In a huge game following the epic victory over Aliens, West United came to West Seneca Soccer Complex with a depleted lineup of only 12 players to face the powerhouse Blue Stars! Expectations before the game were to try and get a solid result and get out of the first half of the season at least in the top two in the division. The game proved to be another benchmark game for West United as they gave another historically top tier team an epic challenge.
The game actually started out pretty even with some nice spurts of possession by both teams but West United struck first with a great run by Adam Carl on the right side. His cross headed towards Ryan Acanfora on the back post drifted over Blue Stars goalkeeper Bill Littere and in to the net to take a 1-0 lead.
The game was slanted a touch in favor of Blue after that but the counter attack remained strong for west united and shortly after Jon Carter sent Ryan Acanfora on a 1 v 1 with the keeper but Littere made a great save denying Acanfora. The rest of the half the West United defense held strong and they ended the first half 1-0 up.
The second half opened up with another quick counter by West United but after that, possession slanted to perhaps 85-15 for the rest of the game in favor of Blue as West United packed it in and tried to hold on to the slim lead. Blue sent massive numbers forward and possessed clinically.
Blue's attempts to crack the middle were foiled time and time again by the West United back 4 of Grocott, Clancy, Doak, and Riley. After a while, Blue shifted there attack wide and started sending crosses in which were staved off by countless Grocott headers out of danger. By this point the fatigue was settling in for West united and they were collapsing further and further back.
With 13 minutes left Grocott took the ball on an aggressive run forward to try and shift fields and perhaps pop in a goal. This move proved to be fatal as Blue countered with precision, and for the first time were able to penetrate the middle with a perfect through ball from Dave Tredo that John Booz ran onto and finished into the net to bring the score level.
After this the pressure increased even more on the West United defense but they held on for a solid 1-1 draw against a very stacked Blue Stars squad. Overall leaving West United remaining at the top of the table for another week.
Once again kudos go out to the stalwart back four who stymied an incessant attack the whole game to secure the draw. Also, credit to the whole team as they remained organized and played smart for most of the game despite being severly undermanned.
Man of the match to Steve Grocott for leading the defense and being dominant in the back and Honorable mention to Brian Kalls who filled in at goalkeeper and was superb. Adam Carl deserves recognition as well for his hard work and for popping in another huge goal for West United.
On to CS Italia!
