DEA Bedford Over 30

DEA continued their fast start to Divsion 2 play with a convincing 6-0 home win against Westford. After a logistical nightmare had some little kids playing American football on our beloved soccer pitch, DEA had to reroute everyone to the Joppa Hill Fields. The fields were nice, a bit small, and DEA may be looking to utilize the facilities for future matches. After the delays in getting things ready, DEA found themselves with a very deep bench. First, DEA Management would like to thank everyone for forfeiting some minutes with so many subs. This was a rare occurance to see six subs on the crowded sideline. Teamwork allowed it to work. With Westford playing down a man, they held the possession in the early going. Westford was playing smart...attacking carefully, but trying to get an early goal then sit back and defend. Their efforts almost paid off ten minutes in. After the slippery sphere bounded toward Lucas Hill in the DEA goal, a quick bobble left a Westford player in clean. Lucas pounced at the ball, like a skinny cat on a fat mouse, and swallowed it up. After DEA dodged that early bullet, they went to work. However, the Westford goalie was playing outstanding. Twice he robbed DEA players with open looks. Once, Marco Koolman's shot was punched aside. A second attempt by Gary Duplessis was smartly handled. Would it be one of those matches where DEA was all over Westford, but would have nothing to show for it? After getting a goal called back for some typical DEA-chicanery, they came right back to start the barrage. First, Marco Koolman started the play in the corner. After dribbling by one player, he found Willie Mungere at the top of the six-yard box. Willie sliced a low skimmer into the short side past the screened goalie to make it 1-0. Five minutes after, Willie Davis sent in Duplessis. After beating the keeper to the ball, he chipped over him to make it 2-0. DEA kept pouring it on, and this time it was all Willie's. Willie Davis sprung Willie Mungere, and he doesn't miss these and the rout was on. DEA almost made it four-nil, but Elvis Zukovic's scorching shot clanged off the bar. After the half-time break, DEA went back to work. This time, it was Marco on a restart. The poorly constructed wall had evident holes in it. Marco hammered straight through, whistling by the keeper to put them up by four. Then, DEA got some fortunate breaks. First, Marco hammered a shot off the cross bar. As it rattled around, he gathered it back down low on the left side. His cross to Sharby was met by a Westford defender, but his clearance was mis-hit and went straight to Scott Sharby. Sharby ripped a short drive home for a five-nil lead. Duplessis got credit for the last goal, which was actually an own goal. After beating a man on the right side, he saw a lightning fast Barry Fitzgerald making a run to the back post. His cross was surely to be met by Fitzgerald, but the last defender tried to head it away. It instead found all net...an unlucky break but surely a tough play for any defender. Fitzgerald would have finished anyway. All that was left was to preserve the shutout for Lucas. They figured they may as well make him work for it. First, Lucas had to wallow down to the short post to push aside Graham's header. Next, his collision on a player in clean allowed for a rolling ball into the vacated net. It bounced off the post before being cleared by Peter Cline. Surely, a great start to the season for DEA. Already with 11 goals in two matches, they are the only team without a blemish after two matches. DEA next heads to Ipswich, owners of a 1-0-1 record and coming off a wild 4-4 draw with Windham.

DEA came out flying in Marblehead today, showing with two subs for a road game. Almost unheard of most years. After building a 3-0 halftime lead, DEA did lose interest late before hanging on for a 5-3 win. The field conditions were a bit tough. It was being mowed as warmups began, and was a bit squishy. Also, some rocket scientist lined the field a few days earlier in red. You could barely see the lines. It was the type of pitch that Stoneham would have refused to play on. After taking ten or so minutes to get their touch down, DEA poured in three goals in the next twenty minutes. Barry Fitzgerald and DEA rookie Willie Mungere's names were scattered all over the scoresheet. Fitzgerald got DEA's first goal of the season when his cross was pawed into the net by Marlbehead's keeper. Willie then finished off a similar play a few minutes later, this time Fitzgerald's cross slipped by the keeper and needed Willie to nuzzle it home. With DEA controlling play with a two-goal cushion, Willie found Elvis Zukovic on the left side. Elvis danced through traffic, slid to his right, and finally found the opening he was looking for. Elvis laced a low skimmer just inside the post, putting DEA up by three. (ed. note: This is correct, DEA had two subs and a three-goal lead on the road. They were definantly in uncharted territory now.) Not content to run out the clock just yet, Jerold White (making his O-30 debut, but a member of the indoor DEA team) launched a long pass to Kurt Englehart (another newbie, but a longtime member of the world-renowed DEA summer squad). Kurt turned, brushed aside his defender, and stormed down the middle. His defender managed to get Kurt entangled in his fishing net, and hauled him down. The ref could have gone with a red card, but took the easy way out and showed only a yellow. DEA looked to be in control when the halftime whistle blew, taking a drink with a three-goal lead. In typical DEA fashion, however, they didn't keep the hammer down and instead allowed Marblehead to make a game of it. First, a creative call against Chris Florek gave them a restart down low. The ensuing drive rattled around, before being pushed home to make it 3-1. DEA came right back down, and restored the margin with their most creative goal of the game. First, Dale Dubois sent Chris Laberge in on the right side with a great through ball. Laberge took a touch, and dished it across to Willie. Willie got into a hornet's nest, and had to work himself free. He found Peter Cline storming down through the box, where Cliney slammed home a short drive. Not to be outdone, Adil Nmili of Marblehead, vocal in at least two different languages, shoved Flo to the ground, and snuck in a short side shot to make it 4-2. After Kurt won a header, a Marblehead defender went down holding both his eye and his knee. DEA, already on a chance and with the prone defender out of the play anyway, continued to attack. Marblehead complained about the perceived unsporting nature of hte act. The ref made up an offsides call, blowing the play dead. After a fifteeen minute break to cart the injured player off, where he was eventually given a ride in an ambulance, Marblehead went back to work. Not five minutes later, another Marblehead player went down. As he writhed in mythical pain, DEA stopped...assuming the ball would be played out to address this clearly critically injured player. Marblehead took advantage, waltzed through a half-hearted defence, and finished off to make it 4-3. Ay-yi-yi...it was down to a one-goal game. When questioned why they didn't stop when their own player was down, they replied "That a**hole? We'd never stop for him". Actually, it was pretty funny. Not too worry, a DEA fast break found Willie again...and again he finished off his second goal of the game to put the icing on the cake. 5-3 was your final. Dubois, wearing his Chief Recruitment Officer hat over the summer, looks to have secured a solid team this year. Along with the same talented cast of characters that can always be counted on (Dale, Laberge, Florek, Cliney, Elvis, Barry, and Chris & Jon Cloutier), there are some solid rookies. In addition to the newbies already mentioned (Jerold, Willie, and Kurt), DEA also saw Chris Jones and Mike Friedin make strong debuts. DEA is back in two weeks, with the break for Labor Day on the menu next week. They will take on Westford, who will be ARRIVING for an 8:30 game at Sportsman's.

DEA's first foray into Division 1 was short-lived. Their 1-9 record was easily the worst in their history, and honestly they didn't play well enough to stay in the upper echelons of the OTHSL. The competition was better, and each defensive mistake by DEA seemed to result in the opposition putting one in the back of the net. Offensively, chances were few and far between. The good looks that they did generate weren't met with the quality needed to finish. After dropping the last match of the year to Pepperell, when only a tie would suffice, DEA kept their head's high while drowning their sorrows. They now know what it takes to compete with the Big Boys, and promised to be back within the year. DEA Management had a tough year overall. The offseason recruiting seemed to bring commitments from some quality players, but there where just too many players with "OUT" next to their names when it was gametime. With teams like Hollis hoarding all the players, DEA has to look into new markets to freshen up the squad. What DEA can offer any interested player is a lot of minutes and a nice cold beer after the game. Right now, being in Division 2 will hinder some of the efforts. Management remains undaunted in their efforts to gather up 20 or so committed, good players who love the game, want to win, and can drink like sieves. This is a rare combination, but CEO/President Dale Dubois is always on the lookout for this rather unique skillset. On the "DEAs" (Named the Dubois Entertainment Awards, similiar to the ESPYs) Offensive Player of the Year: Jeff Bailey. Bailey won his fifth award. Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Florek. That's three straight for 'Flo Goal of the Year: Bailey's 50-drive on the restart after Pepperell took a lead. Knocked the wind out of their sails with that one. Goalie of the Year: Lucas Hill. That's two-straight for Lucas since he has come onboard with the squad. Third Half of the Year: Ipswich. DEA battled fresh fruit, wine, cheese and two Crock Pots to outlast the classy Ipswich squad. Not even a cold drizzle could keep DEA from bowing out early. Thank goodness for that 'Magic Cooler'. Fan(s) of the Year: The Laberge clan made the most games, with Rob Cissel's kids in a close second.

Needing to win one of their last three games ensure staying with the Big Boys in Division 1, DEA instead fell apart in losing all the games by a combined score of 14-5 after losing to Pepperell 3-0. DEA finished the season at 1-9, easily the worst mark in their history. DEA took control of the match, creating a majority of the chances and holding possession in the opening minutes. However, all their efforts were slowed by the high grass, and their final buildup inside the area wasn't quite there. Pepperell had the first clear opportunity off a corner. Pepperell won the header, but the ball bounced around between Chris Cloutier, Dale Dubois of DEA and John LeBlanc, Paul Murphy of Pepperell. It was eventually cleared and DEA had dodged a bullet. They weren't so lucky by the 30th minute, however. On a Reyad Mahmoud restart, he chipped in a perfect serve just inside the area. LeBlanc won the header, and it lofted over Cloutier to get the scoring going. After a missed call that saw Gary DuPlessis chopped down just outside the area, Pepperell countered and stormed down the right side. Biju Kachappilly sent a strong drive from about 40 yards out. Cloutier, who has problems with the long shots in the past, parried this one over the bar with Murphy all over him. The match would go into the half with DEA desperate for some offense. Second half saw much of the same. DEA possessing, but giving up yards on the counter. Dan Martin sent a header just over the bar, and Peter Cline ripped a shot wide. Halfway through the second half, a giveaway by DEA in their own end sealed their fate. Mahmoud stole a clearance, beat a man, and walked in free. He finished calmly and Pepperell had the insurance tally. They would get another late to close it out, but this match was already over. DEA is being sent down to Division 2 to regroup (happy Dino??). Now that they know the level of play in Division 1, they are determined to regroup and take a long look at their roster. Numbers were a problem all season, and with the quality at Division 1 it did catch up to them. They easily could have won an additional 2-3 games, but the bottom line is they didn't and for the first time in their history, they are taking a step back. Look for the end of the year recap in the coming days. Thanks to everyone who made the effort this year.

Unfortunately, it was a defensive implosion and a goaltending nightmare as Hollis whipped DEA 7-3. To show the disparity, both teams tied their season's game-high for goals scored in the match. I got nothing more to add.