DEA Bedford Over 30

Bedford, NH.  Jon Cloutier Reporting

DEA is off to an impressive start to the fall season after drawing with Ipswich, beating Peabody, and today, they rolled over our newest member to Division one by a score of 3-0.  This game report has come to a halt because the reporter has severely cut his hand on a vegetable can.  Report will resume sometime after the bleeding stops. 

O.K., reporter is back.

After the opening kick, it would appear that DEA would have their work cut out for them, as newcomer LSC showed that they could possess the ball and put together some dangerous attacks is DEA teritory.  However, some of their best chances would result in a DEA goal kick.  Others would be broken down by the defense backed by field generals Dan Martin and Mike Martinez.  LSC would also find themselves not getting many calls in their favor, or, it would appear that way by the way they reacted to every call.  Mid-way through the first half, the ball would be spoted about 25 yds. out with Jerald the "King of Sting" White eyeing a shot at goal.  As the keeper moved to check his wall with the near post, Jerald would send a laser toward the far side upper corner.  LSC keeper would come across and make a huge save to keep the game scoreless.  DEA would keep up the pressure, however, and after a series of nice passing plays, they would earn themselves a corner kick.  Barry Fitzgerald would signal for the hit, and would drive one towards the 6 yd. marker, near post.  Scott Gagnon would get his head on it and nicely redirect the ball towards the far post.  Willie Mungere would  be there to greet it and help it over the line for a 1-0 DEA lead.  Minutes later, Gagnon would find himself on the goal line with the ball at his feet.  After his first attempt to miss the net failed, with a defender on his heels, he would be forced to send the ball home to make it a quick 2-0 lead for the DEA.  With 5 minutes to play in the half, the referee would blow his two whistles and call it halftime, and run to his car for some much needed medication as LSC was really putting the screws to him.

The 2nd half would begin with DEA putting together some nice attacks.  LSC would try to counter, but DEA would be there to win the 50/50's and breakdown the attack.   DEA would earn another corner and Fitzgerald would be there for the kick.  He would rip one just as he did during the first half and find the head of Gagnon once again.  Gagnon, after recalibrating his first half measurement, would redirect towards goal again.  This time, the ball seemed to accelerate off his head and quickly find it's way to the back of the net for a 3-0 DEA lead.  LSC was defenseless on the play, and Willie Mungere had no chance at stealing another one from Gagnon this time.  Minutes later Willie would get another chance from in close with nothing between him and goal.  Willie would strike to late with the wrong appendage, putting to little "topspin" on the ball, and would find himself making friends with LSC goalkeeper's BFF(crossbar).  With 23 minutes to play, well after the referee had lost control of LSC, Jerald would find himself tangled up with an LSC player.  As the LSC player approached, Jerald would let go a right hook that would not make it to it's intended destination.  The referee quickly would have  enough, and send both players off the pitch with the Red.  DEA would be able finish the game out keeping LSC off the scoreboard and maintain their first place lead in the standings with a +5 goal differential and just +1GD ahead of arch nemesis Seacoast United. 

Next week, DEA will look to hold on to the top spot as they bring it to Seacoast Sunday @10:00(EST) for what is listed as a Title Bout.

 Post Game Awards

 MVP, Team D- Scott Gagnon  - His 2 1/2 goals would be enough to secure the victory.  Team D was great and the 2nd shutout in three games is nice to see

Tiger - Tony Karibian -  On the second goal, TK would hustle back on defense, pass our midfield, help flo break up the attack, win the ball, make a fast break up field with speed, and distribute the ball which would on Gagnon's foot for an easy tap in.  Sorry I forgot to mention this great play in the write-up

STB- Willie Mungere - That miss from in close was tough to take.  Consult with Dale about finishing using other appendages

Hot Head  - Jerald White - Jerald's Red card was also tough to take.  You will be missed vs. Seacoast.  Let's keep it cool out there J, we need you on the pitch

DEA got off to a better start than in the past few season openers, Traveling down to Ipswich and earning a very tough away point!DEA started the game in typical fashion possessing the ball with pin point precession, knocking it all around the field and spreading out the Ipswich defense.  The majority of the attacks started down the right flank and ended with either a Fitzgerald cross or a nicely played through ball to either Gagnon or our new super striker Tim. Tim had a nice rip inside the box that just went wide of the post and Scott got free but the Ipswich GK smothered his bid for the opening goal. However just like a good team Ipswich weathered the storm.After 15 minutes of play Ipswich finally got their legs and play went back and forth for the rest of the 1^st half. Dan Martin, Jones, and FLO kept the Ipswich attackers at bay and besides a couple of crosses and some very long through balls Lucas did not have to do much work. The midfield anchored by Jerold and Elvis kept the pressure on Ipswich by holding the ball and disturbing to players making runs up the field.The second half started pretty much like the 1^st with DEA knocking the ball around with easy and finding both Willie and Scottie with nice through balls from the midfield. Just like the first half though the boy’s in Silver and Black were unable to put the ball in the old onion bag.The match shift though with about 20 minutes left. Ipswich who kept subbing vigorously started to wear down the DEA squad. Play all around the field broke down with DEA players just kicking the ball without a propose up the field. As DEA continued to break down Ipswich started to get good quality opportunities from the midfielders who were dribbling through and getting clean shots from 25-30 yards out and the strikers who were making runs to flanks and getting almost free crosses into the box. Through all of this DEA managed to hold their ground and not bend to the Ipswich attack. The game ended in a 0-0 tie, with neither side getting a card. That could just be that Ryan was not at the game! DEA is off for the next two weeks until Sept. 13 were they will play Peabody (The Portuguese Devil’s) at home (Sportsman Field) at 10 am.

Led by the midfield maestro, Peter Cline, DEA topped Peabody 4-2 on a picture-perfect morning at Sportsman's Field.  DEA, Hollis, and Seacoast are now in a 3-way tie for 2nd place with 3-2-1 records, six points behind table-leaders Ipswich.

 Cliney, playing in the center midfield, got DEA going at the 15-minute mark after taking a Willie Mungere pass and driving a shot home from 20 yards to give DEA a 1-0 lead.

DEA kept in pursuit of some insurance, with wave after wave of attempts at goal mostly started down the right flank which saw Barry Fitzgerald's pinpoint crosses to the box.  The last touch would go astray, with Ryan Carvalho's low shot the best of the numerous opportunities.

Peabody would level late in the half off a restart.  With keeper Lucas Hill screaming to get the defense to step up, they were slow to react.  The ensuing shot wormed through the crowd, where Lucas was caught between playing the pass -which it was- or the shot.  It didn't touch as soul and found the back of the net to level it at the half, 1-1.

Second half saw Willie, just back from a stint in the Witness Protection Program, causing problems with his energy.  It has been almost 18 months since Willie was playing this well, but it was a welcome return.  He would get the eventual game-winner when he rose to volley home another of Barry's crosses from 15 yards out close to the opening bell of the second half.

Cliney then set up Scott Gagnon with an acrobatic half-volley through ball in traffic that was pure artestry.  Gagnon finished off from close range to make it 3-1.

After Barry was taken down in the box after beating his man along the endline, Elvis took the PK and made no mistake by making it 4-1.

Peabody would pull one back to make it 4-2 late.  Lucas was then called upon to smother two drives to make sure it wouldn't get any closer.

DEA now has their toughest stretch of the season coming up.  They play away at Ipswich next week; then follow it up with back-to-back home games against Seacoast and Hollis.  If they continue to play as they did today, they will prove dangerous in the final month of the season.