DEA Bedford Masters 2

Another very physical game for the DEA squad this past weekend. N. Reading had two armies of players on there team, and seemed to keep sending players onto the field in waves. A fairly non-productive 1st half managed to yield one goal for the DEA team. After driving hard into the opponents end, Jim McCall collided with the out coming N.R. Keeper who then deflected the ball over the end line. While the goalie got up and started complaining to the ref. McCall ran over to the the corner and provided a quick pass to Jeff Guild who snapped a nice shot into N. Readings goal. The team was still complaining, but the goal was awarded. The second half was clearly being controlled by DEA, but with several shot opportunities they did not manage to find the back of the net. While on the other side with a few chances, N. Reading managed to get one back in a similar fashion. A cross from the left wing was sent to the 12 yard line with keeper Jim Goddard coming out to make the save. Jim was just starting to get his hands on the ball when an oncoming forward drove his body through the ball and out of his hands before he could fully possess it. The game ended 1 - 1. The DEA squad has yet to fully jell this season, with players in and out each game and still feeling the effects of losing key defenders Jim Kellogg and Ray Lusinski, and having strong forward Nick Masci out on injured reserve. The talent is still there and the group needs to get their act together to get on track to win the remainder of their games. DEA is back home this weekend for a match with current leader Hurricane FC. This will be the test for DEA. They need to beat this Hurricane team if they expect to win the division. Game is at Sportsmans field at 10:30 AM. Lets show up to win the one.

DEA got back into the winning column this weekend with a good victory over the Spartons. Solid possession from the team at the get-go lead for a controlling effort from the Bedford squad. With 21 DEA players to chose from the Spar tons never had a chance. The first goal came from Jeff Guild. With the Spartons locked into their defensive end Jeff picked off a clearing ball, went in solo and found the back of the net on a strong strike. With the addition of Rob Easton at stopper the already solid defense only got better, maintaining possession and not allowing much to get through. The second goal came with Jim McCall driving into the left corner and a slew of DEA players charging the box. Jim placed a far post cross to Sean Kelly flying over everyone and getting a great header into the goal. The third goal started with John Guild back for his first game this season with a feed to Jim McCall beating a defender or two and cutting one into corner past the out coming keeper. The game started to get a little choppy with Mitch Green getting in small tussle with the very large Sparton forward, Mitch certainly held his ground. The Spartons managed to get one back in the second half, but DEA did not give in to the pressure. Jim Goddard once again came up big with a questionably on the line penalty kick call. The shooter didn't know Jim's track record of making the big saves, but once again James makes the right move to smother the shot saving yet another penalty kick. 3-1 DEA win. Notables: Mark Major with the huge negative vertical head ball on goal, just getting saved. Mark followed that up with a just missing diving header at mid field trying to stop a breakaway. Clearly 2 feet up in the air on the attempt. Bill Jean was all over the field showing great conditioning drawing lots of defenders with his cuts and runs, and was clearly in a wide open position to score on Jim's goal (although John Guild was very happy to receive the assist). Bruce Walsh also played very strong defensively, keeping several opportunities from getting to our keeper. Great showing. It must also be noted that the only goal by the Spartons came when the DEA GM showing up on the side lines with his Cuban National firing squad. The DEA team was clearly momentarily rattled. GM Note: Fine job troops. Extra rations this week for all. Next game is Sunday September 17th in North Reading as DEA takes on the Cobras at 10:30 AM at McGuire Field. Go to Locations for directions to the field. Tickets may be purchased at DEA Corporate Headquarters located in Manchester, NH or at the Cuban National Embassy in Ottawa, Canada: (613)563-0141.

DEA showed up for their first game of the new fall season moving up to D5 North, after completing 2 very successful prior seasons. Perhaps the team was a bit to confident, feeling that they had strengthened the roster with more depth and talent, but this did not show on the field this day. DEA had several key players missing for this 1st game, but this should be no excuse with the talent of this squad. The field was a very good size for a Ma. field, very suited to the DEA team, Arlington started with a quick goal in the first 5 minutes, and then with another 10 minutes later. It took most of the first half, but DEA started to gain a bit of possession and control the play, although the group remained scoreless going into the half. Knowing we are typically a second half team, we had plenty of confidence that this could be pulled back within reach in the second 45. The Pond Dogs again, got on the board with another goal, putting them up 3-0. Finally a bit of life for the DEA squad, opportunities started opening up, Jeff Guild had several shots on goal but none found the back of the net. George received a midfield pass in the penalty area only to get tripped up getting the PK. Jim McCall stepped up and knocked it high right corner past the big Pond Dog keeper (3 -1). The possession was gaining for DEA, when Jim McCall took the left side getting past a few defenders and within 5 yards of the keeper, cut a pass back into the waiting path of Stan, who 1st timed his shot beating the keeper (3-2). With this surge, the confidence was building, but that quickly changed with another Arlington goal getting some defensive communication issues stirred up with the DEA defenders and keeper Jim Goddard, allowing yet another goal to keep the pressure tightly gripping the DEA squad (4-2). Play continued with a nice pass down the left field line from Paul Cote to Jim McCall, who beat the last defender and took it to goal striking a curling far corner shot into the side netting past the keep (4-3). DEA feeling still in the game was quickly deflated when the final Arlington goal was put in, ending the game 5-3 in favor of the Pond Dogs. DEA will get it opportunity to get back at this group further in the season. On a positive note, Dave Crespo showed well in the mid-field and will help to strengthen that area, Mitch Green was back at sweeper and will need to solidify the hand full of new players that will surround him this season. We will consider this a valuable lesson and be fully prepared for the next game. This team knows what it takes to win in the long run. Until next time....... DEA is back in Bedford this weekend for their home opener against the North Shore Spartans at 10:30 AM following the DEA Over 30 game.

Follow the link to see who has been named to the DEA All-Time Squad. Each will receive an hand-blown crystal soccer boot from the world-renowed glass-blower, Simon Pearce. Congratulations to everyone honored.

The DEA Bedford Masters took home their second consecutive championship title in the NEOTH Soccer League yesterday morning in Stoneham. After knocking off the southern runner up, Newton Spurs, DEA advanced to the finals against the Marion-Mariners, the southern champs. This is the same team that DEA faced last fall in the finals. Ironically, the result was very much the same. DEA would come out on top with a win and in similar fashion to last season. It would be decided by PK's. In a very similar fashion, it would be the DEA Keeper, that would come up huge to save the day for DEA. DEA would show up in Stoneham ready to play. Jim Pellerin once again ate a bag of cookies on the ride down, but he convinced DEA management that he was game fit. The field was wet and very small, which does not usually play into Bedford's hands, or feet, well. It would be different on this day however, as DEA came out on fire. Taking control of the ball possession right off. Marion would come out chippy and chop a few of the DEA players right off. The referee would offer a yellow card to the Mariner star, Carlos Santos, in an effort to calm things down. In about the 10 minute, DEA Captain, Jim McCall would take a feed from Nick Masci into the corner. McCall would turn and hit a near impossible angle shot that would catch the post and find netting. Shortly after, McCall would take the ball down towards the corner. He would meg the Marion defender with a pass to Bill Jean. Bill would blast one towards the net. Nick Masci, would get up and deflect it into the net for a DEA 2-0 lead. Marion would really get chippy now. Carlos, who had a yellow already, would run DEA keeper, Jim Goddard, with a real cheap shot. This brought some colorful criticism from DEA GM, who was on hand. The referee would issue Dubois a yellow and the game would proceed. With minutes left in the half, Marion would get a PK on a hand ball in the area by DEA. The Mariners would sink the PK to close the scoring gap to one at the half. This was a huge momentum shift for Marion and they would come out on fire to start the second half. They would tie the score and go up by a goal as Bedford started to scramble. With about 20 minutes to play the score was still 3-2 in favor of Marion. Bedford started to turn things around with some very hard play. DEA would be awarded a free kick outside the area towards the left corner flag. It would be Captain Jim McCall that would take the restart. For the second time, Jim would hit a beautiful bender that would find only side netting. With the score tied, DEA felt a little more confident. Marion was determined to end this and with 10 minutes to play, they would score another goal to take the lead back, 4-3. Things were not looking good for DEA. But, they began once again to play very hard. In the waning minutes, Jim Kellogg would take a shot from about midfield. The ball was on target and with Nick Masci looming in front of the net, froze the Marion Keeper. Nick would leap up and deflect it into the net to tie the score at 4 a piece. On the other end, Jim Goddard would be forced to make a great save to keep the score knotted. The final whistle would blow and we would be going to PK's. DEA would pick the line up as would Marion for their first five shooters. DEA would win the chance to go first in the PK's. Jeff Guild would step up to the stripe and easily beat the keeper for DEA's first PK. Marion would come to the stripe and DEA Keeper, Goddard would set himself in the net. Jim was in a zone and this was his game to win. The kick would go to his left and he was there to save it. 1-0 DEA. Next, George would step up the stripe and calmly beat the Mariner keeper to his left. Marions turn. Again, Jim Goddard, like a cat, shot to his right to block the Marion PK. So it was 2-0 and things were looking dim for the Mariners. However, DEA would miss the next shot over the bar. But Goddard was not going to slip. He would dive to his right and block the shot from Marion's Carlos Santos. A little payback from his run in with Goddard earlier. Jim had saved an unheard of three PK's in a row. DEA was up again but would miss the net wide left this time. It was still 2-0 DEA. Marions fourth PK would just squeak into the left side of the net even though Goddard got a piece of it. It was Captain McCalls turn to shoot. Jim would set the ball and hammer it home to end the game for another DEA Championship. A very good game. DEA did not give up despite being down by a goal twice, late in the game. Mitch Green controlled the defense flanked by Steve Sarro, Mark Major and Bruce Walsh. This was tough as Marion had tallent up front. Nick Masci and Captain Jim McCall were both work horses at the midfield and they would keep DEA going when it would have been easier to give up. Bill Jean, Rick Plichta, Jim Kellogg, Cookie monster, Jim Pellerin, and Doug Wolfe would pick up the outsides. Up top was Brother Jeff Guild, George Wegricht and Stan Wisniewski running the Mariners all over. Everyone had a great game. But the man of the match has to go to Jim Goddard for saving the three PK's in a row. DEA Management was awarded a trophy and all the players received a championship Mug, which they immediately tried out. GREAT WIN FOR DEA.