Guantanamo Kick off Campaign With Important Win

Wednesday, 11th March 2009

Racing Guantanamo began the season in style as they gained a big win over new team Black Widows on the first day of the newly-launched Broomedesliga season.

With Guantanamo unveiling new recruits Martin Kessler,Terry Raganoonan and Kane Fitzpatrick, optimism was high around the Mighty Oranges’ camp.

New captain Andy Smyth selected an attacking lineup to start the match, but despite the superior pace of the Oranges, the Widows managed to pose several threats earlier on with their better use of space on the field.

However, not before long, Guantanamo managed to find the net courtesy of Kessler, who was impressing pundits on the sidelines with his silky touch and German grit. As the first goal hit home, the match opened up with both sides sometimes throwing caution to the wind in order to notch up the score.

New signing Kane Fitzpatrick also showed why he is considered to be one of Guantanamo’s biggest threats with a brace of goals in the first half as Guantanamo went in 4-2 in front.

Francois Kruger, who had a sluggish first half, came into the second with a blinding flurry of saves to deny the Widows, while Tim Gray looked particularly fiery after a heated exchange with one of the Widows’ players.

Joel Hamling was eager to impress, and at times almost ran riot over the Widows’ defence. Guantanamo were putting together some good passages of play, and the other side had to defend well to stay in the match.

A particularly sweet-hit shot from Ryan Platten almost put the final nail in the coffin of the Widows before they struck back in the dying minutes of the match. Hamling was keen not to let them have the last laugh and hit one in in the last minute of the game.

Good signs for Guantanamo, however critics will be looking at two gifted goals in the first half as signs that the team are not quite at the championship level they aspire to just yet.

Final Score
Racing Guantanamo 8 – 4 Black Widows

Scorers
M. Kessler (4), K. Fitzpatrick (2), R. Platten, J. Hamling

Squad
Andy SMYTH, Ryan PLATTEN, Tim GRAY, Francois KRUGER, Terry RAGANOONAN, Joel HAMLING, Martin KESSLER, Kane FITZPATRICK, Chris HINGSTON