4/22/12 - Short-sided Pellmen Squad Claim W

In the first match against the Internationals, the Pells fell into a 2 goal hole that they could only manage to convert into a draw, despite dominating the pitch. Today, starting with ten men, the renewed vigor from Thursday's victory against West End seemed to animate the lads, who were never seriously threatened by the redshirts and placed their stamp upon the match at every turn.

JeffCo earned the first goal mid-way through the first half, pouncing cat-like on a ball inside the six after the opposing keeper fumbled Mike's searching entry from the far right wing.

The opponents fielded a couple of new faces whose footwork did indeed command attention, but Tommy's crew turned back most advances well before the danger zone and where tries were made on frame, Brad was perfectly placed to collect and distribute.

Midway through the second half, Arnie's weak left-footed test for the keeper was duly passed, occasioning a skeptical "That could have been better," from at least one of the Pellmen faithful on the sideline. (Who? Hint: it was not Mrs. Campbell, the Campbell kids, Justin's beau Andrea, or Gibson's unnamed beau, nor Darren - who made his way out to support the troops with a brace supporting the right MCL and a hope in heart for a Fall return.)

But said skeptic (okay, it was me) was proved fool moments later when Arnie launched a decisive left-footed slam into the far right netting from the opposite elbow, one-timing it off a perfect service from Josh, who had broken down no fewer than three players on the deep left flank, and damned if Josh is not doing a masterful job challenging Allan, Jared, and JeffCo for season MVP this year, and damned if Arnie is not climbing up the stats board in a way that makes us all welcome his return to a fuller game schedule this season after a few years tending to family and other obligations.

Two goals up with the sun beating down and no subs on the bench, the Pells played out the clock with consistently entertaining knockabout play in midfield and a few near misses in front of goal.

Stats updated here from the last few games, though I could well have misrecorded a few. »

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3/25/12 - Pellmen Get the Goats

Video here »
Stats updated here »

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3/18/12 - Pellmen Battle Hurricane Winds

The Pells fell behind early, 0-2, but clawed their way back to even with 25 mins remaining. Could they find the winner? Allan (once again!) and Jared found net, we know that much.

Game video is posted here. Check it out.

Game Report
filed by The Chyclops

First strike: Internationals
Second strike: Internationals

Internationals? Say what? Internationals went up 2-0? Ru frigging kidding me? They did indeed. Should have been 3 but a gimme went high off the bar.

0-2? 0-2.

3 would have been their highest tally ever. Had they ever won a game? Don't think so. Tied?

?

Allan floated one over the 6'4" keeper to make it 1-2 at half. We had a few chances, rebounds and bobbles, but didn't do no nothing.

Second half. Chance after chance after chance. Breakaways, dribbles, free kicks. The free kicks: lack of practice showed. We'll leave it at that. Jared buried one to even it up, a few short minutes before the Crain contingent arrived. Almost made history. Bowen tried one from the center circle kickoff; and Otte fired from about 50 yards off the bar. The bar. We found it three times. What about the forwards? Well, Ray is out. What about the forwards? It's only been two weeks. The halfbacks have all the goals? Allan has 75% of the goals. Allan, the ball winner semi-defensive center half? One and the same. Three goals in two games?

3 in 2.

Not quite Messi or CR7 but better than Fernando Torres. Messi has 51 in all competitions. 51? You heard right. Dang. Five in one game. Champions League. Baller. Gifted. Indeed. Torres had a brace today. Finally. So forwards can score? They score for Chelsea. They can score. When's Ray back? Ray is out for the season. So Pearlman, Bowen Cohen, Hazelwood? That's the contingent. They can score. Not in Vegas, not this year. Only half these guys were there. Will they score if somebody lights a fire under them? Fleet Street press and all that? This ain't the Guardian. You can say that again. Light a fire? Yeah, lay down the gauntlet. Give 'em something to prove? Something like that. They'll step up. Damn straight they will. We play as a team. Total Footy. Just like les Oranges. Like the Dutch in Cruyff's heyday. And a little Arsenal stuff thrown in. When we're playing our game. Total football. Total footy. Bring it on...

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3/11/12 - Wright Paces Pells to W in Spring Opener

Rock-steady defense anchored the Pellman squad today, denying Bounty many chances on goal. Their best came 10 minutes in when Bruce flushed one off the post past a fallen Brad. Moments later, Allan deposited a Josh cross upper left for a one-nil advantage.

On the other side of the break, Allan doubled the advantage by cleaning up the Bounty keeper's spillage from Mike's curving shot from the right flank.

Game video is posted here. Check it out.

Stats updated.