@ Blue Crab Utd (L 2-1)
| Date: | Saturday, April 21st 2007 |
|---|---|
| Time: | noon |
| Location: | State Championships, Summerville, SC |
Match Report:
************************Myrtle Beach Sports Report*************************
RED ARMY GOES DOWN AT STATES WITH A FIGHTING SPIRIT
FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
Myrtle Beach, SC
In consideration that it was their first time at the “Big Show” the U12 Coast FA Boys Black aka “The Red Army” fought hard at the South Carolina State Championships in Summerville this past weekend. Two losses, one against eventual state champs Florence Firebolts, prevented any upset by the underdog Coast FA team that keeps getting better and better each week.
Joyed by strong performances in the league play the previous weekend, the “Red Army” fancied their chances of a good run in the state tourney. With a peculiar divisional bracket of seven teams, the boys where left with no margin for error. Their first game and first encounter with Blue Crab United from Beaufort proved to be a snappy affair. A flustered Coach Robinson arrived late to the warm-up with all three goalkeepers in tow. A distinct lack of visible road signs suggested that a conspiracy theory maybe at work to try and trick the coach and players into thinking that the fields were on the outskirts of Walterboro instead. However, Robinson had enough time to give the pre-game talk after Asst. Coach Keith “Cold Stone” Sterling had put the team through their warm-up. None of the pre-game disruption affected the team as Coast FA took the lead early on with Huggins bundling through the middle of the Blue Crab defense and firing past the keeper. It all seemed too easy in the first few minutes. Blue Crab, coached by fellow countryman of Robinson (but clearly Americanized with a straw hat and jean shorts) gave his team a jolt with some persistent yelling and BCU picked their work rate. Coast FA defended well on the flanks, but the same problems that arose in Florence a few weeks prior, came back to haunt them. On two plays BCU players were allowed to capitalize on a long ball down the middle and stick it in the back of the net without Coast FA managing to make a determined tackle. The second half saw CFA fight back and drew level with a well-executed pass from Huggins on the left side put JT Cuomo through to beat the keeper to the ball and side foot into the goal. CFA took the momentum of the game and applied heavy pressure to the BCU goal. Clear chances from Caswell, Wylie and Mende all failed to find the back of net as CFA pushed for the win. Then with just minutes left on the clock, the ball broke free down the left flank for BCU. The BCU player managed to evade two challenges before sliding the ball underneath the approaching Greene at the front post. With little time remaining, CFA were unable to pull anything back and were left kicking themselves on spurned opportunities.