[caption id="attachment_68735" align="alignright" width="600" caption="Aiden Corr."]
It took ten matches, but Shamrock finally broke their duck in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League [CSL] Second Division on the final day of the fall campaign. After losing eight of their previous nine games, the Rocks hammered FC Japan 5-1 on Randalls Island to record their first win of the season.
"Needless to say, we're delighted," enthused Glen Wrafter after the romp over the Japanese on a frigid morning.
Shamrock were up 2-1 at the interval on goals by Darren Moen [10th] and Joey Aronovski [15th] and pretty much sealed it on resumption through Andy Horan's 25-yard screamer from a free kick [50th].
Kieran Ferguson [60th] and Horan again [75th] added insurance goals The Rocks, [1-8-1, 4] remain bottom of the table, five points from safety. They plan on training throughout the three-month winter break with the goal of avoiding the drop in the spring.
Wrafter said the club would hold workouts twice a week: 8:30 pm to 10 pm at Pier 40 on Wednesdays and from 8 pm Saturdays at St. Sebastian Hall in Sunnyside, Queens.
His reserves thumped Japan's second unit 4-0.
SHAMROCK PARADE
Second half goals by Onder Koksol and Karl Hughes snatched a 2-0 win for the Shamrock Over-30s over Guyana Veterans 'A' at the Parade Ground. Koksol broke the deadlock [55th] in an evenly contested match after a defense-splitting pass from Eugene Gormley. Hughes later converted a penalty [75th] awarded when Guyana's center half handled a Bingo O'Driscoll cross.
"We only had 11 players out and they played their hearts out," said coach Paddy McCarry.
He singled out central midfielders Gormley and Eddie Gilmartin for joint Man of the Match honors, and also had kudos for captain Mike Bishop and Donald "Ducky" Kelly.
"We're glad to finish the fall on a winning note and all in all we're very happy to be still in second position," McCarry added.
CHEERY BHOYS
Lansdowne Bhoys also ended the year on a winning note with a 3-1 decision over First Division rivals Central Park Rangers at Tibbets Brook Park.
Old hand Damien Mascal nodded the Bhoys ahead [25th] while debutant Adam Fein, one of several new signings from New York University [NYU], twice finished with aplomb [25th, 75th] to secure full points.
Kwesi Mills-Odoi scored for CPR
Lansdowne coach Kevin Grogan had props for Fein and his fellow debutants. "Niki Chow also a new signing from NYU and Mathew Newman of NYU both put in great debuts. They showed great attitude and professionalism," he said. The Bhoys go into the break [5-2-3, 18] in joint second place in the East, two points behind Barnstonworth Rovers.
SECONDS FALL
Michael Fernandez, the Lansdowne reserves' new Portuguese find, and Richie Morgan connected in a 3-2 defeat in the curtain raiser.
Chris Norelli, Daniel Coccero and Russell Archibald scored for CPR 'B.'
HAT TRICK HERO
Darren McDermott, a frequent scorer for Lansdowne's Metro Div. II side, notched a hat trick in the 7-0 drubbing of New Amsterdam.
Bhoys veteran Dessie Beattie, a star of many Lansdowne teams of the past, added a brace with Marty Griffin and Kevin McGinney each connecting once.
"He's a magnificent player who's stilling doing the business," Aiden Corr said of Beattie.
LUCKY SEVEN
In other Over-30 action, Dave Sheeran's Barnstonworth Old Boys saw off short-handed FC Partizani 7-0.
Magnus Mukoro [two], Bryan Painter [two], James Rogers, Colin McLear and Barry O'Driscoll tallied.
"Partizani could not muster a full team and the Old Boys took advantage," said Sheeran. "Pleasing to see us take care of business - we've struggled to impose ourselves on short-handed teams in the past."
There was also a 2-0 win for Manhattan Celtics Over-30s against Central Park Rangers.
David Priego [7th] connected off a Tyler Fransen pass and then set up a goal for Phil James [25th].
