FOLLOWING:
Clients From Hell— Arsene Wenger
Players, along with friends, lovers, and offspring, took part in a team building exercise at New Albanian’s Rich O’s Public House. Pitchers of Community Dark were drunk by all… except for the offspring, who were limited to lemonade and root beer.
Support and inspiration for the Community Darks is provided by the New Albanian Brewing Company, in sunny New Albany, Indiana.
A lackluster Community Darks crashed to their third defeat of the session to league leaders Molly Malone’s. Despite starting brightly a depleted Darks side struggled to maintain superiority throughout this clash of D League titans.
The Darks controlled the opening stages of this match and went ahead early when midfielder Jon Ellis found space down the left and cut the ball back for striker Ty Kreft to coolly finish into the top left corner from the edge of the penalty area. As the Darks defense stood firm, limiting Molly’s only to shots from distance, Kreft found himself free in behind the back line after beating the last defender and scored, putting the ball in the net through the keeper’s legs.
The Darks perfect start, however, proved difficult to maintain and as the game settled into it’s rhythm it was Molly’s who emerged dominant. After pulling two goals back to level the scoreline the men in green took charge of the game, finding dominance in the midfield, and it wasn’t long before they were ahead through several well worked goals. The Darks went into the half trailing.
The second half continued in a pattern much as the first had ended with Molly’s controlling the midfield and keeping possession expertly. By the closing stages of the match a tired Darks side just didn’t have enough in the tank to muster a comeback. Surely captain Daniel Sanders must have keenly felt the absence defenders Peter Tower and Steven Zwanzwig, midfield hard-man Sam Stodgehill, and striker George Parker, Jr.
The game finished 7-4 in favor of Molly’s and cemented a disappointing mid-table placement for the Community Darks, their worst finish in years. The Darks go into next week’s placement tournament with a point to prove.
Coming off a bye week the Darks looked sluggish early on in the match pitting them against near the bottom of the table In the Red. After the first period the only goals scored were two for the Darks (a ball scrambled over the line in a crowd and a drop from the opposing keeper) and one for the opponents (a lucky far post chip shot).
The second half however saw the Darks come out with purpose and dominate the ball for the rest of game. With the ball only occasionaly leaving the oppositions half the Darks saw nearly every player present score. Highlights included a sharp running finish from George Parker, a left footed curler from Daniel Smith, and a an absoulte rocket from distance into the far top corner from Jon Ellis.
In the end the Darks came away with a comfortable 10-2 victory setting up a crucial game for the final match day against long time rival Molly’s.
The Darks came into last nights game on the first two game losing streak in the year-long history of the D league team. With that in mind, as well as a less than impressive streak against the Deadmen (a loss and a tie in the previous two games), an almost full strength Darks team came out on a mission this night.
Before kickoff birthday boy Peter Tower gave a team speech imploring the squad to play up to our potential and not give an inch to the Deadmen. A tense first eight minutes saw both teams largely sitting back with few solid chances created for either team. That all changed as Daniel Smith, back into the squad after a week off with injury, came in to score the games first three goals with shots high and low coming off both feet.
With the lead in hand, the Darks took over the midfield and began passing the ball around with increased sharpness, giving the Deadmen virtually nothing in the way of possession an snuffing out the few runs made at them. Goals five and six came at the end of flowing passing attacks that saw each Darks player touch the ball with finishes on through balls at the post for Ty Kreft and Sam Stodghill.
The sixth goal of the night couldn’t have been any further from these team-constructed movements. As keeper Adam Marlowe collected a shot and looked up to find no convenient outlets he spotted a deep run by usual defender Daniel Sanders and hoofed the ball down field. With his back to the goal and a defender behind him, Sanders let the ball bounce once, swiveled around to his weaker left foot, and unleashed a volley that rocketed across the goal an into the upper right crossbar. Certainly the finest goal of his career to date.
Three more goals were to come for the Darks, but with 10 minutes to go the call went up to the stand tall on defense, and aided by some fine saves by keeper Marlowe the Darks were able to keep their first clean sheet in as long as anyone could remember.
A solid 9-0 victory that will hopefully put the Darks back on the right track as the session winds towards the Thanksgiving-eve tournament.
Week 4 - Team America
The new class of the D division, Team America brought their A game and quickly took a 4-0 lead in just over 10 minutes. The second half saw the arrival backup keeper Jake and midfield glue-man Sam as the Darks held to a respectable 2-3 for the half.
Week 3 - the Blues
A disappointing loss as the undermanned Darks clung to a 4-2 lead with about 10 minutes to go, only to see the Blues score three unanswered and claim their first victory against us.
Week 2 - TBD
A game that should have been more comfortable than it was, in the end a 6-2 victory capped by defender Daniel Sanders baiting the oppositions best player and only scorer into pushing him to the ground and spitting before being sent to the showers.
Week 1 - Smashing Pumpkins
I believe we dispatched this team easily. It was two months ago and I just don’t remember any details
The Darks fixture list for October/November has been posted. All matches are played at Mockingbird Vallery Indoor Soccer Club.
September 30 at 10:00 p.m. vs. The Smashing Pumpkins
October 7 at 7:00 p.m. vs. TBD
October 14 at 7:00 p.m. vs. The Blues
October 21 at 7:00 p.m. vs. America
October 28 at 7:00 p.m. vs. The Deadmen
November 11 at 10:00 p.m. vs. In The Red
November 18 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Molly’s
November 25 Mini-Tournament
The Community Darks entered the Mockingbird Men’s D League placement tournament seeded 2nd after a solid session that saw them only lose once. The full squad was present, with the exception of captain and talisman Daniel “Crazy Legs” Sanders. The knockout tournament was to be played in shorter 12 minute halves all in one night. If the match ended in a draw then 5 minutes of golden goal overtime would be played, followed by penalties.
Quarterfinals - Community Darks v. The Blues
Due to their high seeding, the Darks automatically qualified for the quarterfinals facing the Blues. Things got off to a perfect start, with midfielder Sam Stodgehill scoring from long range with a scorching shot. The Darks looked like they were going to cruise to an easy victory. However, nerves got the better of the boys and they ended up going into the break trailing 2-1 after giving up two soft goals.
After a phoned in tongue lashing from Captain Sanders, who was in Ireland scouting new talent, the Darks took to the field with steely determination. The Darks drew level after striker Ty Kreft cooly converted a penalty won by lanky, German defender Peter Tower when he was brought down in the box by The Blues goalkeeper. From there on out it was smooth sailing as the Darks stamped their authority on the match and rampaged to a 5-2 victory. The semifinals and Red Tide, who the Darks suffered their only defeat of the session to, awaited.
Semifinals - Community Darks v. Red Tide
The Community Darks took the field knowing a true test awaited them in the semifinals facing a strong, physical Red Tide side. The Darks had been unable to beat the Tide in their previous three tries.
The game started choppy, Red Tide knocking the Darks off their slick passing game by flooding the midfield and giving them little time on the ball. The first goal was conceded from a flicked on free kick from well outside the red line. The loss of an early goal unsettled the Darks and they went into the break trailing by two goals, the scoreline 2-0.
Sensing that their run at the title was in jeopardy, the Community Darks came out in the second half guns blazing. Shifting their tactics, the Darks bettered their opponents at their own game, switching to a more direct physical approach. The change paid off and before long the goal the Darks desperately needed came when Tower bundled the ball in after a scrap in the box.
The second half progressed and things started looking grim. The Tide was defending in numbers and, despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession, the Darks were unable to find the second goal. Finally, with the clock ticking down, the Darks equalized to send the game into overtime. However, no winner was determined in the extra time and penalties loomed large.
The best of three penalties would decide who would face GE Money in the finals and the Darks chose their shooters, Rob Glasonovic, Ty Kreft, and Sam Stodgehill. Both Glasonovic and Kreft’s penalties were saved by the Red Tide keeper, and after the first two shooters for the Tide converted their penalties successfully, the Darks crashed out of the tournament.
Red Tide went on to lose in the finals to GE Money.
