Game #8081 Fianna FC vs. T.P.B. (the team otherwise known as the "Trailer Park Boys"... we won't go on to validate their exact living arrangements, but instead will take them at their word...)
This game was a hot fixture on the list for any supporter of either team. With both teams on unbeaten runs over the past four weeks, this was a match to be intrigued about. There were some doubts about how many players Fianna was going to get out for this match as well, since a number of their usual stars were out of town or injured. Such was the case for midfield dynamo, Filipe Dos Santos, as well as eternally injured Kris Wanner... still yet to play since the second match of the season. In addition, defender Daniel Boudreau was away, as were Dave Sheurwater and Steven Tramer. Lastly, Fianna was without their 'keeper, Ash Noureldin due to his "timely wedding" in (of all places) Banff...? Question marks still remain surrounding the "Banff Debacle"... more on this incident to follow. This was going to be a real test for the "Boyz"...
The kick-off saw great pressure unleashed on the TP Boys, with Fianna dominating the proceedings for the opening spell of 20 minutes. Fabio Fiorito went close with a back-post header from a corner, that went just wide. Then Adam Froh went extremely close by hitting the crossbar with a freekick from the right just outside the 18 yard box. Slowly but surely, the Fianna band-wagon was starting to roll and this party doesn't "stop 'til six in the mornin', six in the mornin'." Before you could quote the next line of that Snoop "Gin and Juice" classic, Fianna were a goal up thanks to David Parker. A floated ball from the back came to Anders Alm just inside the TPB half... Jaime Valero started a brilliant diagonal run which was noted by Adam Froh who received the pass from Anders Alm and sent a lashing cross field pass to Jaime... and the resulting save under pressure rebounded to David Parker on the follow up and it was a simple tap-in for the "Bison". Fianna - 1 TPB - 0!!!! After this great start, the Fianna fans were going wild... ahhh... we're really not kiddin' anyone... the Fianna "Fan" (if you can call any "significant other" a fan due to the fact that there are certain realities in a relationship... one of them being manditory game attendance) was going wild with sheer jubilation! Before the emotions could settle, Fianna were up 2-0, thanks to a great run by David Parker who unselfishly provided a pass and timely Jaime Valero tap-in!!! The ball was spread wide to Daryl Massier, who played a neat one-two with Jeff Brown. When the resulting cross came in the box, it was headed out to David Parker who went through two TPB players before sliding the ball across the face of the goal for Jaime Valero to tap-in from close range. Fianna - 2 TPB - 0!!! Within the opening 20 minutes the Fianna "Clover-leafs" were putting pen to paper to write a masterpiece for the "Theatre of Bugs". Through a dominating first half it was Fianna - 2 TPB - 0.
The stage was set for another great Fianna performance... and the 'adoring' faithful were not to be disappointed by the most efficiently dominating and extremely controlled example of how to "close up shop" (I believe this is an Italian term in its origin). Although to those who don't understand the game of football perhaps this second half might have been the equivalent to a pulled tooth or a kick in the groin... Fianna systematically went about the business of controlling every blade of grass on that field for the entire second half. This was easily our best game of the year in terms of controlled possession and game tempo! Although there were a few scares, for the most part it was a quiet half for our back-up 'keeper, Bryan Luesink, who emerged as a clear fan favorite with the most wild display of acrobatics to keep a late TPB surge from scoring. Clearly, Bryan Luesink has the back-up 'keeper skills to handle any "Banff" incidents, should they arise again in the near future... and it must be said that this game might have had a rather different, tragic ending if it wasn't for the tip-save to crossbar to tip-save to post SAVE of the game from Bryan Luesink. In the end, the Fianna "Smoking-Emeralds" were too much for the "Mobile-home-living-Boys" and the score finished Fianna - 2 TPB - 0.
Player of the Game: Easily Bryan Luesink in between the posts for the second time this year... He made some phenomenal saves and looked positionally sound for the whole game!
Honourable Mention: Always the bride's maid/never the bride... it would seem that David Parker should be given this spot for every game! His goal and unselfish assist could easily have won the player of the game spot if not for Bryan Luesink's acrobatics... Parker seems to still have that thick hide however, and I'm sure the "Bison's" team-ethic would rather he remain anonymous... not on my shift, however. Kudos to "Bison" as well as the Fabio Fiorito-Alfie Kiernan-Adam Froh connection for the second half shut-down that will go down as the most boring 45 minutes in recent memory to ANY "Fan"... I don't care who you are... you're all winners to me!
Match Moment: The double save cross-bar to post SAVE by Bryan Luesink!!!
Quote of the Match: "He flies so beautifully... almost like a gibbled sparrow." -An anonymous "Fan" comments after the save as Bryan Luesink earns his wings and a new nickname as he adequately deputizes in net for "the Egyptian"... Ash Noureldin... otherwise known as "Fly Like an Eagle."