Wankas FC

Third Time Unlucky

2009-09-28T09:43:00.003-04:00

Wankas FC suffered their third straight defeat of the season on Sunday at the hands of Achievers. Playing with only 11 men, and occasionally reduced to 10 for short periods due to knocks throughout the game, WFC showed heart and resilience as they repeatedly absorbed the Achievers attack and played a smart, ball-control counter. WFC defended in numbers, did much better to keep the ball once possession was won, and managed several quickfire forays up the other end. But once again a lack of additional personnel would be their undoing. Confidently closing out the half 0-0, fatigue ultimately set in and led to players being caught in possession and offering up off-the-mark passes. Forced to defend in numbers inside their own box, a deflected shot would end up at the feet of an Achievers attacker who volleyed home. At 1-0, though, WFC continued to mount counter-attacks as the game opened up. But a failure to convert their occasional opportunities led to breaks the other way. A long swerving and dipping shot managed to squeeze under the crossbar to make it 2-0, and that seemed to really take the remaining wind out of the WFC sails. A late, ragged third goal inflated the scoreline to 3-0, but the WFC players on the field did themselves proud. If the remainder of the roster shows the same heart and confidence as displayed by those on Sunday, victories will soon arrive for WFC.

Special thanks to stand-in goalkeeper Jeff Schroeder, who had several terrific saves and deputized ably.

WFC Lose 2nd in a Row

2009-09-21T12:40:00.002-04:00

WFC continued their struggling start to the Fall 2009 season with a second successive defeat that owes as much to a surprising lack of depth as anything else. The players in attendance worked hard for 90 minutes, but they had little to show for their efforts. After some strong efforts and a few desperate moments of defending, the game was tied 0-0 at the half and poised delicately. Unfortunately, ISC AmaBhubesi were able to elevate their game more quickly than the Wankas, and after a few sustained attacks their breakthrough finally came. What appeared initially to be an innocuous through-ball grounder managed to elude both Aaron Gordon and Jeff Graham before finding an unmarked attacker at the back post. WFC tried to bounce back, and it should be noted that they did indeed have a few opportunities to climb back into the game. However, some "interesting" officiating decisions (which affected both teams, to be fair) culminated in a soft second yellow for their stand-in midfielder, which further limited WFC options. The scoreline soon ballooned to 3-0 as the tiring force of WFC began to budge against the continuous AmaBhubesi attacks. Ross Kenyon had the best opportunity to bring WFC back into the game, but as he raced clear of the offside trap and approached the goalie, his shooting boots let him down and his shot spooned just high and wide. A late concession from a set-piece due to Aaron's poor instructions and switching made the final scoreline 4-0.

WFC should eventually see many of their absentees returning, and this will hopefully go a long way toward them showing a more flowing and energetic side. No team can hope to play 90 minutes of defensive, counter-attacking football with only a couple subs, so the return of the missing is highly anticipated.

WFC will try to right their ship next Sunday (9/27, 1:00pm) at Lawrence Park versus Achievers. Please come out and support the yellow-and-black!

Long Opening Day for WFC

2009-09-14T10:02:00.003-04:00

Wankas FC had an inauspicious beginning to their Fall 2009 campaign as they dropped their season opener at their new Kuntz home field 5-1. And truth be told, were it not for the acrobatics of Jeff Graham the scoreline could have been far worse. Much of the game was played in the WFC end, and their overall performance was reflected in the margin of the loss.

WFC were on the back foot from the opening kick, mustering only a few early-game forays into the ISC Falcons half. A surprising number of absences contributed greatly to the outcome, but a failure to communicate and mark among the midfield and defence was the real culprit. Midfielders failed to track runs, and defenders were beaten too easily on the dribble. At the other end, what few chances were created were not taken with sharpness and poise. This was a team loss, with only the goalkeeper able to claim the high ground.

The WFC goal did come through some good movement. Coming at 3-0, it provided a little life to a team looking devoid of creativity. A short throw on the left sideline came back to Aaron Gordon, who served an in-swinger that was nicely brought under control by Jan Krueger. Jan rounded the goalie only to see his shot carom off the post. However, it came straight back to Jan who showed further poise in settling and picking out a pass to Andy Hughes who side-footed home.

A return of several players should go a long way toward giving WFC a more balanced side, as well as some breathers for a team that did indeed work hard for little return on their new, big pitch. WFC were second best for the majority of the game, but they have proven resilient in the past and have 7 more games to look forward to.

Game 2 is next Sunday (9/20) at ISC/German Park, versus AmaBhubesi at 2pm.

Scoring: Andy Hughes (Krueger)

Fall Season Sees Old Faces, New Home Field for Yellow & Black Attack

2009-09-03T15:11:00.008-04:00

The Fall 2009 schedule has been published, and it is favorable to the old-look Wankas. Returning a majority of previous players, WFC will take up residence at Kuntz soccer facility on W 16th Street, downtown Indy. They will open the season by hosting ISC Falcons on Sunday, September 13.

WFC played a pre-season practice game against UB40 Inter, a previously O-40 team that has moved back to the Open division. As expected after the summer layoff, both teams played some disjointed football with a few interspersed moments of quality play and movement. After going down 2-0 in the first half, WFC rebounded through fill-in Simon Katner and Aaron Gordon before Brett Sommers pounced on a defensive error to grab the winner. Very little can be gleaned from the pre-season efforts, but it was good to see a majority of players getting some practice in. Better fitness will be key for the ball-control offense to work for the Wankas, as Kuntz is a much larger and smoother playing surface than the other Indy league fields.

The schedule is posted at the bottom of the page. Check back often for updates and results!

Wankas End Season with Win Streak

2009-06-22T09:31:00.004-04:00

Yes, 2 games is a streak! Wankas FC ended the Spring '09 season with a victory over old rivals Columbus O-30 on another cornfield of a pitch at Eagles Crest. WFC struggled for numbers but were at full-strength to start the match, and it was Columbus that would fail to begin with 11 after their long drive north. Fittingly, WFC failed to fully take advantage of their numerical superiority (C-bus started with 7, but slowly added players over the opening 20 minutes and ended up with more than WFC). Wankas did manage to keep the ball almost entirely to themselves in early play, but the urgency and intensity to turn their numerical advantage into goals was not present. Some dallying on the ball almost saw the midfield overrun for an embarassing counter-attack goal, but a poke back to Jeff Schroeder (standing in for the 2nd week in a row), snuffed out any early hope for C-bus. WFC eventually took advantage of their numbers with some nice wing play. A bobble on the uneven ground was the only defense to keep out an early Jan-to-Ross opportunity. Ross's scuffed shot was the impetus to turn things up a notch, and minutes later the roles were reversed as Aaron Gordon slotted Ross Kenyon into the right channel for Ross to slide a ball across goal and into the path of Jan the German for a back-post goal. 1-0 to the Wankas, with more to come. WFC sustained the pressure but were beginning to leave gaps around the field as several players went in search of glory. A few shots on goal left no doubt that the Wankas were in for the win, and another through ball for Ross to latch onto led to another slotted ball across the face of goal for Troy Divis to volley into the net. 2-0 to the Wankas, who apparently decided that was job done and allowed C-bus to get back into the game. The old boys pulled one back for 2-1, but this just seemed to rile the Wankas and it was again through Ross Kenyon that another goal was found. This time a well-worked effort up the left wing saw Schuyler Wareham cut back inside to deliver a pinpoint cross to Ross in the box, who had time to bring the ball down a finish coolly into the lower corner. 3-1 Wankas at the break.

C-bus turned up their efforts in the second half, but this also led to acres of space on the wings for WFC to exploit. Wankas managed several more opportunities on goal and probably should have added to their tally, especially after C-bus scrambled another goal to make it 3-2. WFC still seemed the more likely side to score again, and even with a few scary goalmouth events late on were able to hold out for the victory. 3-2 WFC.

Scoring: Jan (Kenyon), Divis (Kenyon), Kenyon (Wareham)

Wankas FC finished the Spring '09 season at 2-2-4, a disappointing line. However, in recent weeks they played some very nice and skillful football. Perhaps the rain-interrupted early season prevented getting into the rhythm that clearly came with more consistent games, and they will hopefully take this into the Fall season. There is no Spring Tournament due to scheduling conflicts, but there may be a pre-Fall tournament. As always, it's been another fun season. Enjoy your summers and I look forward to regaling you with tales of Wankas victories in the Fall!

Season Stats:
2 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses

Player Goals Assists Points
Kenyon 4 2 10
Divis 3 1 7
Bellaver 1 3 5
Klippel 2 0 4
Robertson 1 1 3
Britton C 1 0 2
Gordon 1 0 2
Jan 1 0 2
Kirchhofer 1 0 2
Wareham 0 2 2
Cantrell 0 1 1
Maggard 0 1 1
TOTAL 15 11 41

Victory at Last!

2009-06-15T09:45:00.003-04:00

Wankas FC ended their season-long winless run with a convincing 4-2 victory over Achievers on Sunday. The superior side from the opening kick-off, WFC continued their recent fine form by controlling the middle of the park and exploiting the vast undefended space on the wings. Achievers struggled to take advantage of some early possession and WFC made them pay after 10 minutes. A well-marshalled defense saw a harmless ball roll into stand-in goalkeeper Jeff Schroeder's hands, and his alert and accurate throw out to the wing set Sam Robertson free up the right. Sam's pace carried him into the attacking third where he delivered a cross for Ross Kenyon to latch onto. Corralling the ball along the endline, the hard work was already done when Ross committed goalie and defender and then slotted beyond everyone. 1-0 to the Wankas, who smelled blood. WFC continued their stranglehold on the midfield and simultaneously snuffed out advances and started counter-attacks. Sensing the weakness at the Achievers back, Troy Divis unfurled a hard, curling effort from 35 yards that took a tricky bounce to put off the keeper, parrying into his own net. 2-0 to the Wankas, who continued to push forward. A throw-in from the left seemed harmless enough, as several Wankas loaded up the box expecting a service. Steve Kirchhofer had other ideas, though, as he strode forward, cut inside and waited for his moment. An effort from the edge of the box seemed to have passed just as he decided to turn the corner, where he found himself alone and slotted calmly into the far corner. 3-0. WFC continued to absorb everything Achievers could muster and found their opportunities easily on the counter. Another throw out from Schroeder to Robertson allowed Sam to carry out of his defensive third before driving an arrow upfield to Andy Hughes who knocked down for Jamie Maggard to slot in Ross Kenyon. Ross was in behind the defense and did what he does best, committing the goalie to ground and then putting it away for 4-0. Some slack defending allowed the Achievers some hope at the end of the 1st half with a close-range effort. 4-1 at the break.

Perhaps sensing that their work was done, or possibly due to a conservative tactical decision, WFC was not as bright in the second half. Achievers stepped up their efforts and were rewarded with a second goal, but a real fightback never seemed likely as the push further upfield allowed WFC too much time and space. More goals should have come, but a final of 4-2 was just reward for a solid attacking and defensive display on the day.

Scoring: Kenyon (Robertson), Divis (???), Kirchhofer (unassisted), Kenyon (Maggard)

Frustrations Mount in Spite of Better Performances

2009-06-08T12:15:00.004-04:00

Another week, 2 more games for Wankas FC, and even more frustrations, as the quality of play continues to improve but the results have not followed. WFC started the weekend brightly as they took the field against old foes Movers on Friday night at Kuntz Stadium. WFC quickly took advantage of the spacious confines and moved the ball around with ease. Several good chances were created before the breakthrough finally came as Andrew Bellaver marauded forwarded through midfield, broke into the area, and pinged a pass/shot along the goal line that deflected in off a retreating defender (with a couple Wankas ready to pounce as well). 1-0 to the Wankas, but they were still in full flow. Sustained pressure saw a cross from Andrew inside right end up on the toe of Carl Britton, whose deft first touch eluded a defender and set him alone with the goalie. Getting there first was the easy part, but there was still plenty for Carl to do as he gathered himself and calmly slotted beyond the retreating defense. 2-0 to WFC at the break. Confidence swelled, but fitness and composure would be their undoing as the game began to get ragged. Play opened up as the Movers pressed to get back into the game. Had any of a few counter-attacking opportunities been seized, then a fightback would have been too little too late. But WFC's profligacy in front of goal would see them pegged back by a well-built bit of play from the Movers, and their fine passing was finished off to halve the lead. A tense finish would be in the cards as WFC consistently put themselves on the back foot, and a tired tackle late on would provide the Movers with the opportunity to tie the game from the spot. Jeff Graham guessed right and was a fingertip away, but the ball nestled in for 2-2. A heated final 10 minutes ensued as both teams began to feel the pressure with heavy tackles and some lost nerves. Despite having the better and more chances, the Wankas once again could only take a point for their efforts.

Scoring: Bellaver (unassisted), C Britton (Bellaver)

If the frustrations mounted due to having outplayed their opponents only to gain a draw for their work, then Sunday's game would prove heartbreaking. The entire first half on Sunday consisted of terrific build-up play, controlled passes, and well-worked scoring opportunites, coupled with an imperious defensive display from all along the backline. Lee Britton and Jamie Maggard put the clamps on the speedy AmaZulu front line, and Steve Kirchhofer, Mark Simmonds, and Pfenne Cantrell provided the grafting elsewhere to keep the Zulu attack at bay. It is no stretch to say that WFC could have had a multiple goal lead going into the break, but their only first-half goal came through some nice movement along the wing, culminating in a special individual effort from Troy Divis to setup Ross Kenyon for a close-range finish. Unfortunately, one momentary lapse at the back allowed the pacy Zulu attack into the box. Even then they required some help as his shot was deflected, and the attempted clearance then hit a Wanka defender to end up in the net. 1-1 at the break, but WFC clearly a superior side. WFC continued its dominance in the second half, and several opportunities went begging before Sam Robertson took matters into his own hands. Receiving the ball from Sky about 40 yards out, Sam cut inside from the left and unleashed a low drive that Brett Sommers did well to help shield from the keeper, who could only watch it roll past his outstretched hand. 2-1 would last only a few minutes, though, as immiediate attacking from the kick-off from the Zulus quickly led to an equalizer. Despite this setback, WFC still knew they were the better side and kept looking for the winner. It was not to be, however. A missed penalty kick was seized upon by the Zulus, and they took full advantage by scoring within minutes. A 2-goal swing in a short matter of time, and suddenly 4 games in 2 weeks began to show in the legs of the Wankas. Playing from behind against such opposition seemed to sap the mental strength from several as well. WFC continued to chase, but a last-gasp equalizer never appeared, and the Zulus managed another goal with the final kick of the game as the majority of WFC had committed itself to the attack. Somehow, some way, WFC lost 4-2 in a game they dominated for nearly its entirety.

Scoring: Kenyon (Divis), Robertson (Wareham)

WFC is playing some of its best football in recent memory, though, and a victory is only a full 90 minutes away. Come cheer them on against the Achievers on Sunday at 11am at Lawrence Park.

Wankas Suffer 3 Straight Losses

2009-06-02T14:12:00.004-04:00

Apologies to WFC players, fans, family members, and blog lurkers! The stop-start tempo of the season (and the Colonel's IT demands) have kept this blogger from keeping you up to date. Sadly, you haven't missed much.

The boys in yellow and black have struggled mightily in the first half of the season. Bad weather and other scheduling issues have forced long stretches without soccer, and these layoffs appear to have adversely affected the Wankas. In the past few weeks they have fallen to ISC Falcons, ISC AmaBhubesi, and Hoosier Daddies by scorelines of 3-1, 8-1, and 3-1, respectively. Despite such lopsided scores, the Wankas have played some decent soccer at times. Unfortunately, these have been all too brief, and whatever superior play they've demonstrated has not translated into a deluge of goals.

Against the Falcons, WFC demonstrated some quality passing but put themselves on the back foot due to high-speed pressure on their defense. After falling down 3-0 to an own goal, a pk, and one opportunistic shot, the ease with which the Wankas hauled back a goal seemed promising. Ross Klippel finished off a very bright move that saw some quick one-two passing and a nice setup by Pfenne Cantrell. A full fightback was not in the cards, however, and WFC would have to wait a few weeks before seeing the field again.

That return was inauspicious as well. The Wankas took the field with nearly a full squad available, and they quickly went on the attack. WFC squandered several golden opportunities in the early stages before finally finding the back of the net through Troy Divis, who was played in nicely by new-boy Andrew Bellaver. Sadly, few more shots were to follow, as ISC AmaBhubesi turned things up several notches and immediately equalized. Minutes later, an easy second opened the floodgates, and WFC would struggle to see this one out. Shoddy defending, wasted passes, a lack of intensity.... it's one best forgotten.

2 days later, WFC would attempt to right themselves against old foes Hoosier Daddies FC. Again, WFC came out of the blocks the better side, and they created some half-chances with quality passing along the wings. Andrew Bellaver once again marauded and controlled midfield, and his efforts were rewarded as he made a long run upfield, broke free into the box, and played an incisive pass into the path of Ross Klippel who did well to turn it home under intense pressure. But it is WFC's focus that goes missing at times, and it once again wandered off as a sea of yellow jerseys failed to close down a lone HDFC attacker who thundered a right-footer through a crowd and past the helpless Wanka keeper. 1-1 at the break. The second half was much like the first for long stretches, but playing a second game in 3 days was a bridge too far for WFC as first a defensive miscommunication allowed HDFC to take the lead, and then the tired push further upfield left them exposed on the break for a third, game-clinching goal. WFC's players fought hard in this one, though, and should be proudest of this among their Spring performances.

The Wankas will play 2 games (Friday/Sunday) again this week, versus Movers FC at Kuntz Stadium (7pm) and AmaZulu at ISC German Park (noon), as they try to rebound in the season's second half. Hope to see you out supporting your favorite Wanka!

Finally, a game!

2009-04-27T09:51:00.001-04:00

The CIASA Spring 2009 season finally began in earnest on Sunday. After 3 straight cancellations due to the rainy Indiana Spring, Wankas FC kicked off against Orange FC and renewed a rivalry nearly as old as both teams. OFC immediately put their experience to good use with long stretches of early possession and several forays into attack. The Wankas struggled to keep control in the young stages, and their continued poor marking would present Orange with the opportunity they had hoped for within 20 minutes. An Orange corner kick was only half-cleared to the edge of the box, and OFC’s main threat hit a solid left-footed half volley that arrowed toward the far corner and was never in doubt as it came through a crowd of players. Orange 1 – 0 Wankas, and the momentum was clearly in the favor of OFC as well. Wankas would have to weather the storm in the first half and struggled to maintain shape; however, a few good outlets and interchanges showed that WFC could get back into the game if they played with intensity and composure. One such instance saw a nice move down the left free up some space, and as Sky joined the attack with a late run, the overlap of Matt Collins seemed to be the opportunity they needed. Unfortunately, a crucial slip saw the chance go begging, but WFC would have taken confidence from the ease with which the move was created.

After some halftime re-organizing, WFC came out more brightly in the second half and began attacking down the flanks. The midfield shored up and consistently won 50/50 balls and spread the attacking play. And it was from precisely such a move that the equalizer was found. A sharp clearance to the left allowed Lee Britton to carry the ball from midfield and, sensing some hesitation, got to the endline before cutting back on the goalie. The retreating defender could only clip his heels as he cut in to create a shooting angle. After some deliberation about whether the ball had crossed the endline, the referee pointed to the spot. Aaron Gordon stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way, and with 15 minutes left it was game on. Both sides pressed hard for the winner as first Aaron and then Doug Starnes sent shots goalward. But it was Orange that seized some initiative late on, and if not for the heroics of Jeff Graham they would surely have taken all 3points. But Graham made a string of saves, double-saves, and one triple-save to deny Orange their victory. Orange will feel it is 2 points dropped, but the Wankas can feel good about fighting back for a deserved point.

Final 1-1: Aaron Gordon (pk)

The Wankas travel to the southside to meet ISC Falcons next Sunday at noon.

Wankas End Season with a Draw

2008-10-31T11:27:00.003-04:00

Wankas FC ended their season against Benedict Sunday over the weekend with a 0-0 draw. The game was as exciting as it sounds as neither team was able to sustain any significant possession or put much pressure on the opposition goal. WFC’s failure to win the 50-50 balls prevented them from getting into an offensive rhythm and often forced the defense into some last-ditch tackles. As the scoreline suggests, Jeff Graham was once again the most consistent player on the pitch. With few opportunities created, the need for him to be ruthless against his attackers was even more desperate, and he rose to every task. Offensively, the Wankas were limited to a few individual efforts, the best of which came through a quick one-two passing move that opened up Sam Robertson for a shot.

Wankas FC finished the season with 3 wins, 2 losses, and 3 draws, giving them a 4th place standing behind ISC Renegades, Indiana Impact, and Columbus O-30. Aaron Gordon was the team's leading scorer with 5 goals, with Schuyler Wareham and Ross Kenyon each tallying 3 assists apiece. Aaron Gordon and Jeff Graham each registered a shutout in goal as well.

WFC will once again rue missed opportunities and defensive lapses that cost them points in a very winnable league. The upside is that several new faces made WFC their home and integrated seamlessly into the squad. We look forward to them returning for the spring season. I’d like to thank everyone for their efforts and encourage you all to play indoor during the winter. We’ll be arranging kick-arounds as soon as the weather cooperates.

Have a great off-season you Wankas!

Wankas Woes

2008-10-20T08:25:00.006-04:00

Wankas FC effectively ended any hopes they had for a top-of-the-table finish after failing to overcome ISC Falcons on Sunday. Their performance was disjointed, at times moving the ball very easily into attack, and at times looking completely disorganized. The midfield did well to maintain possession and create opportunities, but profligacy in front of goal and an inability to deal with the ISC route 1 counter-attack was their undoing.

WFC started slow and soon found themselves a goal down. Possession swung back and forth, and it was Ray Carter who seized back the initiative for the Wankas. Receiving a pass from Schuyler Wareham in the middle of the field, Ray let fly from 35 yards and found the back of the net. This prompted the Wankas to step things up a gear as the Falcons began their usual whining and mouthing off to the ref and anyone willing to listen. Another sweeping midfield counter eventually saw the ball move through to Schuyler again, who drew a few defenders before laying off to Aaron Gordon to swerve a shot home at the near post. WFC's elation was short-lived, though, as ISC's only form of successful attack was the long-ball over the top, and it proved goal-worthy. 2-2 at the break.

WFC came out attacking after the restart and created several early opportunities, but the go-ahead goal simply would not come. After the first 15 minutes of the second half, goal-mouth action was kept to a minimum at both ends of the field. A stalemate seemed in the cards until one final ball into the Wankas box. 3-2 to the Falcons at the final whistle.

The Wankas have a final chance for 3 points next Sunday at 3pm against Benedict Sunday.

Scoring: Ray Carter (Sky Wareham), Aaron Gordon (Sky Wareham)

Wankas Have an Impact

2008-10-13T09:36:00.003-04:00

Wankas FC moved themselves closer to the top of the table with a dominating and complete performance against Indiana Impact on Sunday. With several key players out WFC was forced to re-shuffle the pack, and every player in attendance stepped up to fulfill their duties. WFC kicked off and immediately went on the attack, finding space on both flanks. The warning signs came early for the Impact, with WFC starting several fine moves and only the final ball eluding them. The Impact had their own occasional forays early on as well, and stand-in goalkeeper Aaron Gordon got his shaky moment out of the way as he failed to deal with a cross cleanly and required some defensive help for a clearance. From that point on, however, it simply became all Wankas all the time.

Midway through the first half WFC really began to get a grip on the game and, after spurning a few good chances, finally made the Impact pay for slack covering. Moving the ball wide and out to the wing, Andy Hughes was given plenty of time to look up and swing in a solid cross for Carl Britton to expertly head home beyond the Impact keeper. The Wankas swelled with confidence and continued to exploit the space on the wings. Yet another sideline attack resulted in a free kick from the left flank, which Matt Collins floated to the back post to provide Andy Hughes the opportunity to nod low into the corner. 2-0 and cruising at the break.

With a halftime warning to not allow the Impact a route back into the game, the Wankas wasted no time in consolidating their dominance after the re-start. Jamie Maggard, Ross Klippel, Lee Britton, and Ross Kenyon simply and elegantly passed their way up the left flank until Kenyon was allowed just enough space to cut in at the end line and provide a nice pullback for Schuyler Wareham to get on the board. The Impact were beginning to fray at the nerves as well as their positional play and truly had no answer for the WFC onslaught. With their players tiring, more space between lines became available and the Wankas were happy to take full advantage. Moving the ball to the right side and into acres of space, Matt Collins floated another pinpoint cross to Brett Sommers at the back post to head back across goal and into the net. Some questionable non-calls had an already flustered Impact coming apart at the seams, and they were finally reduced a man after extensive bickering led to an accumulation of yellows. Now well and truly beaten, it was simply a matter of keeping the score line down. But instead the Impact continued to leave more and more space, which Ross Kenyon was happy to exploit. His run down the left channel provided plenty of room for Troy Divis to receive a ball at the edge of the box and strike a low drive to the near post. A game of kick-ball clearance from both teams played out the remaining minutes, and the Wankas rejoiced in a full team performance at the final whistle. 5-0 to the Wankas, with 5 different scorers, a clean sheet, and the finest game of the season. Every player stepped up their effort and intensity and can be proud of a fine team performance.

The Wankas hope to retain this level of play next weekend against ISC Falcons at 3pm at Lawrence Park.

Scoring: C Britton (Hughes), Andy Hughes (Collins), Sky Wareham (Kenyon), Brett Sommers (Collins), Troy Divis (Kenyon)

Midweek Malaise for Wankas

2008-10-03T14:38:00.004-04:00

Wankas FC did itself no favors on Thursday evening as they followed up their Sunday victory over AmaZulu with a lackluster performance against Hoosier Daddy. Hoosier Daddy has proven a bogey team for the Wankas in recent years despite the balance of talent and experience leaning heavily in favor of WFC. And so it was again during this mid-week contest.

The game began brightly enough, but WFC was soon on the back foot as they failed to maintain possession and shape in the center of the park. The first half was an open affair, but actual opportunities were minimal for both sides. Neither team was able to keep possession long enough to create any meaningful attacks, and route 1 soccer was the order of the evening. The only event of consequence in the first half came late on when Aaron Grant cleanly tackled a Daddy along the sideline. As he toppled over the challenge, the already clumsy HD player lost his mind temporarily and landed a solid elbow to Aaron’s head. Even the HD teammates were at a loss and instructed him to leave ASAP. Red-carded and shamed, the Daddies would be forced to play out the game reduced to 10 men. 0-0 at the break.

The halftime team talk centered around gaining control of the midfield and utilizing the space that would no doubt be available with one less player on the field. A warning to step up the intensity or risk giving the Daddies hope proved salient as within minutes of the restart the Wankas found themselves a goal down. A Wankas throw-in to the middle seemed innocuous enough, but as possession was lost several Wankas backed off the Daddy attacker. Two touches later the ball was in the back of the net, as the HD attacker let fly from 25 yards and produced a shot that knuckled and dipped over the outstretched arm of Jeff Graham. The Wankas were shocked, and a reply was not immediately forthcoming. Sensing the precariousness of their situation, the Daddies dropped deep and stifled most of the Wankas’ attacks. Their attacks lacked creativity, and as more Wankas pressed forward in a desperate bid for an equalizer the defense was left exposed. Several game-saving tackles were put in by the back line, and Jeff Graham erased any doubts with a string of excellent saves. One in particular was spectacularly caught and held from a shot at very close range; surely the Daddy thought he’d scored.

As the game moved into its final stages the Wankas opted to go for broke. Beginning with a switch to 3-5-2, and ultimately becoming a 2-6-2, the Wankas threw caution to the wind. On more than one occasion the equalizer looked certain, but a few questionable offside calls combined with some profligacy in front of goal and a couple good saves from the HD keeper meant the drama would go to the wire. And so it did, as with only 2 minutes remaining a fully committed Wankas attack resulted in a ball coming to the feet of Aaron Gordon. His shot-fake and cut-back were enough to force a panicked foul out of a Daddy defender, providing one final opportunity at redemption. Aaron lined up his free kick, but it was not as sweetly struck as those in the first game of the season. Nevertheless, plenty of pace and swerve caused problems, and a deflection was enough to wrong-foot the keeper who could only watch as the ball bounced beyond him into the far corner. Not pretty, and it will certainly feel like points dropped instead of a point gained at this juncture of the season. Final: 1-1. Scoring: Aaron Gordon (unassisted)

The Wankas had an opportunity to briefly go top of the table but will have to settle for second place with several other teams holding games in hand. They will attempt to redeem themselves in just under a fortnight as they take on Indiana Impact in Mooresville on Sunday, October 12.

Wankas Romp!

2008-09-29T10:27:00.001-04:00

Wankas FC romped to a 3-1 victory against AmaZulu on Sunday, turning in probably its most complete performance this season. Aided initially by the arrival of a short-handed AmaZulu side, it was the Wankas who made all the early running. Set out in their standard 4-5-1, WFC immediately took control of the center of the park and pressured the under-manned Zulus into several hasty clearances. Troy Divis caused problems all day, and after an early exchange resulted in an opportunity, from the sidelines you could see it was simply a matter of time before the Zulus were opened up. The Wankas quickly got their just rewards as a nice array of passing led to Troy gaining space in the attacking third and weighting a pass into the path of Schuyler Wareham who opened his scoring account with a neat finish alone with the goalie. The Wankas were rarely threatened by Zulu attacks, and the multitude of subs entered the game and continued to mount the pressure. A foray down the right led to a long throw into the box, which Andy Hughes harried the defense into a poor clearance. This fell to Schuyler’s feet and, after a nice shimmy to avoid his first opponent, he dispatched his second goal of the match. On one of the few occasions where the Wankas lost shape and composure, the lone Zulu threat managed to get in behind the defense and held his ground to slot under the on-rushing Jeff Graham. 2-1 at the break.

No doubt inspired by the halftime team talk, WFC returned to the field in the 2nd half determined to expand on their lead rather than get complacent. The Zulus saw very little of the ball despite being at full strength at this point, and their frustrations began to mount. An inability to do little more than ping long clearances toward their speedy forward saw them continually pegged by the strong wing play of the Wankas. One such Wankas attack seemed to harmlessly peter out, but in a karmic twist of fate reminiscent of the Wankas own mistake last week, the goalkeeper’s mis-hit clearance went straight to the feet of Ross Kenyon. Having spurned a golden first-half opportunity, Ross composed himself to make no mistake when presented with the ball. The Zulus were well and truly beaten, and the only further disappointment for the Wankas was failing to add to their goal tally as they managed the lion’s share of possession for the rest of the game. Final: 3-1

The Wankas move to 2-1-1 on the season and have a great opportunity to continue their move up the table with a victory on Thursday evening against Hoosier Daddy.

Scoring: Schuyler Wareham (Troy Divis), Wareham (unassisted), Ross Kenyon (unassisted)

Wankas Share the Spoils

2008-09-22T14:27:00.003-04:00

Wankas FC attempted to right the ship after their 2-0 road defeat to Columbus last weekend, as they traveled to German Park to face ISC Renegades, the current league leaders. WFC opened things strongly in the early going, but put themselves in a hole after just 10 minutes. The defense, still coming to terms with communication and cohesion, should have easily cleared their lines after tracking an errant through ball. Some dallying, however, led to a rushed clearance from Jeff Graham and his mis-hit found a Renegade inside the area. In an interesting contrast from other opportunities that would come, the Renegade striker took full advantage and put his side up 1-0 with his team having had little of the possession. WFC were spurred into action and pressed forward, but a return to 4-4-2 was giving away too much space for the opposition in the center of the park. ISC had several good opportunities as they found plenty of joy getting in behind the defense due to an overwhelmed midfield. Their shooting boots were left at home, however, and WFC managed to escape further punishment.

WFC began to take further control, though, and were rewarded for their efforts. Steve Kirchhofer took the initiative and advantage of weak individual defending to gallop forward and fire off a shot. Taking a deflection, the ball found its way to Ross Kenyon who coolly eluded his first marker and then beat the hapless Renegades GK at his near post. All even at 1, but the opportunities for the Renegades were not through. Jeff Graham, determined to make up for an early mistake, was flawless in goal as he turned away several clear shots and breakaways.

WFC picked things up a gear to begin the second half and saw their team pressure result in a turnover and then score as the Rosses combined to steal a goal from a poor Renegades defensive effort. The pressure and movement continued as the Wankas smelled the chance to seal a long-awaited victory over the Renegades. A quick throw-in to Doug Starnes led to a lofted cross toward the back post. Carl Britton glided under the cross, settled and beat his man to finish off a sweeping move. 3-1 to the good.

But as is often the case for WFC, defensive lapses would be their undoing. With 10 minutes to go, the Renegades began to ratchet up the pressure and WFC were beginning to tire. Failure to deal decisively with some marauding runs, WFC gave up a corner from which they would pay a hefty price. An unmarked Renegades attacker drifted from the edge of the box, and his header met a sharp corner to create an intense finish to the game. At 3-2, the Wankas bottled things a bit. A 1-goal lead was never safe in a game of such ebb and flow, and a failure to possess and control at this juncture proved their undoing. With several players over-committed to the attack and a deep lying defense, a Renegades counter-attack had plenty of space to develop. Their speedy front line breached the WFC defense, and despite closing the angle Jeff Graham could not keep out the equalizer.

In a game that saw several early Renegades opportunities go begging, a 3-3 result was probably fair. But having had a 2-goal cushion, WFC will rue their inability to kill off yet another winnable game.

WFC move to 1-1-1 on the season and will be cautious yet confident this coming Sunday when they take on a rejuvenated AmaZulu side.

Scoring: Ross Kenyon (unassisted), Ross Klippel (Kenyon), Carl Britton (Starnes)

Wankas Blown Away

2008-09-15T10:07:00.002-04:00

The notorious road woes of Wankas FC continued on Sunday as they fell to Columbus 2-0. A very strong wind made any ball above head height a farcical proposition, but it WFC's failure to use their superior skill and possession that ultimately led to their defeat.

WFC opened with a bit of a flurry, moving the ball into attack with some smart passing. But the wind quickly pinned them back as every clearance either hung up or was pushed out of bounds. WFC were weathering things and picking their moments, but were pegged back after 20 minutes by a penalty kick from a corner. Jeff Graham reacted terrifically but the shot still managed to squirt under his legs and trickle into the corner. WFC struggled to get back any momentum and saw themselves fall 2 goals behind after the defense was left exposed and an unmarked striker was able to turn home a cross. 2-0 at the half.

WFC regained some footing in the 2nd half, but many attacks broke down at crucial moments. Instead of using their individual skills to their advantage, WFC resorted to optimistic thru-balls that did not have much chance with the strong wind now behind them. Sam Robertson came closest to scoring after running down a good channel ball and lobbing the keeper, only to see the wind carry it just over the crossbar. Jamie Maggard also had a nice effort that put the keeper at full stretch to palm it away. WFC managed to get the ball in the box on several occasions, but the final pass and shot never materialized. Frustrations also mounted with the referee, and at this point WFC had no way back. WFC may well rue their failure to overcome the weather, the referee, and ultimately themselves in what was a very winnable game on the road.

WFC have an opportunity to redeem themselves on the road next Sunday when they take on ISC Renegades on the southside at German Park.

W is for Wankas!

2008-09-08T09:28:00.003-04:00

Wankas FC began the Fall 2008 season in earnest this weekend against Benedict Sunday. Warm weather and a full squad turned out to kick the season off in style, but neither team was able to find much cohesion during the opening exchanges. The Wankas defense eventually settled down, but early on there was a learning curve and a lack of communication led to an untracked runner getting in front of Jeff Graham and doing just enough to cause the distraction needed to open the scoring. WFC responded in decent fashion as they began to control more play, but a failure to control midfield saw a need to serve some long balls out of the defense. This method paid off, however, as a long clearance toward the sideline found its way to Brett Sommers who laid off to new boy Scott White. Without hesitation Scott let fly with a curling effort that was never in doubt. 1-1 at the break.

As the teams resumed play, the game began to take on a faster pace and more intensity as some erratic officiating left both sides scratching their heads. Despite beginning to dominate possession, WFC failed to deal with a corner kick and were punished. Some soft marking saw the knockdown driven straight at Jeff Graham, who made a great first save but could do nothing about the rebound. But as has happened many times before, going behind lit a fire under the Wankas and they responded with some consistent attacking play that eventually led to Sam Robertson winning a free kick in a tasty position. Making up for his defensive lapse on the Bennies second goal, Aaron Gordon stepped up to curl in a FK that the goalie should probably have done better with. All tied up, WFC pressed the game and really began to take full control. A nifty interchange saw Troy Divis played in directly to goal before being sandwiched between 2 Bennies. The Bennies were beginning to lose their composure and felt a further sting from yet another Aaron Gordon free kick, as well as his tongue, as this one was dispatched leaving the Bennies GK with no chance. A singular foray into attack led to a Bennies penalty kick being awarded for what seemed a soft foul (and not in the box). Tied up yet again, WFC seemed to make up their minds to finally finish off the game. Some sustained pressure finally found some Wankas in space at the top of the box. Working a nice one-two with Schuyler Wareham, Aaron Gordon slipped but held off his man before righting the ship and sending a 12-yarder into the side netting. WFC continued to press, and the defense continued to stifle the few remaining Bennies attacks. With little time left on the clock, WFC looked to finish off the game with some corner time-killing, but a Bennies defender overplayed the throw-in and allowed Andy Hughes to get to the byline before pulling a ball back to the top of the box. Initially it appeared to be heading into empty space as the Wankas were sitting deep, but Doug “Danger” Starnes out-hustled a retreating Bennies defender and sized up his shot before slotting it home. 5-3 at the final whistle, and a well-deserved victory for the Wankas.

All in all a fine performance for the first game, as the defense began to get comfortable among one another, and the bounty of subs allowed high-pressure intensity in the attack. WFC travel to Columbus next Sunday.

Scoring:
Scott White (Brett Sommers), Aaron Gordon (FK), Aaron Gordon (FK), Aaron Gordon (Schuyler Wareham), Doug Starnes (Andy Hughes)

Wankas FC Fall 2008 Roster and Schedule

2008-08-29T09:40:00.001-04:00

Hello once again, and welcome back to the goings on with Wankas FC. Since the last update, WFC played a make-up game with ISC Falcons. WFC yet again outplayed their opponents, but failed to put them away. A late goal by Aaron Gordon (Morris) salvaged a point, but the game itself was a microcosm of the season overall. WFC will be looking to right themselves this Fall.

After finishing up a long, drawn-out Spring season, WFC rested before returning to the practice field a few weeks ago, and some new faces have been brought in to cover for players taking time away from the game. The new additions provide cover at most field positions and hopefully bring a renewed hunger to a side that disappointed itself with its Spring performances. So without further ado, here is the roster for Wankas FC for Fall 2008 in the Men's Open division. The schedule can be found at the bottom of the page.

Carl Britton
Lee Britton
Pfenne Cantrell
Ray Carter
Matt Collins
Frank Dale
Troy Divis
Aaron Gordon
Jeff Graham
Aaron Grant
Andy Hughes
Ross Kenyon
Steve Kirchhofer
Ross Klippel
Matt Kluth
Jamie Maggard
Sam Robertson
Brett Sommers
Doug Starnes
Schuyler Wareham
Scott White
Jason Williams

Catching up with the Wankas

2008-06-23T09:30:00.000-04:00

Well, we've had a hectic few weeks, full of madness, despair, joys, losses, and wins. So let's get caught up. Several weeks back Wankas FC played a forgettable match with Benedict Sunday. Poor displays all around, capped off by an unfortunate sending off for Aaron Gordon. Fully deserved at that. The final was 2-0 to BenSun.

A week later, WFC took on ISC Falcons with only 9 players. Playing shorthanded galvanized WFC, however, and they gave a good account of themselves in a 2-1 defeat. Andy Hughes grabbed the goal in that one; unassisted unless otherwise informed.

The make-up game, coincidentally also against Falcons, was once again postponed due to inclement weather. It is unknown if this will be made up.

So after a long and disappointing season, we come to the Spring tournament and the Wankas responded in good fashion. Opening the tourney against a familiar foe, Hoosier Daddy, WFC put on good early pressure and created far more opportunities. Andy Carson, once again playing as a tournament guest, saw his cross/shot curl in at the far post. WFC controlled much of the rest of the game, but once again had a defensive lapse that cost them the clean sheet. 1-1 after the morning match.

WFC returned for their afternoon tie with ISC Renegades in fine spirits, and they were boosted even further by finding a short-handed Renegades squad that simply was not up to the task. They were further hampered by an injury to their main striker, and finally scuppered any chance of a true fight by having one of their players sent off for striking Jamie Maggard. Despite such a numerical advantage, WFC were down 1-0 at the half due to a fluke goal. However, for a change WFC made their advantage count as they ran riot in the second half, scoring 5 unanswered goals and putting the Renegades to the sword. Aaron Gordon (Hughes, unassisted, Hughes), Caleb (guest), and Andy Carson (unassisted) all found the net in the final frame.

The early game on Sunday was against ISC AmaBhubesi, who also showed up shorthanded. WFC wasted no time in taking advantage of this again, and Ross Klippel (Gordon) opened up the scoring in the first five minutes. Several minutes later, Klippel had a fine solo effort capped off by a terrific finish. 2-0 at the break, and Wankas were flying. Schuyler Wareham won an early second half free kick, which he converted himself by curling around the wall and beating the keeper with a sweet effort at the near post. WFC took their foot off the gas and allowed the largely whining ISC team a lifeline with a penalty and an OG, but the Wankas had the wherewithal to see the game out.

So to the semi-finals against Indiana Impact. By far the stiffest competition WFC had yet faced, Wankas rose to the task largely through the efforts of John ???, another pick-up for the tournament. His great work down the left drew all defenders his way, and his cross at the end line was eventually tracked down and turned in from an acute angle by Aaron Gordon. Impact struck back with a fine volley and another well worked goal to take the lead. WFC pressed hard and found an equalizer through Andy Hughes (also assisted by John?). As more storms rolled in, the refs opted to call the game short (9 minutes!!) in order to go straight to penalties. Sky, Doug, and John converted theirs, matched by Impact, before Andy Carson sent his wide. Impact converted their next and sent the Wankas to yet another pk semi-final defeat. Chants of "Ingerlund" were unconfirmed.

So a good tournament performance played by a short squad this weekend. Everyone worked hard and the team came together to make up for their disappointing season. The make-up of the make-up with Falcons may or may not get played, but we will soon begin gathering for Sunday kick-arounds. Please stay tuned. Thanks again to everyone for their time and effort. See you in the Fall.

Wankas Fade Late

2008-05-19T08:28:00.000-04:00

WFC once again rued early missed opportunities and failed to take maximum points. Starting the first half with a very strong wind at their backs, WFC attacked non-stop for the opening 45 minutes. WFC saw many opportunities go begging, as their sharpness in front of goal remains to be found. 0-0 at the break.

WFC picked up the 2nd half where they ended the first and began to create more opportunities. Good passing and movement up the left flank saw Ross Kenyon collect the ball 40 yards from goal, beat a couple defenders, and then slot home. Not long after, a similar play on the right side saw Ross Kenyon get to the byline before sliding a ball across the 6 yard box, which Ross Klippel side-footed in. Unfortunately, a 2-0 lead is dangerous for WFC. A counter-attack saw AmaZulu's best attacking threat isolated on the left wing. Matt Collins seemingly did enough to slow his progress, but the attacker unleashed a 35-yard rocket that was simply unstoppable. This goal galvanized the Zulus, while undermining the confidence of the WFC goalie and defense. The midfield failed to possess the ball, causing more chaos at the back. A tying goal was inevitable as bickering and general malaise crept into the yellow shirts. Failing to keep their composure, WFC were forced to hold on near the end in order to keep a point instead of claiming all 3 deservedly. Final: 2-2

Scoring: Ross Kenyon (unassisted), Ross Klippel (Ross Kenyon)

Wankas Stumble on the Road

2008-05-05T10:20:00.001-04:00

WFC continued their history of poor travel as they fell 5-3 to ISC Renegades. Wankas started very slow and found themselves down 3-0 at halftime.

The 2nd half started just as the 1st ended, with WFC enduring some back luck as a clearance deflected directly into the path of a Renegade attacker. 4-0 Renegades. But this finally seemed to rouse the Wankas from their slumber, and suddenly they found their stride. WFC went on to dominate play for the next half hour, with Ross Klippel and Ross Kenyon starting things off. Klippel served a teasing ball into the box that allowed Kenyon to head home from close range. Minutes later, a scramble in the box saw Brett Sommers turn home Ross Klippel's effort for a second. 4-2 and momentum shifting. More pressure saw another cross into the box, which Brett Sommers slipped on for Andy Hughes to quickly settle and slot under the goalie. Dreams of another southside comeback were put on ice, though, as WFC saw a potential penalty shout denied, only to give up what appeared to be an identical foul in the area on the Renegades counter-attack. 5-3 Renegades. WFC mounted a few more attacks, but defeat was inevitable.

WFC must find a cure for their slide soon, as this loss drops them to third in the table having played more games than any other team.

Scoring: Ross Kenyon (Ross Klippel), Brett Sommers (Ross Klippel), Andy Hughes (Brett Sommers)

Wankas Leave Door Open...

2008-04-28T11:49:00.000-04:00

Wankas FC remain atop an uneven and inconsistent league table after drawing 2-2 with Hoosier Daddy on Sunday. Once again the Wankas were the better side for long periods, but also lacked the attacking sharpness to kill the game off. And that allowed HD to grab a late equalizer.

Wankas started out well enough, with some good passing creating space on the field. Clear opportunities were at a minimum, though, and free kicks were creating the majority of chances. A rare counter-attack from HD saw an optimistic ball played into the box. Unfortunately, this effort would find the back of the net as an errant touch from Troy Divis saw the ball trickle just beyond stand-in goalie Jeff Schroeder. 1-0 to HD without having taken a shot. The Wankas responded in fine fashion, though, and began to attack along the wings. Consistently spreading the HD back line thin, Matt Kluth played a defense-splitting ball into the feet of Ross Kenyon, returning from several weeks away from action. Ross looked as though he's been playing the whole time, though, as he neatly collected Matt's pass and sped beyond his defender before slotting nicely to the far post. 1-1 at the break.

WFC continued where they left off after the break and appeared to have the quality to take control completely. Unfortunately, several opportunities in and around the box couldn't get turned home. Troy Divis broke the deadlock after a throw-in deflected to his feet. Troy turned on the ball from 40 yards and hit his first-time shot high to the far post, leaving the goalie stranded. 2-1 WFC, and it looked as if they'd add to it as several more opportunities bounced around the HD area. None were converted, however, and a late breakaway by Darren Burroughs was finished strong to the far corner. 2-2 with minutes remaining, and the game-winner just wouldn't come.

Once again WFC were the more active side, but they will need to get more ruthless in front of goal if they are to maintain their lead at the top of the table.

Scoring: Ross Kenyon (Matt Kluth), Troy Divis (unassisted).

Wankas Move Up the Table with Win

2008-04-21T08:18:00.000-04:00

Wankas FC improved to 1-0-1 on the season with a hard-fought 4-2 victory over Benedict Sunday. Several days of rain seemed to have had little effect on the hard, dry Lawrence fields, and, coupled with an impromptu and shortening re-lining of the field, presented an interesting playing surface for both teams. WFC started out the much brighter team with some good early possession and ball movement, while the Bennies struggled to maintain control and routinely gave away possession with lengthy through-balls on the short pitch. An early WFC attack seemed destined to put them in front as a beaten Bennies defender strangely stuck a hand up to intercept a ball over the top. Aaron Gordon stepped up for the ensuing spot kick, but his weak effort was saved well by the keeper. This inspired the Bennies and they stepped up their intensity, if not the quality of their play. However, WFC failed to clear a ball in the box and it eventually found its way to a Bennie on the edge of the area. His mishit shot unsighted Jeff Graham - probably because of the other Bennie standing offside directly in front of him - and trickled into the net. The "passive offside" rule strikes again. 1-0 to the Bennies, a bit undeservedly. This led to several minutes of long-ball from both sides, as the ground conspired to make stringing several passes together very difficult. Route 1 eventually paid off, though, as Jason Williams aimed a long free kick toward the attacking area. Several Bennies failed to deal with the first ball and as it bounced over the top, Aaron Gordon let it drop over his shoulder to hit a full volley from the edge of the 18 and dipped it nicely over the keeper and under the bar. 1-1 and game on! Minutes later, some chaotic defending from the Bennies saw Doug Starnes sneak in for some poaching. His first effort was blocked well from the goalie, stranded 17 yards from his line. But the rebound fell straight back to Doug's feet, and he side-stepped the keeper this time and picked his spot past the retreating Bennie defenders. 2-1 WFC at the break.

The second half saw much more of the same, with some decent attacks from WFC interspersed with some hoofing and chasing from BenSun. This technique paid off nicely, though, as a through-ball into the Wankas penalty area was not dealt with, and the Bennies attacker made the most of minimal contact between two WFC defenders. The spot kick was well converted; game tied 2-2. But WFC wasted little time in re-asserting themselves with some sustained pressure along the wings. Great hustling by Doug Starnes hassled a Bennie defender into coughing up the ball at the end line, and he eventually won it and rolled it back to Andy Hughes. Displaying some nifty footwork, Andy made his way into the box and worked a shooting opportunity to expertly beat the goalie at his near post. 3-2 Wankas. Moments later, a routine bouncing ball in the box colluded with the untidy pitch to force an unfortunate hand ball in the Wankas penalty area. A second spot kick for the Bennies, but though it was hit with power it was too close to Jeff Graham, who smothered the shot altogether. Off the hook but not out of the woods, the Wankas were forced into some desperate defending as injuries began to mount and stretch them thin. The back line held firm, though, as each Bennies attack was turned away with little danger presented. Their eagerness to pull a goal back would be their final undoing as several half-clearances eventually fell to the foot of Troy Divis, whose first-time ball back over the top was well-placed to draw out the opposing keeper. Andy Hughes got to it first and skied a lob over the keeper's head right as his pursuer arrived. The high ball finally dropped under the bar and bounced up into the net. 4-2 Wankas, and the Bennies folded with little time remaining.

Great team effort, but special mention to Andy for his multi-goal game, the defense for standing firm late on, and Jeff Graham for doing what he does best.

Scoring: Aaron Gordon (pk miss), Aaron Gordon (Jason Williams), Doug Starnes (unassisted), Andy Hughes (Doug Starnes), Andy Hughes (Troy Divis)

Wankas Start Season with a Draw

2008-04-07T11:06:00.000-04:00

WFC started off their Spring campaign with a slightly uneven performance against ISC AmaZulu, which resulted in a 2-2 draw. The Wankas started brightly enough with some good passing and control of the ball. A few early chances were created, but WFC's attackers lacked the sharpness to make them count. A dubious penalty call against Dave Kegg saw the game's best goalscoring opportunity come from the spot. Karma caught up with the AmaZulu forward, as well as his own nerves, as the telegraphed spot-kick was well-saved and pushed away by Jeff Graham. Minutes later the Wankas would punish the Zulus for their profligacy. A free kick just inside their own half was worked upfield by the Wankas, with new-boy Brad Smith slotting in Ross Klippel through the right channel. Klippel outran his pursuers and coolly finished inside the far post. 1-0 to the Wankas at the break.

The second half saw the Zulus step up their intensity - and their whining - and some hard challenges began flying in. The Wankas did well to keep their collective cool, but were failing to match the Zulus' efforts. The Zulus have one strategy - Route 1 - and were held at bay for most of the game. However, they eventually breached the Wankas' back line with a through-ball and the attacker finished just beyond the reach of Jeff Graham. This seemed to awaken the Wankas from their slumber, and some consistent attacks eventually led to a corner. Aaron Gordon's curling corner was fortuitously flicked on by a Zulu defender and into his own net; Schuyler Wareham was the intended target and appeared to be ready for his first goal of the season before the error. 2-1 to the Wankas with 10 minutes to go, and the wheels began to fall off for everyone. The Zulus continued to lump everything forward, and the Wankas strangely began committing too many players to the attack. This resulted in a few breakaways and close calls - one shot hitting the outside of Graham's goal. The sustained long balls combined with a tiring defense eventually led to one more successful foray for the Zulus, and they managed to take something from the game with a late goal on the break. 2-2 for the final score, but the Wankas will feel it more as a loss given their superior possession and scoring opportunities. One to learn from for a team that should challenge for the league title.

Scoring: Ross Klippel (Brad Smith), Aaron Gordon (unassisted)

Wankas Draw with OYFC in Pre-season Friendly

2008-03-31T09:28:00.000-04:00

Wankas FC drew with Old Yeller FC in a pre-season friendly at Lawrence Park on Sunday. The game was played in a competitive but friendly atmosphere, as both teams were looking to evaluate themselves prior to their opening games.

A soggy pitch made for an uncomfortable playing surface, and it was OYFC that settled first. OYFC may struggle in their first season as they have been placed in the Premier division, but they do have some talented players. And it was perhaps their most skillful player who opened the scoring. WFC's defense was still coming to terms with itself when a penetrating through-ball played in Paul Newman (formerly of WFC). In acres of space and alone with the keeper, Paul made no mistake in slotting home. This goal seemed to galvanize WFC, however, and the Wankas began to possess the ball for longer stretches. After a few forays on the attack, Ross Kenyon showed some nice close touch and won a free kick from an acute angle just outside the box. Aaron Gordon's FK to the near post caused chaos in the box as several Wankas had an opportunity before Schuyler Warehman fired off a shot from close range that must have the OYFC keeper still hurting. The deflection fell back to Aaron's feet, who lashed in a left-footer. 1-1 and game on.

WFC continued to mount pressure and withstand OYFC attacks, and another ball played up the left channel found Schuyler in behind the defense. His cut-back across the 6-yard box was met and bundled in by new boy Doug Starnes. 2-1 at the break.

The second half saw both sides lose a bit of intensity, and chances were at a minimum. As the half wore on, play continued to get sloppier. WFC had 2 good opportunities to seal the win, but nerves got the better of them, and this left the door open for a late equalizer. This came from a throw-in deep in WFC territory. Brad Loheide brought the ball down in the box, turned on 2 defenders, and managed to squeeze his shot under the cross bar. 2-2, and probably a fair result as neither side dominated for long.

All in all a good result, and the Wankas look to have a squad worthy of the league title. Consistency of attendance and play will be key, but the players are certainly available to do the job.

WFC Scoring: Aaron Gordon (unassisted), Doug Starnes (Schuyler Wareham)

Season Schedule Released

2008-03-27T09:27:00.000-04:00

The season schedule has been released and can be permanently found at the bottom of the page. Results will be found there as well.

Welcome to Wankas FC blogspot!

2008-01-16T11:16:00.001-05:00

I have created this blog page to keep players, family members, friends, and anyone else who cares up-to-date on the happenings with Wankas FC, a perennially mid-table club of guys who comprise a "drinking team with a soccer problem." Please check back often for game schedules, recaps, photos, and just general chaos that seems to follow this team around. Enjoy!

AG, Captain/Manager/Inspirational Leader ;)