July 19th, 2009

(Buffalo, NY) - Buffalo NY - The inaugural 2009 NPSL season for Buffalo City FC was at an end as Buffalo City FC kicked off their last game of the season on the 18th of July with an Friendly game against a Buffalo Select team, who were also represented by their Head Coach Mike Share.

Buffalo City FC started the game with numerous wasted chances during their early rally, but were quickly on the score sheet when Herbert Deleon headed a Marc Stencel Cross in the goal.

Buffalo Select Team would reply within two minutes when young African forward Marlet leveling the score with some quick foot work.

Four minutes later the home side picked up the tempo which resulted with Deleon getting his second of the game as well as making the score 2-1.

Six minutes later Buffalo Select Team leveled the score for the second time when a Chris Griffiths cross found forward Scott Brody who cleverly headed the ball from an angle past goalkeeper Loos.

In the 25th minute Buffalo Select Team kept pushing forward when Buffalo City FC's Head Coach Mike Share who was representing the Buffalo Select Team picked the ball up from the midfield played a clever ball into the box for Brody, who calmly placed the ball past Buffalo's goalkeeper Bart Loos to take the lead at 3-2.

In the game's typical fashion Buffalo City FC would be back on the score sheet to tie the game for a third time on 28th minute. When Canadian midfielder Domonic Oppong played a quick one two with Alex Mihal to set himself up a one on one with Buffalo Select Team's Goalkeeper Nick Fetterman. Oppong faked a shot and smartly went around Fetterman to walk the ball into the goal and to tie the game 3-3.

The enjoyment was short lived for Alex Mihal and Buffalo City FC when a smart ball was played into Mike Share who went past Popovich and nutmegged Mihal to set up a easy tap in for Buffalo's Select forward Marlet and making the score 4-3.

Mihal furious with Popovich positioning would be again shortly disappointed when another loose ball was picked up by his Head Coach Mike Share, who drove the ball from the midfield looking to double their lead. Mihal went forward trying to close Share down and looking for Share to force the ball. Instead Share would shock the Buffalo City FC defender with a 25 yard shot in the top corner making the score 5-3 in the 35th minute.

Despite Buffalo Select team's lead a smart combination of quick plays would see Buffalo City come close on the score sheet.

But on the 40th minute a bad defensive mistake would see Herbert Deleon score Buffalo's fourth and complete his hatrick.

Buffalo Select Team would not be fazed by the goal when a few minutes later they doubled their lead when Scott brody got his third and the second hatrick of the game.
At half time the teams went in 6-4 to the Buffalo Select Team.

In the second half Buffalo City FC's absence of turning their possession into goals was very clear with many missed opportunities.

But Buffalo City FC stuck to their attacking principles throughout the second half and were rewarded with three goals in a 13 minute span, the first was scored in the 55th minute by Casey Derkacz who smartly curled the ball into the net from the left side.

The second goal was scored in the 62nd minute when a messy ball was not cleared in the box and fell to Buffalo City FC's left back Jeffrey Taylor who fired the ball home to tie the game at 6-6.

The third goal which took the lead was scored by Judah Manetta in the 68th minute. Manetta played a quick one two with Oppong and drove into the box when he picked his corner and slotted to the left of the Buffalo select goalkeeper making the score 7-6 to Buffalo City FC.

Soon after, a bad cleared ball fell to Casey Derkacz who hit the ball from 18 yards out in the left hand corner a near copy of his first goal. The goal would make the score 8-6 in the 72nd minute.

Regardless of the score Buffalo Select team who played so well in the first half kept pressing late on in the game and stretched Buffalo's defence to be awarded a corner. From the resulting corner Share played a ball into Brody who calmly controlled the ball on the edge of the penalty box and chipped Buffalo's goalkeeper from 18 yards to make the score 8-7.

Time was running out for the Buffalo Select team and from a failed attack, Buffalo City FC pushed forward on the counter attack and were rewarded a penalty. From the resulting penalty Dominic Oppong stepped up and slotted the ball away to seal the game and make the score 9-7 for the home team.

With five minutes left the Buffalo Select team still pushing forward looking to score could not find the back of the net. Many of the attacks ended up with fouls on Mike Share who tried to carry the ball on three different occasions, but in the end Buffalo City FC closed the game's remaining minutes with a professional display and secured a win in the 16 goal thriller game which was a perfect end to what has been a great season.

Buffalo's Head Coach Mike Share praised both teams "I think everyone enjoyed the game, if they didn't then I am sure the team enjoyed kicking me every chance they had. I think although defensively neither team had a strong game, both teams game plan was very simple and that was attack at every chance".

Share added "I think the game was a perfect end to our season. The season has gone quick and we are already planning for next year. We will be looking to sign several more players and keep a good base of the players that we already have. Hopefully we will see a few players from our team in Europe in the next couple of weeks and months as this is our main aim as a club. A lot of money has been invested in this project and it is up to me to develop players for Europe, which I am 100% committed to, lastly I would like to thank all the fans that have supported us this season as we really appreciate your support."

Buffalo City FC: Loos, Mihal, Derkacz, Deleon, Taylor, Popovich, Oppong, Stencel, Wilson, Manetta, Dioup.

Buffalo Select Team: Fetterman, Grant, Josque, Schindler, Cavanaugh, Griffiths, Share, Grabowski, Alex, Marlet, Brody.

Buffalo City FC Goals: Deleon 10, 16, 40, Oppong 28, 85, Derkacz 55, 72, Taylor 62, Manetta 68.

Buffalo Select Goals: Marlet 12, 32, Brody 22, 25, 43, 75, Share 35,

Buffalo City FC's Man Of The Match: Herbert DeLeon.

Buffalo City Football Club is Buffalo's premier soccer organization since 2008. Combining a winning tradition on the pitch with a standard of excellence within the community, BCFC remains the height of achievement in professionally run sport. For more information please contact Stephen Brandt at sbrandt@buffalocityfc.com