Hackensack 0 - 2 Secaucus FC - Game Report

Johnson Park, Hackensack – Secaucus FC was victorious in an epic encounter marred by poor refereeing yesterday against long time foe Hackensack FC. The boys in blue started their campaign debuting their shiny new Umbro uniforms and a similarly new lineup.

Several players saw their SFC debut as the team kicked off its Spring campaign. One such player was Thierno Cisse, the Senaglese national and Bronx resident. Cisse partnered with Dustin Holbrook to form a solid central defensive tandem. Flanking them was longtime Secaucus FC captain Steve Wallis and Mr. Witty Thursday Column himself, Andrew Errico.

In the midfield, vice-captain Gaston Haupert played a holding role with newcomer Boris Shabovta playing just above him. The last original Secaucus FC player and the team’s all-time-leading scorer Giuseppe Landolfo held down the right side while another newcomer, Adrian Alexandru held down the left. Finishing expert Eugene Gormley and Sean Suzuta rounded out the team up top.

Both teams took a while to get going on this cold wet morning and, after the first couple of minutes, you could see this would be a rather chippy affair with no love being lost between both sets of players. Adding to this was the referee who seemed to be adamant about adding his stamp to this match for some reason. Gaston Haupert, frustrated with the poor officiating, lost his composure and got on the bad side of the referee right away.

It wasn’t until first half injury time that SFC’s top goal-scorer this season, Eugene Gormley, broke the duck’s back and scored the first goal of the match - his ninth goal in ten games. Steve Wallis created the goal by winning the ball from his right back position, taking it up the right wing and beating three players before crossing the ball with pin point accuracy finding the onrushing striker who powered the ball into the net with a well placed header.

The second half opened with rough play continuing. This time, it was Adrian Alexandru sending the referee to fits with his lack of composure. Both sides continued though, and Secaucus concentrated on defending their lead, while trying to add to it. Several chances went begging for both sides as forty-five minutes flew by.

It wasn’t until the last minute of the game that Secaucus made the game safe, when Boris Shabovta gathered the ball wide right, proceeded to dribble past a player before playing a perfect through ball for Gormley, who received the ball, beat a player, and slotted the ball through the legs of the keeper, somewhat fortuitously, sensationally scoring his tenth goal in as many matches this season and putting his team well ahead of their mighty foes.

“I was praying for a more comfortable Sunday morning, but these guys always seem to run me through the wringer emotionally. We should have been comfortably ahead and had the game buried after thirty minutes, but we made it hard for ourselves. However, we showed great character to get the result in the end, and I was quite impressed with how quickly some of the new signings fitted into this team.” Commented a drained looking Daniel Brown in the pub during his post-game drink.

The Boys in Blue now look to next week against Macedonia SC to continue their march through the Semi Pro North Division.

- March 29, 2009