John Glenn-NorthWood 1-2 (1-0)

Weather wise it is a great night for soccer. The field looks good but is hard. NW looks to go on a little streak and tonight's game could be the start of that. FIRST HALF- The usual lineup takes the field. It looks like the better (everything is relative of course) officials tonight are on the chalk lines. In minute 2, Dennyz delivers a pass thru the box to Brayton. Brayton goes one on one with the Glenn keep but his outside of the boot shot goes directly to the Falcon backstop who prevents an early NW lead. John Glenn however, turns the table on the Panthers in the 5th when their #21 takes a long distance shot and catches Cody a little bit off his line. The laser disappears into the goal right under the crossbar for an early Glenn lead, 1-0. Neither team really threatens too much the rest of the half. NW dominates the middle third, does okay in the defensive third but is unable to do much in the offensive third. Partly because Glenn parks the bus and packs anywhere from 7 to 10 players in or near the box to prevent a Panther goal. The score at the half is Glenn 1, NorthWood 0. HALF TIME- Coach Duerksen tells the team that he seems to be repeating himself when it comes to what needs done in order to get results. The main challenge is offered to the seniors. It is their time (which is running out) and they need to step up and make something happen. SECOND HALF- Five minutes into the second half, one of many NW corners goes near post for the training ground practiced set piece. The execution on the ensuing "sitter" is not very good and misses its target. NW keeps the pressure on Glenn and only 60 seconds later, Brayton perfcectly serves Isaac. Isaac, who is in the middle of a hard straight up in the box run, keeps the ball at his foot before he shoots the ball low and hard to the keeper's right. The GK has no chance, 1-1. Only 120 (!!!!!!!) seconds later, AC shields a ball, passes it to Pipp. Pipp crosses the ball hard behind the Glenn defense. Brayton slips in front of the Glenn central defender and connects with the ball, 1-2! It needs mentioned that minutes before the 1-2, another NW attack ends with a foul on David in the box. The whistle blows and it looks like the foul is called for a NW PK. The center ref then runs towards AR1. The clock does not get stopped and it looks to us that the discussion has to be about the spot of the foul (inside or outside the box). To our amazement, Glenn is awarded a free kick(what??????). When asked for an explanation, the center ref exclaims that it was an "inadvertent" whistle. For one, inadvertent means "not resulting from or achieved through deliberate planning". As Coach Duerksen says; "you put the whistle in your mouth and you then blow on it, how is that "inadvertent". For another, why did the center #@%&&** run to the AR? What was that discussion about? Was it like this: "Heh AR, how you doing here on the line. Looks like a pretty straight touch line. Got a question for you if you have a second". AR1: "yeah, I got a second. By the way, don't stop the clock. I wanna get home, I am getting HUNGGRYY!. But what is the question". Center ref. :"Well did you see the foul". AR1 :"The foul in the box?" Center ref.:"Yeah that one". AR1: "No I did not see that foul in the box that should be a PK". Center Ref.: "Oh yeah, that foul in the box where 10 got hacked, I didn't see it either. That's why I put the whistle in my mouth and blew on it. But both putting in my mouth and then blowing in it wasn't what I intended to do. Kinda weird how those things happen. I will explain it to the NW coach. He seems like a mild guy, he will understand. He won't mock me, I'm sure. Well thanks AR1, that really cleared everything up. Enjoy the rest of the game!". Yes, that is how that must have gone. Obviously you don't have to wait til the end of the blog to see what this referee gets as a grade. He deserves a "F". He blew it by blowing it. In the 62nd, a Glenn right side attack does need the hands from Cody to keep the ball out of the ropes. A great save keeps us in the game and in the lead. the 64th, Tony goes thru the box and the ball lands in front of Eli. His shot flies off the top of the crossbar. The Glenn "fans" cry foul everytime NW touches the ball, especially when Dennyz gets involved defensively. One of the Glenn fans (maybe the only one with some soccer knowledge) calls Dennyz an Octopus in a, I think, complimentary reference to Pogba. Dennyz does seem to have four pairs of limbs and uses them to recover the ball when least expected to. With two minutes left to play, Glenn gets more physical. Connor gets fouled and goes down in partitions. The free kick is one of the last actions of the game. NW plays a good second half, wins 1-2 and has now only lost twice in the last 10 games. The varsity record is now 7-4-3.