9.2.07 Red Card and Red Faces

The Crusaders Carl Reynolds received a 20th minute red card with the score at 0-0 against Martin Methodist in Pulaski, TN on Saturday and Carey eventually dropped their second game of the season as the one man disadvantage took it's toll. On top from the start and even right after the sending-off, the Crusaders looked comfortable until a long shot from Simone Enrici found it's way past a static Sean Mapsen and into the visiting goal just minutes from the half-time whistle. The Crusaders looked visibly shaken and deflated by the goal and when they came out flat in the second period it took only three minutes for Fernando Barbeiro to double the home side's lead. Charles Hinds, Alan Naigeon and Ryan Wheelock came on as second half substitutes for Carey but couldn't change the flow of the game that was now tumbling out of reach. Stephen Hogan and Alan O'Connor added two more for the home team as the Crusaders conceded another four goals. "It was embarrassing in the end", said coach Boulton "the second half was the worst performance I have seen from a Carey team since I have been here. Their should be a lot of red faces until we put this result behind us and get on the winning track".

Boulton has been plagued by injuries to his young team and currently has senior starters Sean McNally and Carl Hollowed out with knee injuries, junior Scott McCulloch sidelined, starting So. Rick Beebe and freshmen Brendan Connolly and Mitchell Barker out. Fr. Joseph McNiell, So. Elliot Lewis, So. Josh Burnsed and Jr. Charles Hines all carried injuries into the game. "It has been an appalling slice of bad luck with so many injuries at the start of a season especially with so many new faces trying to fit together" explained Boulton "we have had no fewer than eleven players with long term injuries and seven or eight other's affected by knocks, sprains and strains".