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

HANGOVER UNITED - MATCH REPORT 2003 WEEK 3

HANGOVER WIN 3-2 WITH LAST SECOND HEADER OVER PENINSULA UTD
By David Jones for soccernet.com
11 NOVEMBER 2003

BALTIMORE, MD – Hangover United regained first place in the MMSL second division with a last second header to win 3-2 in the make-up game from Week #3 with Peninsula United. Things got off to shaky start on this cold drizzly evening for the Hangover side as they were having a hard time finding open players in midfield and could not control possession. After about ten minutes of uncertain play, Hangover got their heads together and were final able to get the ball up field and start playing some smart balls to each other. With the speed of Hangover forwards John Jenkins and Jon Pitonzo there was opportunity for them to exploit the weakness of the outside backs of the Peninsula defense. Scoring chances came time and time again then in the 16th minute a beautiful move around the Peninsula back by Chris Hastings had him alone on the byline, he put a beautiful cross into the box and Danny Gerbasi was there to meet the ball and volley the it into the net giving Hangover the 1-0 lead. The opportunities came quickly after but Hangover couldn’t convert. Some wonderful one touch passing down the left side lead to a nice low ball into the middle that Art Mullen dropped off for Danny Gerbasi who one-timed on goal but a nice save by the Peninsula keeper kept score 1-0. A few moments later John Jenkins cracked a shot from 25 yds out that dented the cross bar and rebounded a good 25 yds out. Peninsula did one thing well and that was counter attack and get men up the field quickly. In the 39th minute they did just that and it paid off. The Peninsula striker was able to turn and get a shot off from 16 yds out that took a deflection off Hangover defender Chuck Wasson and got by Hangover keeper Butch Santucci tying the match 1-1 at halftime.  

In the second half, the drizzle turned into a soft cold rain that made the playing conditions quite a bit slicker. More space tended to open up as no one was quit sure how the ball would bounce. Once again Hangover tried to use the corners and the advantage they had against the outside backs and it led to more opportunity. Aron Shea tracked back and was able to steal the ball and go to goal beating another defender to the right side and put a beautiful low hard shot just inside the far post giving Hangover the 2-1 lead in the 56th minute. A Peninsula counter attack led to a Peninsula corner kick in which the forward bent into the goal mouth. This took Hangover keeper Butch Santucci by surprise, he was able to get to it but lost grip of the ball which then popped out and hit his left foot and went into the net as he fell to the ground. This fluke goal tied the match again at 2-2 in the 65th minute. Hangover did not loose their heads and continued to put on the pressure. Opportunities came and went, even a counter attack or two from Peninsula in which Butch Santucci came up big. But in the 89th minute, there again on the right side Chris Hasting got by the Peninsula back put a nice ball up in the air to the far post that the Peninsula keeper got a hand to but deflected to the back post where John Jenkins was able to nod into the open net giving Hangover the 3-2 lead. Hangover kept the pressure up pushing the ball forward and the final whistle blew three minutes later, final score Hangover United 3, Peninsula United 2.

At the post match press conference at Kislings player/manager Chris King said, “This was a nice effort by everyone and a great win. A good match was well, better than what would have been if the refs showed up to the right field in Week #3” referring to the low numbers Peninsula had out on Week #3. King added “We kept our heads and let the game come to us, instead of forcing things and not playing our game. This shows that the side now has a lot of maturity and confidence in one another to know that we can and will pull things out if we rely on each other and play our game. It’s great to see as a manager.” And it could not come at a better time for Hangover with the playoffs and DiMarco Cup starting in the next week.

After 10 weeks, John Jenkins is still the MMSL point leader and has clinched his Second consecutive MMSL Golden Boot for Div I, II & III with an unbelievable 46 points (17 goals, 12 assists). Hangover close out the MMSL regular season and take on Middle River F.C on Sunday November 16th at 12:00 PM at Sparrows Point High School.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Chris Hastings (best match of the year), Art Mullen (Hon Mention)
GOALS OF THE MATCH: Danny Gerbasi (beautiful volley), John Jenkins (game winning header)
FOUL OF THE MATCH: Jon Pitonzo foot sweep take down in the second half

NEXT MATCH: SUN NOVEMBER 16th -v- Middle River FC @ Sparrows Point High School ko 12:00 PM