Ascension : Ascension Island Football
Submitted by The Islander (Islander Editors) 09.05.2013 (Article Archived on 23.05.2013)

Two Boats Rowdies Vs VC Milan

Two Boats Rowdies	0	3	VC Milan
	HT 0 - 1		Jason  Augustus 45’
			Alvin Henry 80’ 89’ MOM: Bryn Williams

Super sub Ally Stu scores a brace to break Rowdies hearts
in fiery affair.

The game started very
scrappy with neither team able to string more than 2 passes together until
Rowdies broke up a Milan attack and countered with the first shot of the match
that went wide of the post.

Milan was the first
side to settle and began having good spells of possession in the middle of the
park with Aaron ‘Boot’ starting in the centre in the absence of ‘Kingy’. Cody,
who was starting his second game for Milan, this time on the left wing being
replaced up front by Miles ‘Brim’, had a crack on goal which was pushed over
the bar by the fingertips of ‘Bluey’ in the Rowdies goal. Colin ‘Shoe’ was
having to work hard in the absence of his partner Mario ‘Peaches’ which was
limiting him from being the usual effective playmaker, however his hard work
paid off with a shot from outside of the box that bumped over the crossbar. A few
minutes later Rowdies broke down the right wing with Greg ‘The Mover’ beating Michael Yon and sprinted into
the Milan penalty area, Errol came of his line and spread himself in a style
that Pater Schmeichel would be proud of and made the save at point blank rage,
this lead to a mad scramble and the ball was eventually cleared for a throw. Rowdies
were playing with several RAF players who were playing on the hard dusty
surface of the Long Beach field for the first time, which at times showed but
after around 20 minutes they and Rowdies started to settle and knock the ball
around more confidently creating chances for Ben ‘The Mover’ who was a lone
striker. Milan gave a free kick away on the edge of the penalty area just to
the right of the goal. Melvyn Moyce stepped up to the ball, with four in the
wall to beat and the players in the box jostling for position he swung it in
and met a Rowdies head but the ball went over the bar. There were many mini
battles happening all over the field that was making the game very entertaining.
Johnny Stroud, Rowdies Left Back vs Jason ‘Gustus’, Milan’s Winger. Chris
George, Rowdies Centre Back vs, Miles ‘Brim’, Milan’s Forward. Michael Yon,
Milan’s Left Back vs Greg ‘The Mover’, Rowdies Winger. And one that was
starting to get very heated, Bryn Williams, Milan’s Welsh Centre Back vs Ben
‘The Mover’ Rowdies Forward. Geordie ‘Cox’ received the ball deep in the
Rowdies half and slipped a through ball for Miles to chase but Bluey in the
Rowdies goal was quick of his line and forced Miles wide for a throw. Miles
pace was beginning to cause trouble for the Rowdies and Bluey was having to
play like a fifth defender rather than a Goal Keeper having to sprint of his
line on more than one occasion to deny Mile to the ball. GOAL. Miles was then brought down inches away from Penalty Area by
Chris George giving away a free kick. Jason ‘Gustus’ stepped up and floated the
ball over the wall into the opposite top corner of the goal right on the stroke
of half time.

The second half
started like the first, very scrappy with both teams struggling to find
momentum, until Michael ‘Dook’ was given a ball to chase, with Shavarn under
pressure inside the Penalty Area facing goal was forced to clear for a throw.
Then came the moment that every player knows is going to happen but can never
seem to beat ‘The Melvyn Moyce Turn’, this time the unfortunate player to fall
into the trap was ‘Boot’ who was left standing whilst Melvyn started another
Rowdies attack. Milan decided it was time to sure things up in midfield and
subbed Cody for Jermaine ‘Sercy’. Rowdies also made a substitution of their own
replacing ‘Dook’ with ‘Met Man’. A corner from ‘Gustus’ met ‘Sercy’ inside the
Penalty Area with a flying volley but he did not get the connection that he was
seeking and the ball went wide of the post. The game became very open with end to
end attacks resulting in several soft shots at both goals. Bryn was dominating
the Milan defence and the battle between him and Ben ‘The Mover’ was starting
to reach boiling point. ‘Shoe’ was now beginning to get an understanding with
the players around him and Rowdies were starting to take control of the
midfield. Milan took off ‘Cox’ and brought on Ally Stu a former Rowdies player,
in an attempt to change their game with ‘Dutch’ moving into attack. Rowdies
continued to run the game, so ‘Dutch’ dropped back into midfield and pushed
Ally Stu up with Miles. GOAL. Sercy
played it over the top of the Rowdies defence for Miles who held it up just
inside the Rowdies area and passed it to the free on running Ally Stu who side
footed it at ‘Bluey’ who failed to get his body behind the ball and it slipped
between his legs into the net. Rowdies immediately went on the attack from the
restart and had the Milan defence back paddling but Ben ‘The Mover’ shot wide
of the post. GOAL. Ally was given
the ball in the Rowdies half and ran through their defence leaving Nige ‘The
Policeman’ for dead then took it
around ‘Bluey’ who despite a rugby style tackle on Ally couldn’t prevent the
ball from trickling into the net, which prompted a Mexican Wave from the
supporters in the stand.

Two Boats Rowdies displayed
glimpses of brilliance but it will probably take them another game or two before
the team gels. VC Milan showed they have strength in depth and versatility by
having new pairings in defence, midfield and up front. This match proved very
entertaining and the return match will probably be even more.