Putting Ghosts to Rest

Groton got off to a fine start when Steve Perchuk hammered home Walker Davey’s corner in the 12^th minute. Though Groton’s play was uneven in the first half, they maintained the pressure on Roxbury Latin and were unlucky not to be ahead by more heading into the second half.

 

Far better was Groton’s effort in the second half, in which there were flurries of chances, though once again, all laws of physics vanished, and Groton just couldn’t find the net. This looked ominous, as RL could be dangerous, especially through the play of junior captain Jack Cloherty. Things took a turn in the right direction when Mark Reiss tapped in a Perchuk cross in the 55^th minute. With a two-goal lead, Groton seemed in command of the game.

 

But in the 81^st minute, RL’s Taalin RaoShah persevered in a scramble in the box to bring RL within one. Nine minutes can seem like a second or an eternity, and in this case, the world slowed down.

 

That’s one the Ghost of Games Past strolled up to my shoulder:

“Hey, remember the game last year?”

“Move along.”

“No, really, do you remember?”

He always carries that stale stench with him. I couldn’t breathe. He’s such a close talker.

“See that far sideline? Go stand with those folks.”

 

 

He didn’t budge and instead whispered fowl mutterings in my ear. Groton had wasted numerous chances to put the game away, and now RL was thundering about with confidence. It seemed impossible that this could happen. Games Past kept snickering.

 

Then Second Former Malcolm Fry found Max Strong, who curled in a fine shot and peace returned. On the whole it was a fine effort, and Groton grabbed three valuable points.