Guantanamo Fire Warning Shot Across Broomedesliga Bow

1st May 2008

Like Barack Obama, Racing Guantanamo last night yelled out a resounding “Yes We Can!” in the face of their critics after downing second-placed Sampayne Sepakbola in a thrilling 7-2 victory and reigniting hopes of a league championship.

Guantanamo began the night in unfamiliar surroundings after BSA President Mike Doyle decided to emulate the English Premier League idea of moving matches to different surroundings in order to promote the game.

The Oranges withdrew vice-captain Tim Gray from the squad after another flare-up of his calf injury. Gray however did not take his week off as a chance to relax, and instead ground the gears of the Tim Gray Scouting and Talent Agency into action, recruiting yet another outstanding player in the form of Tim O’Brien.

Captain Ryan Platten, not to be outdone by his over-networked vice-captain signed the indomitable Scotsman Andy Smyth to give some muscle to the team, while George Perera made a welcome return to the team after being sidelined for 4 weeks with a calf strain.

The match began in horrific fashion, drawing groans from the majority Guantanamo crowd, as a total lack of focus gifted Sampayne the lead after only 15 seconds. The Mighty Oranges quickly slipped into gear and began to make a nervous Sampayne begin to make mistakes with enormous pressure and superb teamwork.

The match began at a quick pace and seemed to get even quicker, as Irishman Joe Tighe continually pushed forward from the back to threaten the Sampayne goal. Combining well with George Perera, Tighe managed to make the most of the seemingly incoherent Sepakbola defence to slam one past the keeper to draw the teams level.

Francois Kruger, normally a rock and unmovable in the Guantanamo goal, gifted the team in green the lead again when he spilled a shot and was forced to look on as it trickled into his goal. With a clenched jaw and steely resolve, Kruger refused to concede anymore and blocked several crucial shots, sending waves of confidence throughout the Guantanamo squad.

Captain Ryan Platten managed to get on the scoresheet for only the second time this season, finishing off an excellent attack by bundling the ball into the back of the net on the second attempt in a typically ugly looking finish.

Jon Falconer continued to improve his footballing education by providing a resolute determination to cut out all Sampayne passes while Andy Smyth showed that he will be a player to watch in coming weeks, demonstrating an awareness of play not normally seen from the men in Orange.

Tim O’Brien sounded off on a successful introduction to life at Guantanamo by slotting a goal home, while Adam Shanley wowed the crowd with a typically gutsy performance in the middle of the park and also bagging a goal.

The match belonged to Joe Tighe however, with the big Irishman finishing the game with four goals and a man of the match award.

This win puts Guantanamo in the driver’s seat to recover their season, and hopefully rise through the ranks of the Broomedesliga. Although with only four matches remaining, have they left their newly-found acquisition of form too late?

Racing Guantanamo Matchday Squad
Ryan PLATTEN, Francois KRUGER, George PERERA, Jon FALCONER, Andy SMYTH, Joe TIGHE, Tim O’BRIEN, Adam SHANLEY

Final Score
Racing Guantanamo AFC 7 – 2 Sampayne Sepakbola

Attendance
4