The Galveston Pirate SC cruised to a 7-0 victory in the HFA Memorial Cup on Sunday 16th October with a nice spread of goals throughout the side that pleased the watching coach.

Two goals from Alvarez and singles from Hutson, Carrillo, Castro, McNair and one from new boy Shinde completed a good all round performance from the side that just secured a NPSL franchise for season 2012.

Although Forza Elite sit some four divisions below the Galveston side but Coach Brendan Keyes wasn't about to take things lightly and wanted the win, in this, the teams inaugural year in the competition.

The scoring started just three minutes in after a slick passing move from Shinde to Hutson whose great ball found Alvarez to give his side an early lead.

Hutson was also involved for the second on the 20 minute mark but this time it was all about him as his solo effort from 20 yards out made it two and put the Pirates on cruise control.

Galveston were playing the ball around very well and at this point of the match Forza Elite couldn't get the ball off the much improved Pirate side and just two minutes prior to the side added a third goal with Alvarez scoring his second of the game from just inside the box.

After some hearty words from Coach Keyes at the half time interval, the Pirate players continued in the same vain as they had ended the first with most of the play being controlled by them, in particular young Indian player Pratik Shinde.

The young player was beginning to put his stamp on the game with some neat passing moves between him and Vela who was making his return for the Pirates.

Goal number four was never far away and once again it was from the slick passing that the Pirate side were putting on show.

This time it was Aguirre that found Castro down the right wing before Castro played a nice one two with Shinde before he finished off what was the best move of the game with a superb shot low into the right hand corner. 

At this point it was just a matter of how many goals would be scored by the end of the 90 minutes and the Pirates added a fifth just two minutes later when Oscar Carrillo unleashed a great shot from 20 yards out into the top corner.

The game was all but over in terms of a competition at this point and the players seemed desperate to get the new boy Shinde on the score sheet.

On the 69th minute they achieved that goal much to the delight of everyone watching as young Shinde received the ball from Jose Reyna on the edge of the box before turning his defender and placed a shot with the inside of his boot into the bottom right hand corner. 

It was a great moment for the lad from Mumbai, India and you could tell everyone was happy for him. 

Captain RJ McNair rounded off a great display of football from the Pirates with his own solo run from the back to score only his second goal for the team in two years of play for them to make the final score 7-0. 

Afterwards Coach Brendan Keyes said:"It was great to see RJ get a goal today, he is the team leader and he deserved it. When he goes on those long runs, it's very hard to catch him because when he gets going he's like a thoroughbred racehorse!"

Carrying on he said:"We played some great football today and having Jorge Vela back in the team really helped us, it also allows Pratik to get forward more often."

Speaking of his new protege he said:"I am so happy for Pratik, it was a great performance from him especially in the second half after I gave him some good old fashioned verbal persuasion during the break."

Pratik Shinde who was making his competitive starting debut for the side also spoke after the match:"The guys on the team have been fantastic to me and at half time the coach gave me some harsh words so I knew I had to lift my game in the second half. I believe I did and this first goal is for my family and friends back home, oh, and also for coach Keyes." he smiled.