YFC Open 2009

A gloriously sunny Saturday afternoon afforded the opportunity for the least hungover of the YFC squad to muster at Stanley Park for the 2009 Piss-Pot Cup. I would use the previous night’s celebrations for our comeback as an excuse for the state of the competitors, but we all know that would be a bloody lie.

Special congratulations should go to the boys whose zeal for the game of golf resulted in them turning up with almost full sets of clubs to a pitch’n'putt, you know who you are!

Despite the truly heroic intake of alcohol on the course during the round, there was a conspicuous lack of shite golf being played. Even Peter’s attempts to scupper everyone else by bringing nearly 2 litres of ice-cold whisky with him failed.

Highlights included the Pirate hole – one arm, one leg, one eye playing your shot, the happy gilmore – only one person birdied this (you all know who it was) and finally the beer can hole……..

Should've seen where the can landed...

Perfect stance....excellent follow through....hold the finish.....enjoy a job well done, and that's just Arnie taking a piss behind Peter.

Cracking day boys.

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YFC 4 – 1 Firefighter C-letcs

Yaletown continued their impressive start to the new season with a comfortable 4-1 victory over the Firefighters C-lect. The game was played Friday evening under lights at YFC’s new home field, the recently resurfaced Andy Livingstone Park. The game started strongly for the home team who dominated play early on with some crisp passing and good movement. A physical C-letcs team defended well early on playing with a deep midfield that frustrated YFC in front of the opposition goal. This frustration eventually led to YFC conceding a careless free kick in their own half mid-way through the first half. The ball was curled in to the box where the C-lect striker capitalised on some uncharacteristically sloppy YFC defending to head home unchallenged. The goal came against the run of play and caused the home team to temporarily lose their shape and concentration as they pushed hard for an equaliser. Order was restored shortly before the break when Antonio Rabelo swung in a long diagonal cross ball into the box where striker Simon Doran eluded his marker to head home from six yards.

The goal meant that YFC went into the half time break with momentum swinging firmly back in their favour. This continued into the second half with YFC making use of the full width of the pitch, spreading passes from left to right with both wing backs pushing forward and linking up well with their respective wingers. Central midfielders Adam Jennings and debutant Peter McHugh worked extremely hard to stem any C-lect attack through the middle channels, tackling hard and distributing clean ball out to the wings and strikers. About midway through the second half it was one of these passes that reached Antonio Rabelo who peeled away and delivered a low precision shot on the edge of the box that sailed past a fully outstretched C-lect keeper.

For the second week in a row YFC’s superior fitness levels began to show in the latter stages of the second half with excellent movement and communication opening up space all over the field. This possession pressure eventually took its toll on the C-lect defence who conceded a penalty after a well controlled YFC build up. Up stepped right winger Will Meredith to calmly dispatch two clinical penalties – the first of which was called back for an infringement. With the game sewn up YFC finished as strongly as they started with the inclusion of some fresh legs, notably YFC old boy Masa Egami who made a welcome return after a two season absence with knee surgery.

Simon Doran capped off the excellent performance with a second headed goal of the game after some great skill from centre-back Adrian Moore who turned his defender to deliver a pinpoint cross from the by-line. It is now three goals in two games for the new Yaletown striker. His important fourth goal ensured that YFC stayed top of the division by way of goal difference. Next friday YFC will be back in action looking to maintain their 100% record at the same time, same place against an unbeaten PCOV team.

YFC 3 – 0 West Van Royals

Ambleside Park in West Vancouver was the glamorous setting for Yaletown FC’s opening game of the 2009-10 season against the affluent West Van Royals. Several big money off season signings made for a new look YFC team with a total of 6 new players in the starting line up.

As the game kicked off under beautiful clear skies both teams struggled early on to assert their dominance on the game. Poor control, sloppy passing and a lack of communication all contributed to scrappy opening 30 minutes. Goal scoring chances were at a premium and new striker Simon Doran’s audacious Merz-esque 30-yard overhead kick was the only entertaining highlight in an otherwise barren first half. YFC did however build their momentum towards the end of the first 45 and by the time the half came to a close it was clear that Yaletown had regained their composure and begun to seize control of the game.

This dominance continued to build during the early stages of the second half but legitimate scoring chances were still few and far between. This all changed at the 60th minute mark as Simon Doran latched onto a pinpoint Alex Serna through ball and unleashed an unstoppable left footed drive into the opposite corner of the goal from just outside of the box. The strike brought rapturous applause from the travelling YFC faithful and even some of the West Van locals in attendance rattled their jewellery in approval.

The goal took what little wind Royals had left out their sails and further energised YFC who had begun to hit full stride. Increased intensity and renewed confidence was eventually rewarded 10 minutes later when Nima Farahmand chased down a long ball and pressured the Royals centre back into deftly chipping his own onrushing keeper to make it 2-0. That’s the best way I can explain it, you had to be there. Naturally Farahmand claimed the goal.

By now the teething problems of the first half were long forgotten and even after a number of tactical substitutions, YFC never broke stride. The pre-season fitness sessions seemed to pay off as YFC continued to keep their shape and discipline throughout the 90 minutes. The strong performance was capped off by an incisive diagonal run by Adam Jennings who hammered home a deflected shot into the bottom right hand corner from just inside the 18 yard box.

From there on in the game was comfortably wrapped up with keeper Bradley Bodenhammer claiming an impressive debut shut out behind a equally strong defensive line. Man of the match went to the tireless David Farris for his versatile display in both defence and midfield. Yaletown look to build on this opening win when they take on the enigmatically titled Firefighter C-letcs this coming Friday night at Andy Livingstone.

Tryouts at Prince of Wales Park – 6:30pm

Tryouts continue tomorrow at a new, temporary location: Prince of Wales Park near Arbutus & 33rd avenue. This is a far better field than False Creek so hopefully less chance of injury due to poor field conditions.

Hope to see everyone dedicated to holding down a first team place out tomorrow and ready for a good session.

Tryouts at 7pm this Monday

Yaletown Football Club will be holding official tryouts for the upcoming VMSL Division 2 season, this Monday August 10th at False Creek Elementary (900 Lamey’s Mill Road).

All those interested in playing for a competitive, great bunch of guys please come out and show us what you can do!