Mighty Oranges Remain Unbeaten In Run For Championship

29th April 2009

Racing Guantanamo took a step closer to becoming champions with a win against fledgling outfit Rambo Caledonian Athletic Thistle on Wednesday night at PCYC.

The 10-8 win marked the continuation of the club’s unbeaten streak, as well as the return of Guantanamo legend Francois Kruger who had recovered from a back injury to play only his second game of the season.

The match began with Guantanamo missing Tim Gray, Joel Hamling, Kane Fitzpatrick and Danny Pinchas, with club captain Andy Smyth scrambling to find replacements. The team managed to sign up Andrew Jenner as a guest player for one night only.

The match was tipped to be feisty, with two Guantanamo players, Luke Turner and Nicky Anear on loan to Rambo for the indoor season. Broome Soccer Association President Mike Doyle also played for the team, and was eager not to be beaten by a Guantanamo team that has historically been considered as “easy-beats”.

The match started nervously for the Mighty Oranges, who went a goal down after only five minutes. The Guantanamo players took their time to find their scoring shoes, and the crowd on the sidelines were braced for the first defeat of 2009.

Ryan Platten had different ideas, with the Guantanamo chairman firing low and hard to equalise and begin a period of Orange domination over their younger counterparts. Indeed, Platten was playing in unfamiliar territory as a striker, but the Northern Irishman looked comfortable and composed in front of goal.

Martin Kessler soon joined Platten on the scoresheet, with the German showing typical class and efficiency to punish the Rambo defence.

With the experience of captain Smyth at the back, Rambo were having a tough time finding a way through, and Estonian Raiko scored his first as Guanatanmo asserted their dominance.

Chris Hingston gave a gutsy performance, providing steel in the midfield with some crunching tackles causing Rambo play more warily in the centre of the park.

Terry Ragoonanan also played well, with the big Trinidadian inching ever closer to scoring his first goal for the club.

The second half began much as the first half, with Guantanamo showing a dominant streak, but midway through, the young guns of Rambo CAT managed to swing the tide in their favour, launching a blistering series of attacks which saw five goals put past “The Rock” Francois Kruger.

Kruger had been having a fantastic game, but not even he could prevent the ferocity of the Rambo attack.

In a period of panic, where Guantanamo fans thought they would see their lead erased, the efficient Martin Kessler again popped up to score two more and effectively kill off the game.

The result sees Guantanamo remain on top of the Broomedesliga table, two points clear of Sanga and with two games to go. Next week will be another top of the table clash, as Racing Guantanamo welcome Sanga to BRAC in a must-win game that could decide the league champion.

Final Score
Racing Guantanamo AFC 10 – 8 Rambo Caledonian Athletic Thistle

Scorers
M. Kessler (5), R. Platten (2), Raiko (3)

Racing Guantanamo AFC Matchday Squad
Andy SMYTH, Ryan PLATTEN, Chris HINGSTON, Francois KRUGER, Terry RAGOONANAN, Martin KESSLER, RAIKO, Andrew JENNER