Classics v Peace Arch
James Hill
12th. Mar. 2017

Conditions: Quite warm after overnight rain

Players on duty: Jeff Dickson, Dave Moore, Pat Rohla, Alan Massender, Larry Thorlakson, Gordie Macklin, David Breen, Gene Crowley, Daryl Lawrie, Chris Arcari, Lorenzo Arcari, Randy Hosler, Bryan Griffiths, Sherman Foster, Gino Nonni, Pat O'Krane, Willie Dixon.

Public Warning: This match report has been rated ADULT and should not be read by anyone of a nervous disposition.
Embarrassing........
.... in fact it was more embarrassing than the time I banged two halves of a horse together expecting it to sound like a coconut! It was a day when nothing went right. The clocks had gone forward by one hour and it appeared like the Classics had forgotten and thought that they didn't need to start until an hour later - by that time it was too late. Playing in their change strip (come on you blues) it took Gene Crowley the first half to realise it as he kept passing the ball to a player in a white shirt - and he wasn't the only one! It can be pointed out that a lack of on field activity could be blamed as, since November, the team have only played one match per month. But that is no excuse for the lack of composure as other teams in the league have suffered the same lay-offs.

The action began after ten minutes when a break down the left by the visitors resulted in a long range shot which left the ball nestling in the bottom left hand corner of the net. The first shot by the home side came in the 14th. minute and it was G. Crowley who whoofed the ball high over the bar after a deflection. The resultant corner came to nothing. It was 2-0 to the visitors in the 25th. minute after a slip from Chris Arcari let in an attacker who drove the ball forward and a colleague had the simple task of putting the ball home. The score remained the same at the half.

The Classics tried to get back in the game but to no avail. Gordie Macklin, one of the few players to come out of the game with any credit, hit the ball over the bar in the 59th. minute. A minute later it was a mistake from Willie Dixon that let in the opposition for the third goal. The ball was never recovered by the defence and it was a simple task again for the visitors to increase the lead by walking the ball over the line. Three minutes later another attack down the left required Lorenzo Arcari, having a difficult baptism in the goals, to get down quickly to his right to push the ball away for a corner. It was 4-0 after 67 minutes after a defensive mix-up allowed a lofted shot from the left which eluded the keeper. The visitors were running riot now with the home side uncharacteristically looking more down and out as the game reached its conclusion. Alan Massender had a chance with 20 minutes remaining after Macklin had put him through but his goalbound effort was well blocked and the ball bounced away to safety.

With 15 minutes remaining another blunder, this time from Sherman Foster, gifted the opposition with an easy chance after a wayward pass went straight to the visiting forward who had the simple task of stroking a low shot home. It was out of character for Foster but on this occasion he resembled a jigsaw puzzle who goes to pieces in the box. Next match, let's hope he can put everything back together again. It was like a Peace Arch training session now as they started to dominate as their confidence grew. The Classics were turning the ball over too many times and in the 82nd, minute Randy Hosler got in on the action when he lost the ball. It brought a good save out of L. Arcari who spread himself well and the ball cannoned off his leg to safety. The only respite came from some exciting runs and fighting spirit shown by Bryan Griffiths who just edged the game as man of the match. However, the disgruntled fans left after the match demanding a refund. All in all it was a bad day at the office and the defeat equalled the 6-1 mauling at Serbia back in 2012 - but that was with 'just' a team. There were enough bodies out on this day but a player can sometimes look worse than he is due to the players around him, so we if we can win as a team then we can lose as a team. We move onwards.

Final Score: Classics 0 Peace Arch 5 (0-2)

Stats
GK: Lorenzo Arcari
Dave Moore made his 650th. appearance
Crap Award: Alan Massender