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Standings,
results and other stats
Three wins in a row have moved Barnstonworth Rovers to within two points of Pancyprian Freedoms atop the First Division (West) standings.
In imperious form since the end of the winter break, Rovers’ latest victory came last Sunday against flagging Polonia who succumbed 3-0 at McCarren Park.
Sam Wiggin (40th) Stephen Pugliese (55th) and Andrew George (85th) upped Rovers’ record to 7-3-1 (22) while tightening their grip on that second playoff berth in the West.
Polonia Roman Gierczak graciously conceded defeat.
“Rovers was [a] much better team. Future games will show if we’re good enough to stay in the First Division,” said Gierczak, whose men shore up the East.
Rovers’ latest result follows victories over defending champs Brooklyn Italians and New York Athletic in the past three weeks.
“We have been consistent – something we’d been missing the last two years -- and that brings the results,” explained Rovers coach Stavros Zomopoulos. “This year we are beating all the teams we should beat.”
Another factor has been the prolific Pugliese, whose strike against the Poles brought his season tally to 11 goals in ten matches in all competitions this campaign.
In the curtain-raiser at McCarren, Austin Harris gave the Rovers reserves a 1-0 victory.
TOMMY BHOY
Player-coach Tommy McMenemy, perhaps his side’s most polished finisher, rattled in a hat-trick (15th, 60th, 70th) as Lansdowne Bhoys downed CD Iberia 4-1 at Tibbets Field.
Cleveland Jordan (80th) was the other scorer in the Bhoys’ second straight win.
Mark Shkreli had Iberia level before the interval -- off a Tony Russo cross -- but the visitors capitulated on resumption.
“The first half we played well for the first 20 minutes but we were unable to get going in the second and Lansdowne took advantage. Rough day and result,” Iberia’s Diego Monteagudo lamented.
Iberia (5-4-2, 17) trail Rovers by five points in the West, while Lansdowne (6-5, 18) are two behind Central Park Rangers (CPR) and that second playoff spot in the East.
Brendan Hansbury had both goals in the Bhoys’ 2-1 reserve result.
SIZZLING COOKE
On his debut seven days earlier, Nick Cooke had bagged a hat trick for the CPR reserves against Brooklyn Italians’ seconds.
He struck again for CPR ‘B’ against FC Bulgaria last Sunday and when handed his first team debut shortly afterwards, sank Bulgaria’s ‘A’ squad 1-0 at Francis Lewis High School.
“It was tough to break them down, but first team debutant Nick Cooke buried his one chance by expertly slotting in from a cross and beating the keeper at [the] near post,” said CPR boss Yuval Lion.
“We did not deserve to lose the game that way,” said Bulgaria coach Koko Veltchev.
Marc Cheesman, Cheick Traore and Reinhard Cate were the other marksmen in CPR’s 4-0 reserve romp.
CHAMPS STALLED
Mariusz Nejman earned Stal Mielec a 1-1 tie with Brooklyn Italians at McCarren Park. Ditto Waldemar Pyryt for the Stal reserves in a 1-all stalemate.
GREEKS THROUGH
Pancyprian’s Hellenic derby with New York Greek-American/Atlas was rescheduled with the latter recovering from a 2-0 decision over Forest Park in the Eastern New York State semi-final of the U.S. Amateur Cup in mid-week.
Tarek Smith (25th) and Felix Fugo (70th) saw off the Long Island Soccer Football League side. Atlas meet the New York Athletic Club-Pancyprian winner in the State final.
TWO TIGHT
Manhattan Kickers’ lead in the Second Division is down to one point after a 1-all tie with Ridgewood Romac at Evander Childs High School.
Guliano Soderini for Kickers (7-1-2, 23) and Gabriel for mid-table Ridgewood exchanged goals as the title race was thrown wide open.
Kickers’ reserves prevailed 4-1 thanks to Scott Conti, Andrew Roper and Goreliegh Willis.
CELTIC CLIMB
Goals by Michael Thomas, Stuart Evans and George Gyurisil saw off Kandia 3-0 in the late fixture at Pier 40, moving Manhattan Celtic (7-2-1, 22) to within a point of Kickers.
“We played well; it was a solid performance from the lads,” said player-coach Ian Woodcock.
Brian Lando scored for the Celtic reserves in a 1-all tie.
RUEFUL JAPAN
Hitoshi Mori (25th) and Shinobu Ninomiya (85th) were on target in a 2-2 draw with NIFA at the Verazzano Sports Complex.
“Again, with numerous scoring opportunities, we should have come away with a victory,” rued Japan GM Tosh Tatezawa after his club’s second consecutive draw.
No such angst in the reserve fixture that Japan won 3-2.
Elsewhere in Division Two, Central Park Rangers outgunned Koha 4-3 at the Metropolitan Oval after dropping the opener 5-3.
CLARKSTOWN ROCKED
In a massive boost for their Metro Div. One title hopes, Shamrock, second in the East, blanked West pace-setters Clarkstown 3-0 at Rockland County Day School.
Mario Auglucci (40th, 70th) and Stephen Douglas (55th, pen.) did the damage for the Rocks.
SHARP CROATS
Despite improving to 6-1-3 (21), Shamrock trail East leaders New York Croatia (8-1-2, 26) by five points, albeit with a game in hand. This, after once beaten Croatia crushed ASA McCarthy 5-0.
Mark Loncar led the Croatia charge with a hat trick, with Vjekoslav Luburic and Edoh Soldi adding one apiece.
WANDERERS THRASHED
Ngenzi Rushemeza also banged in three at Long Island City High School where Sporting Astoria torched New York Wanderers 6-2 in Metro Div. One.
Jean Pierre and Alex Jonassen were the other Astoria scorers. Will Mudge and Lester Perry replied for Wanderers.
GARDINER’S DOUBLE TREAT
Mr. Dennehy’s produced a second half deluge at Overpeck County Park to swamp Hoboken FC 6-1 and end a two-game skid.
Bobby Brennan (pen.), Andy Sole, Frankie Taylor (two), John Imundo and Dan Fallon tallied.
Neal Ventola netted Hoboken’s face-saver from a late penalty (81st).
For Mr. Dennehy’s Welsh ace Ronan Gardiner, the result was icing on the cake. He was at Wembley Stadium last Saturday where his beloved Cardiff City FC dispatched Barnsley 1-0 to reach the English FA Cup final.
Needless to say, he’ll fly back to cheer the Bluebirds against Portsmouth in the final, May 17.
UNITED WAY
At Herricks High School, Mike Wiz (60th) and Dean Cuomo, who nodded in a Frank Savocchi free-kick (70th) lifted Long Island United past Korona Bay Ridge 2-1.
GOTHAM DÉJÀ VU
Gotham Argo took advantage of Pythagoras Samos’ shock 1-0 loss to Zenit to claim a share of the Metro Div. Two (West) leadership with a 4-0 romp over Partizani in the second of back-to-back meetings.
Darran Cronshaw, on target in Gotham’s 4-1 shellacking of Partizani at Verazzano the previous week, got two this time. Adam Moss and Nick Raudenski also scored as Gotham (6-2-3) joined Samos on the 21-point mark.
ROCKLAND REIGN
In the East, Alfonso Morales (two) and Junior Suprice consigned Astoria Gaels to a 3-0 defeat at Rockland County Day School to move United Rocklanders (4-4-4, 16) six points clear atop the Metro Div. Two (East) log.
Rocklanders boss Fritz Bosquet had props for goalie Eugene Jackson. “He was great in the first half,” he said.
S.C. Eintracht, Rocklanders’ closest pursuers, lost 2-0 to Korabi.
HANFFOU WINNER
New signing Greg Hanffou’s fourth goal in two games earned EMC a 1-0 victory over Barnstonworth Rovers at Newton High School.
“It was a great team performance against a spirited side,” EMC’s
Danny Peters observed.
BARNSTONWORTH DERBY
Earlier at Newtown High, Chivon Thornhill’s Barnstonworth Premier topped sister club Barnstonworth Rovers 3-1 in an Over-30 local derby.
Nedgy Nazon (two) and Hernan Paredes connected for Premier, while Russell Davies had Rovers’ lone response.
STEAK ENDS
Eintracht’s unbeaten run in the Over-30s this season came to an end against 10-man Manhattan Kickers who run off 2-0 winners at the Metropolitan Oval.
Seth Davis (60th) and Kevin Adams-Jackes (80th), the latter on Paul Cowler’s assist, scored for a gutsy Kickers side that suited up just ten players. Remarkably, the visitors were coming off a 6-2 drubbing by Dinamo.
“Eintracht had their opportunities but were denied on two separate occasions by (goalie) Raj Gandesha who had a spectacular game,” said Kickers’ Peter Narvarte.
“We were missing four starters,” noted Eintracht coach John Steigerwald.
SILVER BULLET
Despite their loss, Eintracht still hold a healthy lead over Silver Lake on the First Division (East) table.
Silver knocked off Guyana Veterans ‘A’ 3-0, courtesy of John Lia (two) and Phil Esposito to improve to 6-5 (18), eights points adrift of Eintracht.
Nicola Cirrincione had two assists and Sinan Selmani one, while goalie Andres Cano posted his first shutout.
SWEET CASANOVA
Central Park Rangers sweated on the availability of Manuel Casanova for the game against New York Croatia until kick-off time as his wife was due with their first child.
In the end, Casanova delivered a massive goal to sink the Second Division (West) leaders 1-0 at a windy Floyd Bennett Field.
ARGO HELD
Daniel Clemente and Terry Harcourt -- on Daniel Dorenbush’s assist -- scored in Argo Silver’s 2-all tie with Barnstonworth Rovers Old Boys.
SPRING DELUGE
Shamrock thrashed RTG 5-0 at Floyd Bennett Field in their first outing of the spring.
Onder Koksol and Bruno Auglucci each had a brace. JP had the other goal.
GOTTSCHEE STALEMATE
BW Gottschee and Pele battled to a goalless tie at Kaiser Park.
“Giuseppe Colmone made several big saves and picked up the shutout in goal for us,” said Gottschee’s Ed Silva.
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