Kisling's Tavern
HANGOVER UNITED
Soccer Club
Baltimore, Maryland USA - Est. 1995

HANGOVER UNITED - MATCH REPORT 2003: MMSL PLAYOFF SEMI-FINAL

HANGOVER TAKE PENINSULA UTD 3-1, MOVE ON TO FINAL
By David Jones for soccernet.com
30 NOVEMBER 2003

ESSEX, MD – Hangover United earned their way to their first Division Final in the clubs history with a 3-1 win over Peninsula United. A blustery fall day made things a bit on the chilly side at Kenwood High School in Essex. The very damp and small field made things difficult for both sides. Straight off, ball control became the issue of the match. That combined with the confines of the small pitch meant adjustments had to be made. Hangover could not use their speed advantage up top due to the fact that each and every ball played through to run onto went right into the keepers box harmlessly. Hangover had a hard time maintaining possession in midfield but they were able to create chances by playing the ball up the sides. In the 16 minute the ball was worked up the left side where Anthony Menegatti was able to touch a nice volley into John Jenkins at the top of the box. Jenkins with the ball and his back to goal then turned to his right and placed a left footed curler past the keeper just inside the far post giving Hangover the 1-0 lead. The Hangover defense and midfield did well to try to gain possession but it was difficult for both sides. The unsure footing made 50-50 balls difficult to commit to. “Usually we are winning the lions share of those balls in midfield but with the conditions being so sloppy we had to play conservative and it cost us some possession and lead to Peninsula having more opportunities than we would have liked” said player/manager Chris King. Hangover keeper Butch Santucci can up big when called on. The half ended with Hangover up 1-0.  

In the second half, Hangover were in drivers seat. They started strong with some chances coming and going, but you got the feeling it would be long before they got another goal. In the 62nd minute as Peninsula started to commit more men to the attack, John Jenkins was put through by Danny Gerbasi and he finished well past the keeper putting Hangover in front with a commanding 2-0 lead. In the 75th minute Aron Shea had some nice work down the left side cut the ball back, played it off to John Jenkins pushed the ball to his right teed it up and smacked it in to the right hand upper 90, that the keeper had no chance of getting to, putting Hangover up 3-0 in the 75th minute. Peninsula spirit broke with that goal and a lot of space opened up on the field. Hangover had many more opportunities including most notably Les Maynard and Richard Bright, but were unable to find the back of the net. Then in the 84th minute a poor clearance by the Hangover defense led to a free bouncing ball in box that the Peninsula midfielder was able to knock by the screened Butch Santucci.

At the post match press conference at Kislings player/manager Chris King said, “the lowly Hangover United of Kislings - the laughin stock of the MMSL DIV II for years & years... are now in the FINALS of both the DiMarco Cup & the Div II Playoffs... and man it feels good. We all are going to enjoy this. It has been a long time in the making.” He added.

Hangover now make their way to the Finals of the DiMarco Cup next Tuesday December 2nd at 7:00 PM –v- Cardwell’s Tavern of Division III at Utz Field in Patterson Park.
Next Sunday Hangover play for all the marbles next Sunday ko 11AM, @ UTZ Field in Patterson Park. They have a chance to get a win against the only team that they drew with and the clubs old nemesis Dnipro, now Ashland Café. This should be a fantastic finish to the season.

MAN OF THE MATCH: John Jenkins (hat-trick-hero), THE DEFENSE (Hon Mention)
GOAL OF THE MATCH: John Jenkins #1 (one timer past the keeper into the upper 90)
FOUL OF THE MATCH: Ray Mitcham (slipping and taking out the legs of the midfielder)

DiMARCO CUP NEXT MATCH: FINAL TUE DECEMBER 2nd -v- CARDWELL's TAVERN @ Utz Field in Patterson Park ko 7:00 PM
MMSL PLAYOFFS NEXT MATCH: FINAL SUN DECEMBER 7th -v- ASHLAND CAFE @ Utz Field in Patterson Park ko 11:00 AM