On a weekend where many capital football managers were cursing fixtures during public holidays, the mighty Karori Boomers approached their match, against Brooklyn Northern United Palace, with anxious anticipation. It was the first game of a season many players are hoping will lead to promotion into the upper echelons of capital football, that being Capital 4 for 2013. The untimely nature of the fixture meant the Boomers were short from the get-go with many players committing to time with families and friends over the Easter break. Blaine Abraham, Cam Holm, Alie Novak, John Huss Mortimer were all unavailable for the fixture due to other commitments.
A pre-match surprise was the news that David Williams may only be out for as little as two weeks after his surgery went better than expected. Whether Williams will follow the doctors instructions is unclear, but the Boomers depth for their 2012 championship campaign is only growing.
The first eleven for the game heralded several new moves. The first being the introduction of a back four that could be one of the most miserly in Boomers history, including Candy at right back, McSweeny and Halford in the middle and Sammy Clark at left back. This is a back four who have looked confident and strong in pre-season and will be key if the Boomers want to achieve their goal of becoming champions in 2012.
The selection headache of Jesse Strafford, Alex Handley and Alex Rothman all being available in the middle of the park was solved with Strafford moving to right midfield and Handley and Rothman filling the central positions. Ollie Carr was on the left of midfield. Tadhg Delany played in the hole behind the striker, who, despite not featuring there once in pre season, was Darryl Jones. The move raised eyebrows from some, but Darryl's ability to strike a ball was never in question.
From the get-go the Boomers contained possession confidently and knocked it around well. The combo of Handley and Rothman will compete with the best in the league this year. Combined with Delany in front of them and McSweeny and Halford behind them, the Boomers are looking very strong through the middle of the park this year. Good interplay between Rothman and Strafford down the right set Jones on a good early move only to be denied by Brooklyns centre half who looked sharp early on despite giving up the corner.
The first Boomers chance fell, surprisingly to centre half McSweeny. A corner was cleared out to McSweeny, who, on the edge of the box, beat an on-rushing defender and sent a vicious grass cutter towards the bottom corner, only to be denied by the keeper. The Boomers pressed forward, and, after a poor clearance by the Brooklyn keeper was met by the gangly shin of Michael Candy, the ball fell beautifully for Darryl Jones. Jones then beat the keeper in a one-on-one to slot home and score the Boomers first goal of 2012. Celebration: average.
The Boomers second goal was set up again by Michael Candy. After he was switched over to left back when Raiko came on for the injured Sammy Clark, whipped in a wonder ball to the forehead of Darryl Jones, who glanced in his second. Notable performances of the first half were that of Michael Candy and his marauding runs from fullback, Darryl for his clinical finishes and Rothman who controlled the game as if he was the conductor of an orchestra.
Darryl soon completed his hattrick soon after the half time break, after good work from Tadhg down the byline. Brooklyn soon hit back with a wonder strike from about 30 yards, when McSweeny was unable to close down the striker quick enough. Handley bagged his first Boomers goal, glancing a header off the throw-in. Ironically before the game, Handley was heard detesting Stoke City and their style of football. It was of no surprise to anyone apart from the man himself that his goal came in such a manor. Playmaker Tadhg Delany completed the rout soon after with a clinical finish as the Boomers started their 2012 season with confidence, determination and aplomb.
They came out with an almost righteous desire for the three points and thoroughly deserved it. Jimmy Bascand was solid in goal, only beaten by a wonder strike. Halford led the back four with authority and great leadership. Raiko Shareef, Drew Delany and Gibbo Gibson came on in tricky circumstances but adapted brilliantly and were key to the Boomers controlling the game throughout the whole 90 minutes. Michael Candy was brilliant, playing under a bit of doubt about his starting position he has certainly put that to bed and is almost guaranteed a start next week The two Alexes in midfield look to be key for the Boomers success this season, Handley providing the hard-tackling graft needed, Rothman providing the Xavi-esque ability to control the flow and distribute. Darryl Jones looks like the out-and-out goalscorer the Boomers have so badly needed in previous years and Blaine Abraham will need to seriously work for his place if he wants it.
Wow, what a start Boomers. A message has been sent to the league, the Karori Boomers are here to win it and the form of the second half of last season was only a pre-emptive warning. Manager Jesse Strafford could be serenading the trophy with 'Feel So Close' by Calvin Harris on the back of this performance, but it's more likely he's serenading next week's game with Pharoahe Monch's 'Simon Says.'
So once again the Boomers kick off the season with a win
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