Close Match Yields Nothing For Guantanamo

Wednesday 17th September 2008

Racing Guantanamo signaled their intent to finish the B-Liga season strongly with the shrewd signing of Ben McKenzie minutes before kick off against Hagen’s Heroes. The former Broome City player became available at the end of the WKFL season, and the Mighty Oranges were quick to snap him up.

It was a match of high drama and controversy that saw a horrific injury and a dummy-spit of monumental proportions.

Guantanamo made a few changes to the starting lineup, with McKenzie coming into centre midfield, and another new signing, Josh Sibosado coming into right midfield. Joel Hamling was pushed into right midfield to compensate for the missing Jon Falconer, who was away on other duties. Up front, Nicky Anear came into the side in place of Adam Shanley while vice captain Tim Gray was on the bench.

The match began sprightly for the men in orange with a trademark Luke Turner run forcing the Heroes defence into action. It was end to end stuff as both teams tried to push for the opening goal. However, it was Guantanamo who found themselves behind after ten minutes, when the Hagen’s players managed to run onto a well placed through ball and slot it past Francois Kruger in the orange goal.

The first half saw the Guantanamo midfield again non-existent, and it was at half time where the team made some badly needed changes.  McKenzie was pushed upfront in place of Nicky Anear who came back into right midfield, while Tim Gray took up his customary place in the centre of the park. Indeed, the vice captain’s presence in the middle saw a Guantanamo resurgence, with Joel Hamling scoring his first of the season.

The tussle was back and forth in the middle, with both teams claiming successes and failures. The Mighty Oranges saw an opportunity when an on-field spat saw Heroes player Steven Keenan abandon his teammates and walk off the pitch. Fans on the sideline were left dumbfounded when the Irishman stormed off the field, packed up his things and left the ground with only 5 minutes of the second half played. The oranges pushed forward, scoring one, but conceding one just as quick at the other end.

It was then that another moment grabbed the attention of the fans when Andy Smyth tussled with Chris Stainton on the left wing. Both players went for the ball and went down in a tumble. In the collision, Smyth popped his shoulder from his socket and was down in screaming agony for a few minutes while medics attended him.

It was a measure of the Guantanamo spirit that the bug Scotsman managed to play on for another 10 minutes before eventually coming off.

The match ended with Hagen’s up by 7 goals to 4, but the spirit in which the match was played, along with several controversial moments which made it one to remember. Guantanamo now look forward to the last week of the season where they play two matches in three days, and look set to welcome back influential Irishman Joe Tighe as well as strong defender Tim O’Brien.

Racing Guantanamo Matchday Squad
Ryan PLATTEN, Tim GRAY, Francois KRUGER, Andy SMYTH, Chris HINGSTON, Josh SIBOSADO, Ben MCKENZIE, Joel HAMLING, Luke TURNER, Nicky ANEAR

Final Score
Racing Guantanamo AFC 4 – 7 Hagen’s Heroes

Attendance
8