Cataraqui Soccer Club

Cataraqui II 2 vs Kelsey’s United 1

Well we stole this one.

The evening was calm with a slight drizzle which never threatened to escalate to anything worse.  Cataraqui II got off to a very good start, with a number of effective probes from both wings and the middle.  Unfortunately Rob Lusink pulled up with a hamstring problem early in the half, and despite courageous efforts, was unable to continue.  Peter Boyle Jr beat the Kelsey’s goalkeeper to a 50:50 ball out on the right touch line and fired a tightly angled shot towards goal.  The ball ran just faster than the frustrated defenders, but struck the outside of the post and went safely behind for a goal kick.  Luc Hempel had a strong shot cleared off the line as well, and the Kelsey’s keeper made a number of good saves.

Melvin Orozco was back in nets (much to the relief of Paul Blais and Val Tomsons), and pulled off a very good diving save early in the first half to boost his confidence and that of the defence.  The back line, missing Barry Cave, but strengthened by Andy Nader and Steve Vardy kept the Kelsey’s forwards at bay after that.

With no score at the half, it looked as though it was going to be one of those nights for Cataraqui II.  Worse was to come: Kelsey’s top goal scorer Matt Storms found himself round Paul Blais and made no mistake in putting the opposition ahead.  Melvin could do nothing about this one.  Kelsey’s could have gone two up or two separate occasions.  One of the forwards, clean through elected to pass across the goal rather than shoot, and the pass found the grateful defence.  After a period of pinball play in the Cataraqui II half, a very well hit shot from Kelsey’s had Melvin beaten, but hit the inside of the post and came back out.  This was quite a let off.

Cataraqui II scored in the 87th and 90th minutes.  Andy Nader, whose throw-ins had been causing problems all night had one of his longer efforts mishandled by the goalkeeper into the net.  Only a minute later it appeared that another goal had been scored from the throw in when a Kelsey’s defender headed the ball into his own net.  The linesman ruled that the player was all the way over the line (and the ball too I suppose) before it made contact with his head.  Steve Vardy scored the final goal of the night just before the final whistle.  I scrambled shot was deflected past everyone into the back of the net.

Good performances and hard running by everyone on a warm night led to a good team performance and a fortunate result.