Perry makes outstanding goalkeeping debut but Blues fall 2-0 to top team that isn't really that good but had six teams of 11 on their bench

West Mifflin 0-2 Northern Steel

Perry: Kutscher, Pasternak, Jeffrey, Winters; M. Hasson, Pcholinski, Straw, Stinner, Gauss; Degerolamo

Substitutes: S. Hasson, Lacock

0-1 Some Guy (65)
0-2 Some Other Ass Clown (73)

___


Borland. It's grass dry even after rain. It's hardened cement always lurking beneath a soft, smushy facade. The combination lends itself to slips and falls. The Blues are typically used to such horrible playing conditions but on Sunday evening, they fell  victim to their own home field...and a bus load of substitutes. For the first time since the now defunct Wildcats team of the 90's, Borland Park's stands were actually filled with people. Unfortunately, many of the spectators were supporters of Northern Steel - a counterintuitive name since I don't know of much steel being produced in the oddly diametrical yuppy and hick north hills of Pittsburgh.* If that's even where Northern Steel is from.

The opposition came into the game atop the GPSL Championship Division standings. The Blues were wallowing in fifth or sixth. The game itself was pretty non-descript. In essence, Northern Steel is another slick-passing team that controls the ball well. They employ eight or nine strong possessers of the ball and then two or three head-banded goons for physical presence. They also run out a Scott Parker wannabe, whose hair looks to be receding but is parted to the side like a 1950's bomber pilot. But he was pretty good so that's not as funny as it could be. Anyway, the visitors doinked and dinked the ball around and, of course, the Blues were content with thumping the ball down the field - forcing Degerolamo, playing as the lone striker to run back and forth and allowing the Northerners to mount attack after attack. Manager Bob Stinner resorted to a 4-5-1 again to conserve energy in the mid-field and to try to stifle any momentum through the middle. It worked for most of the first half until the mid-field stopped pushing forward and allowed plenty of room for counters to build.

The one real bright spot without question was Chadwick Perry who finally slid on the gloves for the Blues. He was eventually beaten twice but were it not for him West Mifflin probably should have been embarrassed six or seven nil. His distribution was outstanding as well. Unfortunately, Perry had to watch in despair when his pinpoint outlet passes turned into picture perfect turnovers. Mike Hasson led the team with an 89.9% Accurate Inaccurate Pass Rating (IAPR**). Perry had two or three really nice diving stops in which the turd that took the shot had to have thought he scored. He (and WMFC) were aided by the cross-bar on a couple shots as well, but the new baby daddy needed no help when he charged and stopped a one-on-one with an outstretched foot. It's a shame the Blues couldn't do more for him. They came close however early on in the first half. Gauss played a glorious long-ball past two defenders and Anthony Watkinson ran onto it. I don't remember what happened but she didn't score. I mean he didn't score. Later in the half, Degerolamo was released on the left side. Stinner, who had been trying to shake off a week of crab legs, shrimp strained butter, cheesecake and saltwater taffy, could have had a wide open net if he ran forward. But he didn't. Instead, Degerolamo let a shot go. It was straight and accurate but right at the keeper. To be honest, if it weren't for Perry and the defense (again!), Watkins-Degerolamo probably would have been the Blues Man (Group) of the Match. West Mifflin finished out the half with a flurry of corners. Three were taken. Two were worthless, dandelion cutters. One reached the top of Gauss's head...but it was a smidgeon too high and flew out for a goal kick.

The Blues went into the break feeling relatively good about themselves. Despite giving up more chances in 45 minutes than they had the previous five games combined, the defenses had held and the game remained scoreless. Most everyone made fun of Hasson for giving the ball away a shit-ton, but most of the boys were happy with the scoreline. When the second half got underway, however, it was evident the Blues were in for it. Very similar to the second half of last year's final, West Mifflin were scrunched between the 18 and half-way between the box and midfield. A function of not being able to keep the ball and being in a mode of constant defense, West Mifflin huddled ten behind the ball and played the Bolton way. When the ball left their half it wasn't long before it found its way back. Strangely, West Mifflin were still in it when they took another blow. Sean Hasson went in hard on one central defender and ended up with a gash on the back of his head. The physio took him off and to Med Express where two staples were applied. We are at West Mifflin FC Online are happy to learn that he is doing okay and we hope he doesn't start designing buildings upside down or that look like enormous penile phallic symbols. Moments (or possibly many minutes) later, Degerolamo had another chance. A defender muffed clearance which allowed the striker to go one on one or something. He put a good shot on goal...or maybe he didn't. Maybe he dropped his pants and mooned the stands. I don't remember. The Blues didn't score though.

Anyway, now down to just one sub, there wasn't much chance. Perhaps this is an oversimplification but the numerical advantage showed. Facing a team of eight subs is difficult enough. Facing a disciplined, sharp-passing pack of cunthounds with only one sub on your own end is a considerably steeper task. And so the opening goal came from a slicing through-ball made it's way past a tired and jaded WMFC defense. Boom, bang...bang. Poor Chadwick had no chance. 1-0. About ten or 30 minutes later the visitors got their deserved cheap and undeserved second. Some little turd ball shot the ball really hard at Perry. He got his hands up and to it but it deflected into the air and bounced in to make it 2-0. Fuck. That's all one can say in a situation like that. It was really friggin' hot...again and the boys finished with one sub.

On a happier, more progressive note, West Mifflin FC finally semi-sorta live-Tweeted the game. Or, at least a picture of the Borland Park grounds and starting lineup before the game. A sign of new things to come!

The Blues have two tough games to close out the season this weekend. Sunday night at Allegheny and Monday evening against Century V. Don't bother coming out!



*There very well may have been many steel producing sites in the north hills. I don't know. Or care. 
 **IAPR is calculated by dividing the number of total passes by the number of passes that went straight to the other team.

Blues let in three early before King James brings them back

EDITOR'S NOTE: The regular Blues Reporter was off last week. Here is an edited version of Tyler Lacock's write-up.


Pcholinski; Gasparovic, Jeffrey, Kutscher, Winters; M. Hasson, S. Hasson, Gauss, Lacock; Degerolamo, James

Substitutes: Wilkinson, Pasternak, Lee

0-1 Some Guy (10)

0-2 Some Other Guy (20)

0-3 Some Other, Other Guy (35)

1-3 James (40)

2-3 Winters (55)

3-3 James (65)

4-3 James (88)

It was really effing humid - sticky humid. And the field looked like katrina went through. There were lots of branches and debris all over the field that Jared and Lacock cleaned up before the game. The other team was a man down...the entire game. Lacock fouled some guy around midfield with a flying karate kick to the rib cage going for a 50/50 ball. Some Guy scored on the ensuing free kick. One thing I do need to learn is that you do not put two fucking spaces after a period. I don't know where I picked up this stupid habit but it's definitely wrong and I am an ass-clown. Anyway, James stayed up the entire night before the game and still scored a hat trick. Jared went into goal after Kutscher gave up two quick goals. James scored his first on a through ball, another on a volley from the right wing on a cross from Hasson. Winters scored after some nice interlinking play. The Blues got the ball on a break somehow and ended up with a throw in. Daveon threw it in quickly to Lacock. He skipped past clumsily trudged past a guy and played it back to Daveon who beat a guy and played it square to Gauss, who swung it across the top of the 18 to Winters who fired home. James's final goal came after Stinner called from Ocean City and told Lacock to put the damn leading scorer in the game for the love of God. Yet another sound management decision by Manager Bob Stinner. He got the ball on the left wing, dribbled into the box but got bottled up. The lanky forward held the ball and dribbled around three or four guys and unleashed a shot into the left side of goal. The Blues had nicked the points. Pcholinski had a nice save to knock a shot away that was going upper 90 at one point in the second half. The refs didn't completely suck, but we're not sure the female linesman lineswoman knew what offsides was. She blew one clear cut call that saw Sean in on goal and a few others were very, very close. 

The Blues win two on the trot. The game Saturday at Allegheny is canceled so the Blues play Sunday at 6:00p against league leaders Northern Steel. Should be a humdinger. 

Blues come from behind to grab 2-1 victory

West Mifflin 2-1 FTM United

Vargo; Pcholinski, Gasparovic, Pasternak, Winters; Lacock, Gauss, Straw, Stinner, S. Hasson; Lee


Substitutes: Degerolamo, Jeffrey

0-1 Some Guy (28)
1-1 Winters (54)
Some Turd  Yellow Card (82)
2-1 Gauss (pen. 83)

As the sun slid behind the clouds high above Titan Stadium, an air of familiarity - almost deja vu like - wisped across the turf. Football is a funny game and there's no doubt the footie gods were having their fun Sunday evening. Not only were the Blues blessed (cursed?) with yet another horrible referee, not only did FTM United's players continue their turd behavior, not only did FTM become so frustrated that they were smacked with another yellow card, in addition to all of this the Blues defeated the northern gum-flappers on another late Steve Gauss, cool-as-you-like penalty.

West Mifflin lined up in a precautionary 4-5-1 given their meager numbers and available personnel. Whether that tactical change was the initiate or simply a contributing factor to the game being a complete crap-fest is up for debate. Regardless, Manager Bob Stinner felt that the move was warranted, citing the surplus of midfielders and dearth of defenders and strikers. The game was drab though. The Blues would work the ball into the attacking end and shoot, only to have the ball slowly roll (or furiously skyrocket) over the endline. The keeper or sweeper would then either launch the ensuing goalkick or clearance down the field. And so it went on, long ball after long ball after long ball back into the West Mifflin end of thezzZZzzZZzZZzzZzzzz...

In a deviation from last year's fixture, FTM struck first just before the half hour mark. The ball ping-ponged to Some Turd at about the 35 yard line. The turd glanced up and noticed that Vargo, who had been playing up the pitch to collect long ball after long ball after long bazzzZZZzzZZZZzzzzzz...was dangerously far off his line. He launched an effort toward the net. Vargo scrambled back but could not get there in time and the Route 1'ers had the lead. It's a real shame too because just before the goal was scored FTM's captain was overheard saying that they "only need one," indicating the northerner's intention to play like Stoke City or Bolton or Blackburn, or like, well, like northerners!

We shall dedicate this next paragraph to Stinner's blown chances. Shortly before the Blues conceded Stinner had his first chance to net his first of the season. Outside of a decent performance from their sweeper, FTM's defense left acres of space for the West Mifflin front line to operate. Sean Hasson found himself with the ball out on the right flank. Stinner found himself in space between two defenders that really didn't know what to do and motioned to Hasson for a cross. Hasson put the ball picture perfect, spot-on, right on Stinner's nugget...but Stinner managed to send the ball just over the bar. Later, Stinner received a pass from someone and turned to goal. Expecting to be confronted with defenders, the typically calm and cool striker found himself in a pornstar's gap worth of space, panicked and sent a dinker wide to the left. Finally, in the second half, with West Mifflin pushing for the equalizer Stinner fumbled a glorious chance. The Blues were rushing forward and had at least four or five moving forward in attack. Daveon was weaving through defenders with Stinner and Lacock just ahead to his left. Stinner started to make a run but hesitated for a split-second, fearing he would be flagged offside. Lee played a perfect through-ball but the split-second hesitation wrong-footed Stinner and as he decided to try and catch the pass with his weaker left foot, the ball flew past him and out for a goal kick.

The second half started with the Blues barreling down the pitch in wave after wave of attack and eleven minutes after the break the game was tied. FTM did have a couple good chances in both halves but no one gives a shit about them and Bada-bing bada-boom, Straw was running down the field with Winters next to him or something and somehow, Straw crossed it over to Winters who at full-stretch poked away his first of the season. The goal came amidst a deluge of abhorrent calls made by the center ref who was easily the worst ref West Mifflin has had in a long time. It seems like we mention that every week but this guy was special. Steve Gauss asked the ref during the pregame warmups if he was going to "let us play" or "call every little thing." The ref, dead serious and without the slightest hesitation as if what he was about to say was not lame, responded that he would "call every little thing." A ridiculous omen that we in earshot probably should have paid more attention to because this guy called the game like we were U-6. Even Lacock, who actually looks like he could be a U-6 player, excoriated the ref that he was having a howler.

With about seven minutes remaining, space folded on itself and time shifted as the exact same chain of events as last year's fixture played out like a VHS-tape that had just been rewound. Last year it was Degerolamo who drew a penalty. This year the ball was played into the FTM box and was bouncing around. Gasparovic had made a signature run into the area and leaped for the ball. An over-zealous FTM defender jumped with him and checked the stocky hard-man in midair. Now, whether or not the shove warranted a tumble, eh may be debatable. However, it was clearly a foul and our whistle-happy ref was more than giddy to point to the spot. Up stepped none other than Steve-A-Reno Gauss (after Stinner had to push him up to the spot to take the damn thing). After missing a penalty for the first time in his life in last year's semis, Gauss was looking for redemption. He ran up and cooly sent the keeper the wrong way and the Blues had the lead. Gauss then rotted away pointing to the number on the back of his shirt (?). That's a shit ton of confidence from a dude that never has any confidence. Also in a repeat of last year's game, some turd from the other team booted the ball into the stands out of frustration and was awarded a yellow card.

With just a few minutes remaining a shot was blasted over the bar and onto the track that encircles the field. After 10 seconds of asking the FTM bench to send out another ball, Vargo trotted back to retrieve the SKYBOMBed ball. The FTM bench  finally realized what was happening and offered the ball from the bench. At that point, Vargo was already halfway to the ball and the Blues told the bench to forget it. This prompted some completely non-sensical Orc-speak from one of the FTM players about Vargo licking his own ass or something. What? Oh, and the defense had an outstanding game. Seriously.


The Blues next match is this Sunday at 10:00a at the hallowed grounds of Borland Park. Bring your First Aid kits!

Bad Hair Day: West Mifflin 'blown out' by Pauly D and company

West Mifflin 1-6 Stars Kickers United 

Vargo; Gasparovic, Jeffrey, Pasternak, Winters; M.Hasson, Pcholinski, Straw, Gauss; Lee, Stinner

Substitutes: James, Wilkinson, Degerolamo, Kutscher, Lacock

1-0 Some Guy With the WORST Haircut Ever (11)
2-0  Some Turd (24)
2-1 Pcholinski (34)
3-1 Shaved Head Guy (43)
4-1 Some Guy With the WORST Haircut Ever (56)
5-1 Pauly D (72)
6-1 Some Other Turd (81)
___


Yuck. In case you didn't make it out to Titan Stadium Sunday evening, and judging by the attendance you didn't, the Blues got their asses handed to them by what is strongly believed to have been the Robert Morris University men's soccer team. It was ugly folks, and I don't mean just the play of West Mifflin. Super Intergalactic Star Kickers must have had a referendum on sporting truly dreadful hair. It has been a few days and although I took notes immediately after the game with help from a few of the lads, I don't really care much to recall, and in turn recap, the Regan Macneil puke bag the Blues left on the field Sunday night.

It was evident early on that the Intergalactic Star Colonizers were top class. They masterfully worked the ball around the pitch with an effortlessness of a team that has had more than zero practices in two months. A doink here, a dink there and quickly a ball was played over the top to Some Guy With the WORST Haircut Ever, whose awful, unshapely turd-ball Euro-mop hair had to have blinded the linesman because he was a mile off-sides when the ball was played. Nonetheless, Euro-mullet-mop Man placed a gorgeous chip over Vargo and into the net. It was a slap in the face - the first game in which Daveon shaved his absolutely magnificent goatee/beard, up steps this schmohawk to chip in a pretty goal. I don't even want to talk about the second goal. Partly because I don't remember what happened. My notes read "Vargo saved and bounces right to an unmarked guy who scored". Great.

Actually, I may just run through my notes in the order I have them written down. My next note reads as follows:

"Cory and Anth returned...and we blew big time"

Soooo, make of that what you will. It should be remembered though that Winters just came off a torn hamstring and Degerolamo had just been off for a weekend of being bombarded with big boobskis and butt cheeks bouncing around in his face and was playing with the memory of yet another failed flick early in the first half.

Ah, this is worth mentioning. Jared Pcholinski popped up with an excellent strike to give the Blues a lifeline about ten minutes from halftime. I don't remember how it developed but the new homeowner picked up the ball about 25 yards out, took a dribble and rocket-floated one into the corner. The keeper was fully-stretched but still couldn't get a hand to it and the captain cut the lead in half.

Not too long after Pcholinski's goal, the crowd was witness to a real howler. Gasparovic found himself at the corner of the box with several Astronautical Interplanetary Star Explorer players in his relative vicinity but with acres of space to lump the ball down the field. I don't remember what the hell happened but instead of clearing it, the defender pulled it back and quickly found himself desperate for an outlet. Vargo, giving the defender an option, called for the drop. Jordan turned, undoubtedly in relief, and played the slowest drop pass the field of physics has ever seen. It was a beautiful pass though and Shaved Head Guy (I think) ran onto it and clipped it around Vargo and into the net, simultaneously stifling any momentum the Blues conjured through Pcholinski's goal and eliminating any real shot at a come back. 

The last three goals are all kind of a blur, so here are my incredibly detailed, Malcolm Gladwell-like notes on the remaining events of the game:

-Fourth goal ball deflected to the top of the 18 and some ass-clown, ah! the Guy With the WORST Haircut in the Wrold actually, pops it into the corner of the net. How can someone with such awful hair score such nice goals? Dick.

-An abhorrent handball call in the box. Straw steps up! And....puts it too close to the keeper who, now that I think about it, had a disturbing, lion mane hairdo. What the hell is all this about? It's consistent throughout!

-Fifth, ball worked down right hand side cross deflected off Vargo off Cory to guy Tyler was marking who looped it over them into net. This was Pauly D. This kid had a blowout. And he plays soccer. This phenomenon has left me orange-faced and spray-tanned. Fist pump for another shitty haircut!

-Sixth, who cares. My food is here (we were at a restaurant). Oh, the guy tried to kick it to the left side of the net but blasted it upper 90 on the right side. Again...dick.

The only thing left to discuss is how Etan unceremoniously dropped Pauly D like a ton of bricks. In the box. And nothing was called. The two were chippy with each other after Pauly D got a robust sliding challenge on Etan early in the first half. 

That will do it for this week folks. Gotta take the good with the bad and dust this one off. There is no game this weekend as the legend Thomas Vincent Kleinenberger ties the knot in the Caribbean. There will be plenty of stories to be told from that week I'm sure.

Til next time, stay properly groomed up top!

#COYB

West Mifflin doubles up on DP...United

West Mifflin 2-0 DP United

Vargo; Pcholinski, Gasparovic, Pasternak, S. Hasson; Baguet, Straw, M. Hasson, Lacock; Lee, James


Substitutes: Stinner, Jeffrey, Gauss

1-0 James (14)
2-0 Matthew Alan (78)
___

Just a few hours removed from shotgunning beers on the less-than-lush rock-bed of West Wood golf course with his boyz Danny C and Toner Boner 12, Matthew Alan headed in a second WMFC goal with around 12 minutes to play to ensure the Blues of victory and all three points. Despite annoying all living things within earshot by not shutting the fuck up (even in the face of repeated requests that quickly turned into stern demands), the little shit managed to avoid seeing yellow and strode about Titan Stadium with a grimace that seemed to indicate that at any moment the boulder-calved plonker would walk to the sidelines and release the contents of his stomach onto the ground like he did on New Year's Eve '09* in front of Buckheads Saloon, A.K.A. The Worst Social Establishment in the History of Nightlife on Earth.

Jordan Gasparovic made his 2012 debut, returning from his Mother's Day picnic last weekend, and played very well. With Winters still hurt** and Kutscher unable to shake a groin injury sustained in Week 1, the back four was was another mix and match. Captain Jared Pcholinski slotted in for Kutscher at sweeper while Sean Hasson started at stopper for the second week in a row. The former played 90 minutes at the back and was a defensive force that focused the defense. The latter (whose deft cross set up last week's game winner I failed to mention)...pulled a hamstring. But not before he put in a strong shift dictating play from just in front of the back three. Stinner ceded his starting spot to Lee because of a sore shoulder that could be problematic for the talisman.

The Blues started off sluggish, a phenomenon that veteran midfielder Steve Gauss noted was typical of the West Mifflin High School alums. Another cadre of individuals that started off sluggish were the referees who each suddenly forgot that the attacker has to be behind the last defender, not in front of them. Other things that the referees forgot included: what the Advantage Rule is and how it should be applied, physical contact does not necessarily = a foul or the converse of this rule that kicking the ball but then following through and shoving the tackle-e to the ground is a foul. That being said, the lads didn't do themselves any favors by incessantly (and in Matthew Alan's case, drunkedly) bitching and moaning and spouting off annoying (and in Matthew Alan's case, stupid, not-funny and non-sensical) little quips at the ref.

Despite the stupidity around him, Ark James managed to endear himself even more to the Blues faithful by scoring another gorgeous goal. I don't quite recall who played him through (I'm assuming it was Straw) but a long, angled ball sent the striker free in behind the defense. He collected the pass and calmly slotted it past the keeper to give the Blues the lead. Two games, two starts, two goals. So far a wonderful return. The goal was followed by series of terrible calls, one that saw the aforementioned James start a run even with a defender, drop back behind the defender, then run onto another through-ball and put it into the net only to have the play called back for a truly comical off-sides call. Moments later, Stinner missed a glorious chance to puncture the DP defense a second time. Having been played through between the two central defenders Stinner was one-on-one with the keeper. Caught between two minds the usually-lethal finisher fired the shot directly at the keeper who made the save. The ball bounced for a rebound but was cleared. As Stinner jockeyed with Some Guy for the ball, he slid in and got his foot to the ball and cleared it away from the opposition. He was then called for a foul. For what, exactly, no one knows. Afterwards, Stinner commented, "I should have gone short-side. But I didn't." Sean Hasson also had a strong header from the top of the box saved by the keeper.

The second-half was more strenuous for the home team. DP tightened the screws a bit by clogging both outlets and forcing the Blues to either grab themselves by their balls and defend or grab themselves by their ankles and bite their lips. The Blues defended and despite languishing a bit in the middle of the second, put in a strong effort. Pcholinski anchored well at the back and Pasternak, Gasparovic and Jeffrey, Sam did well to clear the ball on several occasions. Vargo*** should also be commended. Despite having relatively little to do, the big man had to make a handful of really good saves to keep DP from penetrating...the defense. The smartest man on the team had his bachelor party the night before and showed little ill-effect throughout. Except for having the game moved back eight hours. Seriously though, the Blues were under heavy pressure and were lucky that the United players couldn't seem to hit the target.

With the final whistle drawing nearer and DP probing and thrusting for the equalizer West Mifflin finally took advantage of the space allotted them and killed the game off. Matthew Alan's narration of how the goal developed differs almost entirely from nearly every other account. Speaking after the game, Baguet described it as such:

"Straw sent a ball over the top and I tracked it down with my blazing, Ark James-like speed. I'm probably about as fast as him ya know. I told the Manager I was as fast as he is and that I could prove it. I could also outrun him. I run marathons. And Tough Mudders. And 10Ks. Like all the time. Like every day. I even have a watch that tracks all my runs!!! Anyway, I took it to the end line, dropped it back to Daveon. He changed fields to Gauss and he sent in the cross which I soared through the air to meet and powered into the net!

However, that description doesn't coincide with descriptions given by other WMFC players. Steve Gauss, who now has two assists in two games (and who has really been outstanding on the wing) did send the cross in, but Baguet was far from speedy in getting there. Captain Jared Pcholinski said,

"He was really dragging down the sideline. I'm surprised he didn't hurl."

Gauss posited,

"Yeah, he was nearly crawling into the box. He looked really fatigued. Probably from all those beers. He was beat red too. He didn't look healthy. I had to delay my cross for five seconds for him to get into position."

Kutscher noted,

"Burgs, you stink like hops. Stale, old, moldy hops."

Finally, Stinner said,

"Turd."

 When Matthew Alan finally got into place, he dipped his drunken melon and put his Bud Light-lobster-red forehead onto the cross and past the keeper for West Mifflin's second. And that was that. The Blues soaked up the pressure while Baguet's liver soaked up the booze and when the final whistle went, West Mifflin were 2-0.

The Blues are off this weekend because of the Memorial Day holiday. The next game is  June 3 back at Titan Stadium against Stars Kickers United who are currently joint top and share the same goal differential with the Blues.


*EDITOR'S NOTE: He's also not at work today... 
**EDITOR'S NOTE: It was requested that we indicate that the Blues are currently 2-0 without Winters. 

West Mifflin begin title defense with win in Borland slop

West Mifflin FC 2-1 Beadling

Vargo; Kutscher, Jeffrey, Pasternak, S. Hasson; Gauss, Pcholinski, Straw, Baguet; Stinner, James

Substitutes: M. Hasson, Wilkinson, Lee, Lacock

1-0 James (11)
1-1 Some Guy (20)
2-1 Lee (61)
__


West Mifflin FC's GPSL season kicked off beneath dark clouds and a miserable mist of rain as Les Bleus welcomed Beadling to Borland Park to open their defense of the GPSL Championship Division title. Already without first choice left back Jordan Gasparovic to a Mother's Day picnic that started at 2:00p the defense looked a little shaky throughout. More uncertainty clouded the defense when ironman sweeper Tony Kutscher was lost to an apparent groin injury a quarter-hour into the second half. However, West Mifflin showed why they are defending champions as both the green and the gold combined to fire the Blues into their first victory of the 2012 season through the muck and mire of the chunky Borland pitch.

To compensate for Gasparovic's absence, as well as the paucity of strike options available at the start of the game, Manager Bob Stinner made two smart decisions with the starting line-up. New boy Sam Jeffrey slotted into the left back spot in place of Gasparovic, with veteran Etan Pasternak starting at right back in place of recently-retired Andrew Kufen. Kutsher started at sweeper while Sean Hasson (who smartly did not book a Mother's Day dinner reservation on the only day of the week that West Mifflin FC tries to train :-)) got the nod at stopper in place of the injured Cory Winters. The midfield picks itself and then, of course, Stinner started himself up top with Ark James so that he doesn't have to run that much.

The start of the game was open and clean, each team working the ball around the grimy, WWII replica battlefield as best they could. Jason Straw and Jared Pcholinski were a torrent of physicality in the middle of the park, sticking into tackles and loosing the ball from opponents while Steve Gauss and Matthew Alan worked the sidelines in tandem. Relatively quickly West Mifflin took the lead. After a series of passes in the middle of the park that I'm sure started with Stinner somehow, the ball came to Gauss who played a beautiful through-ball for James. The middle distance runner took onto it, rounded the keeper and slotted it in for his first goal for the Blues. It was a pretty finish and a ringing endorsement of the clubs scouting team.

Unfortunately, the lead was short lived. A bunch of stuff happened and the ball came out to the Beadling winger on the right. He miss-hit a cross that went straight towards Vargo. Vargo backpedaled, turned and leaped backwards only to see the ball drop into the net for the equalizer. It was a soft one but a soft one that can be excused given that the last time the WMFC keeper touched a football was in July in the championship match. But seriously Vargo, that was ridiculous. Just kidding...but seriously...A few minutes later the Borland crowd almost witnessed Stinner's first blown, wide-open header of the season. Matthew Alan received a pass on the left and saw Stinner streaking into the area. He wound up to send in the cross but it was blocked by a Beadling defender.

The Blues had two more clear chances that I can recall in the first half. Straw dispossessed a Beadling defender at midfield and was in one-on-one with the keeper when Matthew Alan, the little turdball, shouted, "CHIP!" Straw tried the chip and sent the ball towering over the net for the season's first skybomb (although it is debatable whether it should even be considered a Skybomb since it was a chip). Moments later, Stinner either stole the ball off of someone or was sent through with a chip and was in on goal. His stride didn't quite match up to the pace of the ball and he sent his shot uncharacteristically wide. Daveon had called for a pass as he streaked down the middle but as is typical, he waited until Stinner's foot was the 1/1,000,000,000th of an inch from taking the shot to call for the pass. Towards the end of the half, Beadling took control of the game and had the Blues pinned back in their half for the last ten or so minutes, but nothing came of the pressure and the teams went into the break tied at 1-1.

The second half was as nondescript as the first*. Other than the winning goal that we will get to in a moment, the only really exciting thing that happened was the season's first real, honest-to-goodness S K Y B O M B!!! Sean Hasson was clean through with a defender or two around and although the disgraceful Borland Park pitch may have had something to do with it, he sent the ball into the air equal to the height of the Freedom Tower and over the net. Not to worry though, moments later James and Lee (sounds like the main characters in a gun slingin' western flick) connected for the winning goal. I have no idea how it happened but the ball bounced around, James got clonked on the head and Lee leaped over three people and somehow put the ball into the net.

And that was it! The Blues start the season off 1-0 for the first time since 2010. They will look to make it four in a row dating back to last season when they take on DP United at (probably) Titan Stadium.

#COYBTWW

*this is code for "I can't remember anything that happened"

2012 Season + New site design

West Mifflin Football Club kicks off the 2012 GPSL season in unfamiliar territory...defending champions. Les Bleus will take on one of the class teams of Western Pennsylvania in the first match of what looks to be their most challenging fixture list in recent memory when they take on Beadling at 5:00p next Sunday at the hallowed Borland dirt patch. Following Beadling, West Mifflin will travel to Allegheny United, Indiana FC and make the short trip down the Lebanon Church and Curry Hollow Roads to take on Century V at the South Park Terraces, in addition to hosting FTM United and Sporting Club of Pittsburgh Enosi. Naturally, the club expects their own terraces, benches and hills to be teeming with supporters, singing and cheering the boys on at all games this year. 


There is a buzz around Borland Park this season as the winds of change have blown through the famous stadium and caused respiratory complications for those with healthy lungs and near death for asthmatics as it kicked up the dust that lay on the bare earth. Gone are several bedrock veterans that have been as consistent as Baguet's fits of rage. No longer will the names Nickel, Kufen and Reed grace the menacing lion on the left chest. Chris Nickel, realizing that we are in our mid to late-twenties and that it's probably time to get a life, settle down and start a family, has moved to one of the Carolina's for work with his wife and dogs. Chris Reed, under the guise of a "torn ACL", has been chained by his mistress/soon-to-be-wife to the rigors of planning a wedding, and rather than admit that there is little time for football between inhaling chicken breasts and swallowing Italian hoagies whole and picking doilies and flower arrangements he has decided instead to feign a serious injury. And finally, our heavily bearded, 10-speed bike-riding, innocent animal slaughtering, F150 (whatever it is) truck driving, beer-belching, boulder of the back-four Andrew Kufen has simply decided to go out on top and has retired. With three of the oldest and most experienced players from last season departed, Managing Director Bob Stinner went on a torrid buying spree. Using tips from scouts the two-time Manager/Director of the Year made four signings: defender Sam Jeffrey, a local boy plucked from the West Mifflin amateur ranks; defender Justin Wilkinson whom I can not describe since I have not once laid eyes on him in person; midfielder Jason Straw who was easily the biggest name available over the close-season. He will provide both security on the ball and creativity in the center of the park; and Arkangelo James, a speedy and skilled striker that also runs long-distances like I walk to the refrigerator. After refusing the promotion to the Premier Division and facing an exodus of three big-name players in Nickel, Reed and Kufen, West Mifflin went out and improved upon an already Championship-caliber team by solidifying its midfield, shoring up its defense and adding a fourth striker option. 


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To go along with the change on the pitch, we here at West Mifflin Football Club Online decided that it would be best to revamp the look of the site. Gone is the sometimes unsightly white font on dark background as we've switched to a more traditional black on white theme. A cleaner and simpler navigation bar has been moved to the left side of the site where the 'Pages' will now be located underneath the new white on blue logo. Also gone is the banner photo beneath the website title which makes way for a simple text banner. 


So, that's it. We look forward to your support as West Mifflin looks to defend its first ever GPSL title. 


#COYB