DEA Bedford Over 30

DEA let a two-goal lead disappear and allowed Hollis to level late (OFFSIDES!).  First half goals by Chris Laberge and a PK by Elvis Zukovic were wasted as DEA "lost" this one, 2-2, dropping their season record to 1-2-1.

 DEA held possession for much of the first half (OFFSIDES!) and got on the board midway through by goal-scoring savant Chris Laberge.  Moments after entering the match, Laberge took Elvis' feed and stormed in clean on the right side.  He beat Hollis' mammoth keeper (OFFISIDES!) cleanly to get DEA started.  Nice way to make an appearance.

With Pepperell parolee Reyad manning the center midfield for Hollis (OFFISIDES!), they began to possess much better.  With Brendan Gilmartin creating havoc up front, Hollis pushed to get back level.  However, again Jerold "Crash" White, Chris Florek, Jon Cloutier and Chris Jones kept most chances at bay.  One clean break (OFFSIDES!) by Hollis created a low drive that fill-in keeper Chris Cloutier palmed aside down low.

DEA kept winning the midfield balls, with Ryan Carvalho and Barry Fitzgerald springing the offensive trio of Willie Mungere, Laberge, and Gary DuPlessis free (OFFSIDES!).  One clean chance for Laberge was blown dead on another mythical "OFFISIDES!" call by the ref...tethered to the center circle.

With under fifteen minutes left in the half, DuPlessis tried to get onto Willie's pass and was late to the play.  As the keeper settled, a Hollis defender (OFFISIDES!) stupidly shoved DuPlessis to the pitch.  A stupid, needless foul that resulted in a penalty kick.  After much griping, Hollis keeper tried to play mind games with Elvis by asking "Are you going to pass it to me, since you know it wasn't a foul?  Or, are you shooting?  Just tell me, Elvis."  Elvis ignored him and calmly ripped home his try to make it 2-0 (OFFSIDES!).  This was a tough call.  The keeper already had the ball, but when you needlessly shove a player to the pitch in the area, you are taking chances.  DEA got a break (OFFISIDES!) on this one.

Early in the second half, DEA looked to ice this one.  After two attempt to spring Willie (OFFISIDES!) were creatively whistled dead, Reyad was put in on the left side.  Jerold bottled him up, and Reyad's pass deflected off Sean Whisby.  The fortunate bounce put Reyad through (OFFISIDES!) and the ref, screened, blind, lost, whatever, missed it and Reyad was free.  He ripped a low drive that Cloutier gloved, but not enough and momentum was now (OFFISIDES!) on Hollis' side.

Not content to give up, however, DEA kept playing and tried for the quick counter as Hollis (OFFISIDES!) gamed more possession.  Good chances by Willie and Elvis went for naught.  Then, pure crap allowed Hollis (OFFSIDES!) to level.

Ivan Iwannabuyavowel took a throw in and lined up one of his patented left-footed scorchers.  He drove it directly at Cloutier, who somehow missed it and watched it go right through his hands and Hollis (OFFISIDES!) had come all the way back.  A frustrating goal to give up, indeed.

 That is how it would end.  DEA put on a show for the 3rd half.  With beer, hot dogs, steak tips, dancing girls, farm animals, rides, and an air show highlighted by two F-18's doing flyovers, DEA proved that win, lose, or draw, they know how to enjoy the game of soccer.  In an added benefit, they even got to watch the DEA Masters upend their rival, Irish Village, 2-1 on this beautiful sunny afternoon.