Firecrackers Manage a Last Minute Tie

June 6

David Ahlgren

 Yesterday’s game was a grudge match from the beginning.  The furthest back I can remember playing these guys was in 2004 when we made the playoffs because a team got kicked out of the league for fighting.  We played them in the semi-finals and won 1-0.  Then in Spring 2005, we played them once at the end of the season, on our upswing.  We tied them, 1-1, and then went on to that great game against Santa Clara FC in the semis.  We then played them 3 times in the Summer league, with the first ending up at tie 4-4.  We didn’t close the door on them after being up 4-1 and they came back at that lousy Windmill Springs park.  The next game we beat them 2-0, completely shutting them down, and then we met again in the semi’s.  They prevailed this time, with a 1-0 win, and ended up winning the league.

 The Firecrackers saw many faces return to the lineup, including yours truly, after a brief vacation.  Both Dave and Devin returned from their respective honeymoons, and Antonio was back after a refreshing, uhh… all-inclusive “trip” with one of his "guy friends" where they shared a room in Hawaii.  More rumors abound about that trip than I have room to write.

Antonio is anxious to dispel rumors, after a questionable vacation

 In any case, the first half was relatively quiet.  The ref’s continued to make questionable calls, play was a little rough, and the Firecrackers played a little lax.  At one point, backup keeper John Basanese got beat by defender Brian Sturges, when in a role-reversal, Sturges forgot he was a defender and flicked the ball over Basanese as a great shot on goal.  Thanks to some quick thinking, Donny Dequine was able to kick the ball out of what was sure to be a goal.

Brian Sturges takes a shot for the team

 Minutes later however, the Firecrackers found themselves in unfamiliar territory.  All game, the defense had been shutting down the Agave offense, not allowing them any shots or even breathing room.  But then “Bald Bull 2” happened.  “The last I saw him, his back was to the goal,” keeper Basanese said, “but then I got screened, and all of a sudden this shot comes flying in before I could react.  I knew that would be the only way they would be able to score—taking shots even when they don’t have a clear one, and Bald Bull is great at that.”  Bald Bull, is of course the reference to the boxer in Mike Tyson’s Punch Out.  I’m not sure how this player got the name Bald Bull 2—there was another player on another team who was actually bald, and looked like the guy from the game, and ran around like a bull.  In any case, this Bald Bull 2 put the Agave’s up 1 goal at half time.

 Being down 1-0 at halftime ignited the fire in the ‘Crackers.  The second half began the way we had wanted the first half to start.  Players were shutting the Agave’s down quickly, and it was effective.  But then the Firecrackers might have gotten a little overzealous.  Over a ten minute period, there must have been 5 yellow cards handed out to the ‘Crackers, starting with Brandon Stirm, then Donny Dequine and the goalie (pictured) and rounding out with Ronnie Jenkins counting out load.  Said Brian Sturges (also carded), “I just figured that if we got everyone yelling at the ref, he would get confused and not know who give a card!”   All told, yellow cards were given to: Ronnie Jenkins, Brandon Stirm, Devin Nelson, Garret Ruiz, Brian Sturges, and Donny Dequine, but you have to appreciate the intensity!

Donny and the keeper get up-close and personal

 The Firecrackers, although stepping up the intensity, were very limited when trying to take shots.  The Agave’s always had numbers back, keeping 4-5 players to defend.  Shortly before the end of the game, a long ball was lofted into the Agave goal box, towards forward David Ahlgren.  “I remembered what people were saying at halftime, about how the goalie would come way out to collect the ball.  I thought, as the ball was coming in, that if I could just get my head on it, it might skip past the goalie.  I was going to do everything I could to get to the ball first.”  Apparently getting to the ball first was also the path that the goalie took, but the defender coming in decided to take the Atwater path and speared Dave as he headed the ball.  “I remember heading the ball, but when I looked up from the dogpile, I saw the ball go just wide of the goal.  Just before I could get disheartened, the ref blew the whistle and gave us a pen.”

Stonehouse, a penalty-kick veteran with a distinct pk shooting style, solidly put the ball away for the tie.

Cheers lads.

Game photos can be found HERE.  Thanks once again to Mr. Basanese (of Firecrackers Saturday).

www.sjfirecrackers.com