DEA Bedford Masters 2

DEA may have blown their chances at promotion by levelling with Groton and going over the yellow-card point marker in the process.  DEA came into the game with 15 points through 7 games.  By game's end, after accumulating three more cards in the disapointing tie, they now sit at 14 points.  Irish Village beat NS Internationals, 5-3, giving them 14 points on the year.  DEA loses the tie-breaker to Irish, as they lost both of their matches.  For DEA to be promoted now, they must hope for an Irish slip-up either next week when they travel to cellar-dwellers Peabody or in their finale against two-win Westford.  Unlikely as it seems, DEA does hold a glimmer of hope as Irish has only levelled with these two squads earlier in the year.  Oh, and it would be beneficial for DEA to win their last two games and to behave in the process.

With a full, 100% attendance for today's game, DEA had problems getting into the flow and creating any continuity in the action.  To make matters worse, DEA found themselves down a goal ten minutes into the match.

When Groton crossed a couple of players, an outside midfielder was left open to latch onto a long through-ball.  DEA keeper Doug Henion hesitated to come out, before committing too late.  He was caught between mindsets and Groton was staked to an early 1-0 lead.

The subsitutions started flowing, and the match dissolved into a series of giveaways.  Good tackles were whistled dead.   Dissent was running rampid.  DEA was lacking the link-up in the final third.  They did secure a good opportunity at the mid-way point of the half when Jeff Bailey's corner kick whistled toward the front post.  Steve Bicknell's toe-poke from close range clanged off the post before being cleared.

The dissent then gave DEA a break.  After two fouls within ten minutes of each other, Groton's Simon Ditchman threw temper tantrums after each.  First shown a yellow, he was sent off with five minutes left in the half with his second yellow.  DEA could now hope to get on track in the second half against a ten-man Groton squad.

They did break through in the 60th minute when Scott Sharby's long throw-in to the short post was flicked on by Jeff Bailey.  Jim Walker was on the receiving end where he volleyed home from close range and DEA was finally level.

In the 73rd minute, Walker dug a ball out of the corner before laying off to Ed Ivanez, parked 14 yards from goal.  Eddie hammered a one-time drive toward goal, but Groton keeper Jeremy Mordkoff punched it over the bar in a fine save.

Three minutes later,  Bic's through ball sprung sprung Bailey.  His defender pushed him outside a bit, where he pushed his shot just wide of the post.

As the cards accumulated for DEA, they knew that at this point a tie was not much better than a loss, so they threw caution to the wind and left the backs out to dry.  Jim Eilenberger, coming on as a second-half substitute, then made a beautiful save to parry a shot wide that was destined for the upper corner. 

Time ran down, and DEA knew they dug themselves a hole.  They actually lost points on the day.  No longer having their destiny in their own hands, DEA must now get back on track and keep an eye on the scoreboard as well.  If a tie is like kissing your sister, that must be one ugly sister.

DEA travels to current 3rd place team NS Internationals next week.  DEA must win this game to keep their title hopes alive.