Monday October 1st, 2001
London Free
Press: Bit of Brilliance Goes for Nought
by Winnipeg Fury
Bit of brilliance goes for nought
By STEVE COAD, Free Press
Sports Reporter
Tyler Hemming was charging hard and running out of
real estate when he did something most mere mortals would consider impossible.
The 16-year-old Londoner stopped suddenly and hurled his body toward the
York Region Shooters goal, heading a perfectly struck pass from teammate Gentjan
Dervishi behind a startled Jack Brunino in the 54th minute for what appeared to
be London City's 3-2 go-ahead goal in yesterday's Canadian Professional Soccer
League curtain-closer for both teams at Cove Road field.
It was an
unparalleled bit of athleticism, a truly pretty play by Hemming, who is just
back from England where he made a splash during a two-week tryout with Grimbsy
Town of the English First Division.
It was everything you could ask for in
terms of excitement.
But it wasn't a goal, not one that counted. Linesman
Andre Jasinski of London signalled offside, negating Hemming's bit of
brilliance.
City never recovered, surrendering a goal two minutes later by
York's Robert Black and two more by Mathew Palleschi over the next 20 minutes in
a 5-2 loss.
"It was like a prick in a balloon," Harry Gauss, City's
technical director and general manager, said of the no-goal. "That was quite a
swing. Ours is called back and then, just like that, they score. Instead of
being up 3-2, we're down by that. That's just how our season has gone."
Asked about the play, Hemming smiled and said: "I wasn't offside."
Gauss
was less diplomatic, saying the call was made by "an official who looked like he
was asleep."
The loss means City finishes the season at 2-16-3, last in the
10-team league, while the Shooters end up one place higher at 4-15-3.
Hemming, in Grade 11 at Saunders secondary school, heads back to Grimsby
Town during the March school break and, if he signs, he'll go back for the long
term in June.
"They told me they're 80-90 per cent sure they'll offer me a
contract," said Hemming, who played three games with Grimsby Town's under-16
team and trained with the under-19s and the big team's reserves.
Hemming was
dominant at times yesterday, looking particularly good on a high, looping pass
that City striker Sandro Costantin of Wallaceburg collected and deposited for
the first of his two goals.
"(The CPSL) is a really good league. I've
enjoyed playing in it and I've learned everything," Hemming said. "It's been the
perfect place for me to play and keep my standards up."
YORK REGION 5,
LONDON 2
York goals: Robert Black and Mathew Palleschi, two each, and Mike
Mazza London goals: Sandro Costantin, two
.
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