherborn vs Green Briar O30, 9:00AM (Laurel Farm Field)

MSSL Game 7
Sun June 3rd: Green Briar FC vs Lowell Utd, 6:00PM (Danehy Park)

Poignant day for the Briar

Albania Utd 1:0 Green Briar FC

Rewind just over a year to the corresponding fixture of the 2011 season. In a typically competitive fixture between the sides, a young man and talented footballer named Requils Morton came off the bench and made an immediate impact on the game. Scoring one and coming close to a second, Morton helped secure the three points for his Green Briar team.

Requils Morton

As the same teams readied themselves for their first meeting of the 2012 campaign, under the floodlit Joe Moakley stadium in South Boston, both Albania United and Green Briar soccer clubs observed a moment's silence for Morton who tragically lost his life while playing the beautiful game this past week. May he rest in peace.

Observance of a moment of silence in remembrance of a fallen teammate.

Albania United succeeded in reviving their league campaign and putting a serious dent in Green Briar's efforts by securing a 1:0 victory by way of a cheeky finish in the first half. After getting the best of a one on one battle with Peter Miller on right edge of the area, the Albanian striker advanced towards goal. While planting hit left foot, he reverse kicked the ball with his right and the unorthodox finish froze Peter Dupuis in goal and floated to the top corner of the net.

The Green Briar first half performance was disjointed to say the least. When the passing moves did flow, the Briar looked like a team deserving of 3rd place in the league. However, those moves were few and far between and the remaining action from a Briar point of view was not very impressive. Poor ball retention and lack lustre reactions were the order of the day in response to a sharp Albania side that imposed a fast tempo on proceedings.

The second half performance was much improved, with greater effort and endeavour on display from the Briar. The spark of imagination or creativity proved illusive however and the fruits of the Briar's labour was one good chance that came in injury time.

David Coen lifted a ball over the top for Gary Cassidy to run on to. His squaring ball found Peter Miller, up from the back in an effort to make something happen. Miller's effort was weak and easily collected by the Albanian keeper, tired legs from 90 minutes under significant pressure at the back must have been a contibuting factor.

A tough loss for the Green Briar ahead of their clash with table toppers Lowell United this weekend. Considering the poignant nature of the days proceedings and the fact that two healthy squads of players enjoyed a competitive game of soccer in good spirit, the result is of lesser importance.

Line-Up: Dupuis, Lumyanika, Hennessy, Miller, Altidore, Roux, Caldwell, Hardy, McGuinness, McLoughlin, Samati, Cassidy, Coen, Jones, Doonan, Nguyen, Mullane

Poor result for O30's

Green Briar O30s 0:1 Fernandes

The Briar were hurting for numbers against Fernandes on this Memorial Day weekend, but still had a strong starting 11 to trot out against the New Bedford outfit. Unfortunately for the Greens, the Fernandes team edged this one, playing the better possession football and scoring the only goal from the penalty spot a few minutes after half time.

The deadlock was broken on a break away. A wayward cross from the right caught many Briar players out of position as they had committed to the attack. With the team unbalanced Fernandes broke swiftly. In an attempt to defuse the break away, Tom McElwain challenged his man from behind in the box. On another day the play might have been waved on, but on this occasion the penalty was given. The Fernandes keeper came up from the back to smash the spot kick home with authority.

The Briar performance was somewhat disjointed. Flashes of good play were punctuated by cheap give-aways and miss controlled passes as the Greens struggled to find their rhythm.

On a few occasions the Briar exploited the space on the wings and delivered some dangerous balls into the mixer. The ball just wouldn't fall right for most of the game. Leo O'Connor sent a header towards the top corner late on, but his effort was saved well and the rebound came to nothing.

In fact, this may have been the only time the Fernandes keeper was truly tested. His only other work being a few punched clearances from the crosses that came in from the flanks. That in itself is probably a fair reflection of a game where for once this season, the Greens lacked the finishing touch up front.

A tough result for the Greens to take, but no complaints this week. The league table is not a pretty sight tonight and the remaining games are running out fairly lively. 

Line Up: Higgins, Coen, Hannick, O'Connor, McGuinness, Glynn, Hickey, McElwain, Concagh, Balekian, Graham

Model citizen

Captain John Hickey modelling the latest in the GBFC fashion line.



Games this week

For games, please be at the venue no later that 30 minutes in advance of kick-off.

OTH League Game 8
Sun May 27th: Green Briar O30 vs Fernandes ( 9:00AM Kick-Off @ Filippello Park)

Highlights: Medfield vs Green Briar O30s

To view a higher resolution version, click here to view on YouTube.

Hotly contested result for Over 30's

Green Briar O30s 2:2 F.F.C

As always with the meetings of the Briar and F.F.C it was a competitive and hotly contested affair. The result of which was a highly contentious 2:2 draw that has the Briar crying foul.

The scoring was opened early in the first half when Brian McGuinness slotted a penalty after great work by John Hickey. Hickey and Hairstyle kept the F.F.C defense on their toes all day but it was Hickey who was shoved as he tried to intercept a loose back pass.

Michael Graham missed a glorious chance to double the lead as he was in perfect position to collect a knock down from David Coen. His weak effort from six yards failed to trouble the keeper when it looked easier to score.

The second 45 was full of incident. F.F.C found a nice equalizer from a corner, when an unmarked forward sent a downward header towards goal which bounced over Kevin O'Donnell who was guarding the post.

Joe Nolan was given his marching orders for retaliation after he took exception to a late challenge from an F.F.C player who himself felt agrieved following the exchange. 

Despite playing with 10 men, the Briar took the lead. A long searching ball from David Coen was glanced home by the towering Leo O'Connor as he climbed high to complete the deft touch. When asked whether he climbed so high that he had snow on his head, he replied 'No I've just gone grey'.

F.F.C. responded well however and equalized once more. A cross field ball into the box caused some confusion between Conor Hannick and Tom McElwain. The latter's clearance ricocheting to an unmarked attacker who prodded the ball home.

The Briar came back well from this set back and John Hickey was instrumental in crafting yet another penalty kick. Latching onto a long ball and lifting it over his defender, he was unceremoniously taken out giving the referee no choice but to point to the spot.

What happened next can only be described as bizarre. Brian McGuinness cooly slotted the penalty only for it the be called back for encroachment by one of his team mates. Rule 14 under Fifa's Laws of the game clearly states the kick needs to be retaken in the case where the goal was scored. The referee misinterpreted the rule and gave a goal kick causing mass delirium at the decision. It could be understood if the referee gave an indirect free kick, although incorrect, that is the ruling if the penalty is missed.

Regardless of the outcome, a mistake was made that most certainly could cost the Briar their season.

Line Up: Sullo, Nolan, Higgins, Coen, Hannick, O'Connor, McGuinness, O'Donnell, Glynn, Hairstyle, Hickey, Fallon, McElwain, Concagh, Mikaelian, Balekian, Java, Graham, McKenna