Pelicans FC White starts the 2011-2012 season in "winning" fashion
(October 3, 2011 – Atlanta, GA) – Pelicans FC White kicked off the 2011-2012 ADASL season against their arch rivals Bafana on a picture perfect fall morning. Gracing the field for the Pelicans in this season opener were a mix of familiar old and new faces – of the new blood, ex-Bafana standout Mitch Losey started with a point to prove.
Pelicans FC White got off to a confident start against the initially short handed Bafana. The Pelicans were having their way with early possession, but other than a few crosses from the right side which troubled both the Bafana keeper and back-line, the Pelicans couldn’t really fashion any gilt edged chances. Perhaps most promising to Pelicans management was the performance of their early defense as Bafana struggled to string more than a few passes together, and failed to test Pelican’s stand-in keeper Jem McAbee in any way.
About a third of the way through the first half, the Pelicans finally broke the deadlock. After another menacing run and teasing cross from the right-side, the Pelicans forced a corner from the left side. Captain and longtime Pelican Lawrence Monroe ambled over to take the set-piece and promptly dispatched it directly in to the Bafana goal leaving both the keeper and a defender on top of each other inside the old onion bag. It was no more than the Pelicans deserved, and certainly settled any nerves they may have had.
Bafana were soon at full strength as their kit manager and known lush Tommy Evans finally arrived with their gear. However, the evening up of numbers did not stop Pelicans FC White from dominating possession, and blanking every attacking option Bafana had to offer. Particular standouts were the roles played by DeShaun, Justin and Nick – each of whom dealt admirably with the threat of one of the ADASL’s most prolific scorers, Shaun Camay. As the half petered out to the constant and erratic whistle of the referee, Pelicans maintained their one goal advantage.
Pelicans White opened the second half with perhaps the best ball movement of the game. Several players were involved from back to front with some lovely one touch passing. Alas, as was the case in much of the first half, not a great deal came of this movement in the final third. Bafana threatened a few times in the first third of the second half, but again the Pelicans defense held strong and forced a number of Bafana attempts from distance. However, the Pelicans would soon take control of the game again, and repeal any remaining threat to their goal.
Once again, just as the second half had begun, Pelicans FC White produced a series of passes in which Bafana were chasing shadows. At the heart of this move was Richard Henry who showed patience and unselfishness to put captain marvelous Lawrence Monroe through on goal. With poise and composure, he slotted the ball past the on rushing keeper to put the away team on top two goals to zero. Bafana heads dropped, and the result was put beyond doubt. Pelicans FC White will hope to take this performance to Southern Wolves next week.
Match report courtesy of Roy McClymont
FC Silverbacks Inflict Heavy Defeat
The recent snow and ice in the Atlanta area may be gone, but its lingering effects lingered on this past Sunday. Despite a perfect partly sunny day with moderate temperatures, only 2 matches in the ADASL were played and they were located on the artificial turf at Silverback Park. Other games postponed will have to be made up at a later date in the season.
The day began with 2nd place FC Silverbacks 2pts ahead of Pelicans FC White in the 3rd division standings. In the tight race for promotion from the 3rd division, this would be considered a vital fixture to get positive points. FC Silverbacks were on home turf and would have that home field advantage to be the favored team in the match. For Pelicans White, a victory would catapult them 2 places in the standings for the week.
The match started brightly for Pelicans as they used fluid passing to control the midfield, but they were not able to benefit in the final 3rd as the FC Silverbacks defense stood solid. Then on 20 minutes, FC Silverbacks got an advantage against the run of play. Pelicans had been getting most of the ball up to this point, but a ball over the top found its way back toward the Pelican’s goal. The Pelicans keeper came out of his box trying to get to the ball before the on rushing FC Silverbacks striker, but the FC Silverbacks player was able to tap the ball over the keeper and settle the ball for an easy goal for a Silverbacks 1 – 0 lead. 2 minutes later, FC Silverbacks would increase their lead on what was clearly an offides run that was missed by the linesman.
Down 2 – 0, events were already getting desperate and on 20 minutes, it was to get worse. A Pelican’s player who was earlier received a yellow card for disent, was given his second yellow and dismissed on 20 minutes for another late challenge. There were arguments that the same type of challenge on the Pelican’s player had earlier gone unpunished and the Pelicans bench felt wrongly done by the 2nd yellow on their player.
Despite the early goals, Pelicans still maintained an edge in possession as they looked to unlock a touch Silverbacks defense. But then on a poor clearance and already a 2 goal lead, FC Silverbacks asserted themselves in the match to keep the pressure on Pelicans on 36 minutes with a fantastic long range effort from Silverback attacker, Greivin Vega. It all started harmless enough at midfield. Vega took possession of a rebound about 40 yards out, as defenders backed off, Vega moved forward a few paces and let lose with a stinging shot from 25 yards out getting past the keeper and giving FC Silverbacks a 3 – 0.
Pelicans must have felt aggrieved after putting so much in a vital match like this and getting precious little in return.
The second half started with FC Silverbacks maintaining their advantage in control and possession and Vega would get on the score sheet again on 50 minutes. On 51 minutes there would be another flash point in the match. It seemed clear to the Pelicans players that they were not getting calls for some hard fouls in the middle of the pitch. Dalibor Amanovic approached the match referee to show him what was happening. While describing how he was repeatedly fouled Daca tapped the ref with his elbow as he demonstrated how he was fouled, but the referee immediately issued a straight red for touching him. Dismay from Pelican’s players followed but the referee waved away protests.
Later in the half a good move up the left found Vega in possession left of the penalty area. Again Vega was able to move and turn to lose his marker and put in a low shot which beat the keeper for a 4 – 0 match.
Now down to 9 men, and down by 4 goals, all seemed lost. But Pelicans fought on.
Up to this point, FC Silverbacks had been getting the best out of the match in possession and control. Now down to 9 men, Pelicans played some of the best football of the match. Chances were coming now for Pelicans but the finishing was not good enough and they couldn’t find a goal for their hard work. FC Silverbacks Vega would give the final answer as he grabbed his hat-trick and Silverbacks 5th goal of the match to round out the scoring and finalize the victory at Silverback park by the score of 5 – 0.
Though a setback for Pelicans FC White, they still remain in the mix with plenty of time to bounce back from this defeat to work their own path toward promotion. Pelican’s also remain in the Perrin Cup as they have a February 13th date against 1st division’s Georgia Tech FC.
(Match Report contributions by Andre Bomar – Atlanta Footballnet www.atlanta-footballnet.com; edits by Steve Cantonis)
Pelicans White Defeat Bafana Dos In The Snow
Courtesy of Atlanta Footballnet: http://www.atlanta-footballnet.com/leagues/main…
Conditions on this day would be challenging for anyone out in the weather, and this was no different for competitors, Bafana Dos and Pelicans FC White at Riverwood HS Field. These teams set themselves to square off in a vital 3rd division match in freezing and snowy conditions to battle for places near the top of the 3rd division table. Bafana Dos began the day with the same 15 points as Georgia Tech Club but behind them on goal difference. Pelicans FC White lay 2 points behind them in 6th place on 13 points.
If the weather was a factor for the players, it was not evident as the whistle blew to start action. A frantic pace set the tone of the early moments of the contest even if the action was a bit scrappy. Each team tried to settle with an advantage in possession and traded blows in the middle of the park. As both teams attempted to settle into a composed passing game, neither could gain an advantage in possession or pressure the keepers. But an advantage would come in minute 22.
As both squads traded possession back and forth, a loose ball was pounced on by Pelican, Dalibor Amaonvic. There did not appear to be much danger as he moved forward, but as other Pelican players made runs diagonally from Amaonvic’s position, it served to split the Dos defense as they looked to cover outlet routes. This action inadvertently opened up the center of the field which Amaonvic exploited by running forward with the ball with pace and neatly dispatched the ball past the Dos keeper into the back of the net. Pelicans were ahead 1 – 0.
A bit of confusion for observers in the 32nd minute when a penalty was awarded to Pelicans after a foul was called in the box. There were brief protest from the Dos players to the call, but the penalty stood. Pelican, Robert Hajinal, had his first successful attempt called back due to the infringement of a teammate in the penalty area as he took the spot kick. However, he successfully scored on his second attempt and put Pelican’s ahead 2 – 0. The match was now slowly going Pelicans way on both the scoreboard and in possession on the field, but Bafana Dos would grab one back before the break.
Bafana Dos had problems holding possession long enough to pressure Steve Cantonis in the Pelican goal mouth. However, on 40 minutes, a move on the left wing saw the #7 Dos player get loose on the left side of the penalty area where his shot on goal got past the out-stretched hands of Cantonis in goal and Dos now had a life-line though still trailing 2 – 1 as the clubs went into the break.
The drama continued in the 2nd half as an even match was made even more dramatic with an equalizer from Bafana Dos. The match was taking on a character all it’s own now with both clubs level and with precious points to be had, each squad looked for the advantage. Pelicans would be the club to find it as the match neared the 90th minute. Pelicans moved forward toward the Dos goal in the 85th minute and with passing routes occupied, Pelican player, Lawrence Monroe found a way to chip a beautifully crafted shot over the Dos keeper and into the back of the net for a crucial goal that ultimately was the game winner.
Both clubs showed courage and determination to show up and play in these conditions but it would be Pelicans FC White to take all 3 points today as they bubble up the 3rd Division table in their challenge for honors this season. Now the stage is set going forward as we get close to another holiday break.
Though Bafana Dos were eliminated in the first round of the Perrin Cup, they are still hot prospects in the 3rd division race for promotion. Pelicans FC White did advance to the 2nd round of the Perrin Cup where they will face Tanzanite FC. Pelicans are just as hot as Bafana Dos for promotion honors and will be looking to continue their fine form going into the 2nd half of the season. It would be well worth any fan to get out to support these fine 2 teams as the season wears on. They will provide a good sporting value for the family in the Atlanta area.
Next Up: Perrin Cup 2nd round 12/19 at 11am vs Tanzanite FC
10/17 & 10/24 Man of the Match Honors: PFC White
Making his Pelicans debut, Dalibor "Daca" Amanovic made his presence known quickly and was the first PFC player to earn the honors in his debut game. In his opening game on 10/17 he drew several defenders his way earning several free kicks, including the equalizer that he bent up and over the wall. Pelicans captain Lawrence Monroe said it best [on the set piece], “sick free kick”!
In the 10/24 match against Ga Tech Club Bob Poynter earned his first Man of the Match honors on the season. He provided a spark in the center with his “inspired play and constant work”.
Congrats to both on the honors.
PFC White gets ‘schooled’ by Ga Tech Club
On a day where Newton’s Law of Cooling couldn’t be calculated due to the extreme October heat, Pelicans FC White looked to teach the young lads of Georgia Tech how to play football, the kind played with a round ball, not throwball.
PFC White started out strong earning most of the early possession, and after pie multiplied by the square root of 4 plus 10 minutes PFC White cracked the formula, capitalizing on a cross and quick tap in off the keeper to go up 1-0. A quick strike minutes later made it Pelicans 2 and Tech 0.
Playing on the carpet covered concrete slab known as the Tech SAC field must have gotten in to PFC’s keeper head more than he’d thought. Cantonis was quick to take an off-sides free kick midway through the first half, but with the deft and accurate touch he posses he played the ball perfectly to a Tech player standing 300 minus the multiplicative inverse of 23.8 yards in front of him giving Tech an easy first goal and they quickly scored a second soft goal from an off-sides position. The run of play went back and forth ending 2-2 at the half.
The second half saw the Pelicans go down quickly off a redirected shot, but they would continue to push. Chasing 18 to 20 year old college kids who don’t drink didn’t help the cause. PFC White players started to show signs of fatigue, but they would not give up after surrendering a 4th goal. The toe poke by the Tech forward was directed on a right angle beam of Tmax that beat the PFC keeper for the 4th time on the day leaving him to ponder why he didn’t pay more attention to the Stress Concentration Factor and less on MHL (That’s (M)iller (H)igh (L)ife for those Tech students not as familiar with that formula as PFC players are).
PFC White drew back a third goal and pushed hard for the equalizer but saw several good chances go wide and over ending in a 4-3 loss and their first set back of the season.
After the game the Tech students sat around and shared convection heat-transfer coefficient formulas as the rejoiced in a victory that had been handed to them.
Up next is the Perrin Cup first round, Sunday 10/31 against EP Rovers at 5pm at Arizona Avenue. It’s time for the PFC White squad to step up and play to their potential!
- Pelicans FC Match Report Details -
STARTING SIDE: J.McAbee, J.Holder, A.Eskew, M.Evans, D.Johnson, K.Littrell, B.Poynter, C.Garland, R.Henry, D.Amanovic, S.Cantonis
SUBSTITUTE: M.Clark, O.Omene
MATCH: Screaming Pelicans FC vs. Ga Tech Club
DATE: October 24, 2010
TIME: 11am ET
COMPETITION: League Match
VENUE: Concrete covered with carpet (Tech SAC field)
ATTENDANCE: Mr. Clark, L.Hawkins, E.Boonacker and the rest of the PFC Family!
WEATHER: Sunny