by Alex Beilman, contributor
(Photo: Hickling Images)
FC Buffalo forward Romario Guscott has been all over the scoresheet.
The Blitzers have gone 3-1-1 in their last five league matches, and LIU Brooklyn striker Guscott has tallied one goal and three assists in the club’s last three.
Throw in a road goal in the Rust Belt Derby vs. Detroit, and Guscott has been involved in more goals than any other Blitzer.
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“It’s good having the goals. It’s the hard work paying off,” Guscott said. “We just keep grinding and we keep scoring more goals. We need that to get into the playoffs.”
The Jamaican-born, Bronx-bred striker was brought in for his offensive abilities, but, much like the team as a whole, he struggled to find his groove early. He’s found his form at a critical time, as the Blitzers make a push for the postseason.
“I’ve been focusing on my runs. I’ve been focusing on pressuring the back line and going at defenders, looking for connections with my teammates,” Guscott said. “It’s mostly focusing on my running. I am trying to find ways to create pressure in the back.”
FCB head coach Brendan Murphy has noticed the extra effort.
“He’s been grinding through. It comes down to his work rate and his mindset,” Murphy said. “He wants to make sure the team is successful. He wasn’t happy with certain things.”
Guscott’s work on the training ground and in games has caught the attention of both his coaching staff and fellow teammates.
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“He’s put himself in dangerous situations every game and we’ve started to capitalize on those,” Murphy said. “Against Cleveland, his work rate defensively was a factor in getting two of the goals we scored.
“We talk about it, we go over it on the video, and we show him certain situations. He’s also very coachable and receptive, and he’s willing to do what it takes to make sure the team is successful.”
His teammates have noticed, too. Here’s midfielder Jack Donaldson, one of only four players to appear in all eight NPSL games this season.
“Over the last couple of games, and we’ve worked on it training, we’re working on his runs and angling the ball so he doesn’t have to do as much running,” Donaldson said. “Over the last couple of weeks he’s been working a lot harder. You need that when you’re playing the 4-5-1 with the one striker up front. He’s put in good performances and hopefully he can keep that up.”
However, despite his early struggles, Guscott was never too concerned with his play. He’s always had confidence in his ability and his work ethic, and ensures that he stays on an even keel. With the team finally able to build connections, he believes they’ll be able to finish the season on a high note.
“I never try to put too much pressure on myself. It was the chemistry, it wasn’t flowing at the time,” Guscott said. “It’s finally going. The guys are working hard. We’re just trying to win games and move on to the playoffs and bigger and better things.”
