DEA Bedford Masters 2

A (sort of) match report:-  by Steve Morgan
 
Sunday turned out to be a hard game for DEA 2 in more ways than one. The revised kick-off made for the first crispy start of the year and it was telling that even the referee made a sideways comment about the tufts of grass spoiling an otherwise thoroughly solid earthenware pitch.
 
DEA didn't seem to get much in the way of rub of this particularly limited green either. All five goals in the 4-1 reverse were somewhat unsatisfactory and a 0-0 draw could easily have been the result had the contest been played at the wider and more verdant Sportsman's field. Unfortunately, the bloody thing was played in Lowell.
 
Having said this, you make your own luck and, in general, the opposition did a far better job in controlling their passing and both closed down and moved as a unit and definitely outshot the visitors: The more often you shoot, the more likely you are to score.
 
"It is far more difficult to be simple than to be complicated."
John Rushkin

Curtis Harper manned the grill and kept things under control for the third half of this past Sundays game at Sportsman's Field.  Curtis is DEA's new Assistant Manager and he has filled the position admirably.   "Curtis is a key part of the DEA operation", said DEA's GM, Dale Dubois when asked about young Harper's roll.  "He is a good kid,  he does what ever we need him to do to make things run smoothly.  He was a great add this season."   Curtis had made it to almost every game for DEA this season.

DEA may have blown their chances at promotion by levelling with Groton and going over the yellow-card point marker in the process.  DEA came into the game with 15 points through 7 games.  By game's end, after accumulating three more cards in the disapointing tie, they now sit at 14 points.  Irish Village beat NS Internationals, 5-3, giving them 14 points on the year.  DEA loses the tie-breaker to Irish, as they lost both of their matches.  For DEA to be promoted now, they must hope for an Irish slip-up either next week when they travel to cellar-dwellers Peabody or in their finale against two-win Westford.  Unlikely as it seems, DEA does hold a glimmer of hope as Irish has only levelled with these two squads earlier in the year.  Oh, and it would be beneficial for DEA to win their last two games and to behave in the process.

With a full, 100% attendance for today's game, DEA had problems getting into the flow and creating any continuity in the action.  To make matters worse, DEA found themselves down a goal ten minutes into the match.

When Groton crossed a couple of players, an outside midfielder was left open to latch onto a long through-ball.  DEA keeper Doug Henion hesitated to come out, before committing too late.  He was caught between mindsets and Groton was staked to an early 1-0 lead.

The subsitutions started flowing, and the match dissolved into a series of giveaways.  Good tackles were whistled dead.   Dissent was running rampid.  DEA was lacking the link-up in the final third.  They did secure a good opportunity at the mid-way point of the half when Jeff Bailey's corner kick whistled toward the front post.  Steve Bicknell's toe-poke from close range clanged off the post before being cleared.

The dissent then gave DEA a break.  After two fouls within ten minutes of each other, Groton's Simon Ditchman threw temper tantrums after each.  First shown a yellow, he was sent off with five minutes left in the half with his second yellow.  DEA could now hope to get on track in the second half against a ten-man Groton squad.

They did break through in the 60th minute when Scott Sharby's long throw-in to the short post was flicked on by Jeff Bailey.  Jim Walker was on the receiving end where he volleyed home from close range and DEA was finally level.

In the 73rd minute, Walker dug a ball out of the corner before laying off to Ed Ivanez, parked 14 yards from goal.  Eddie hammered a one-time drive toward goal, but Groton keeper Jeremy Mordkoff punched it over the bar in a fine save.

Three minutes later,  Bic's through ball sprung sprung Bailey.  His defender pushed him outside a bit, where he pushed his shot just wide of the post.

As the cards accumulated for DEA, they knew that at this point a tie was not much better than a loss, so they threw caution to the wind and left the backs out to dry.  Jim Eilenberger, coming on as a second-half substitute, then made a beautiful save to parry a shot wide that was destined for the upper corner. 

Time ran down, and DEA knew they dug themselves a hole.  They actually lost points on the day.  No longer having their destiny in their own hands, DEA must now get back on track and keep an eye on the scoreboard as well.  If a tie is like kissing your sister, that must be one ugly sister.

DEA travels to current 3rd place team NS Internationals next week.  DEA must win this game to keep their title hopes alive.

 

DEA weathered the hiccup last week and came out flying against Westford.  DEA started early and never let up while pasting Westford 4-0 to keep their hold on 1st place.  The afternoon results showed Groton beating the Irish, meaning DEA is back in front of NS Internationals by two-points; the Irish by four.

DEA dominated possession nearly the entire match.  Sportsman's Field was well cared for, with a proper mow before the match and the field lined for a wide pitch.  This fell right into DEA's hands.

At the 15-minute mark, industrious efforts by Jeff Guild and Jim Walker on the right flank allowed Walker to skate along the touchline unemcumbered.  Walker selfishlessly fed Jim McCall, who was alone four yards from goal.  McCall easily touched home from close range and DEA was off to an early 1-0 lead.

Controversy errupted on DEA's second goal.  When team patriarch Dale Dubois launched a left-footed cannon from 40 yards out,  Westford's keeper became pre-occupied with Scott Sharby inside the area.  Initially, the goal was given to Dubois as it appeared Sharby didn't get a foot to it.  However, the Dubious Goal Review confirmed that Sharby did get a touch to it and was awarded the goal.  Either way, it launched DEA into a 2-0 halftime lead.

Early in the second half, another pretty passing display saw McCall loft a cross into the box where Walker rose to meet it.  He flicked past his defender where Steve Bicknell was waiting to head home from close range to give DEA a commanding lead.

McCall would close out the scoring, and take over the goal-scoring lead from Walker at the same time, when he finished late for the 4-0 final.

DEA plays host to Groton next week.  With the current standings showing DEA with a close, two-point lead over NS Internationals, DEA must avoid a 'trap game' next week ast it travels to NS the following week.  NS travels to the Irish next week.  With DEA in front of NS by two, and NS in front of the Irish by two, whoever loses that game next week will see their title chances dealt a death blow.  The only remaining X-factor is that both NS & DEA are in card-point trouble, with each team sporting 8 points with three matches left.