DEA Bedford Masters 2

DEA took to the pitch with a revamped roster, but it was their albatross, Irish Village, who spoiled Opening Day with a 2-1 victory at Sportsman's Field.

With Sportsman's Field all painted and with the celebatory buntings on the fences, the crowd was anticipating quite a show.  After the pre-game festivities wound down that saw Johann Cruyff kick out the first ball along with the National Anthem sung by Alicia Keys, the match was under way under intense media presence.

With interest in the DEA franchise at an all-time high, our Fearless Leader Dale Dubois put another squad in Division 6.  Since the original Master franchise was in Division 3, and hoping to continue their climb, the idea was that the cream of the crop was fit and ready to play.

Irish Village, however, were content to play the part of spoilers after their long ride from Roxbury.  A slick passing team, the Irish held a majority of possesion throughout the game as they patiently picked through the DEA squadron.  However, the DEA backfield tandem of Dubois and Rob Easton held strong to thwart any forays deep into DEA territory in the early going.

Offensively, DEA was beginning to get a feel for each other's talents as they only streamed through on occasion.  The first chance came at the 15 minute mark when Jim McCall fed Scott Sharby on the left side.  Sharby scorched a left-footed drive well wide in the best chance for either side in the early going.

One mix-up in the back allowed for Irish's talisman, a bald-headed stopper wearing #5 who oozes class on the pitch, to slip free.  With DEA keeper Chris Cloutier, recently "promoted" from the Over-30's squad late to close in, the Irish fired a shot off the post before the rebound was pushed woefully wide.

DEA came right back to take the lead with some impressive passing.  First, Cloutier came off his line to snare a corner and fed McCall into space.  McCall rifled a long pass to Johnnie Guild on the right side.  Guild weaved his way to the corner before sending a dangerous cross into the area.  With Ed Ibanez late to arrive, McCall came back into the play and slammed home from close range to give DEA a 1-0 lead.

Jeff Bailey then made his appearance for DEA, another recent addition from the Over-30's, and his skill was quickly evident.  Roaming throughout the pitch, Bailey found himself free and nodded home from close range to seemingly give DEA a 2-0 lead at the mid-way point of the 1st half.  However, Bailey's slick move was too quick for the ref and he missed the call completely and called him off-sides.  The call would prove big by game's end.

Not five minutes later, the Irish sent a cross into the box where a player was leaning on Woody Harper.  As his feet went out from underneath him, Harper stepped aside and the Irish fell to the pitch.  The ref hesitated, then pointed to the spot.  The Irish made no doubt on the PK and Cloutier had no chance as it found side webbing to make it 1-1.

While possession was generally held by the Irish, overall play had been pretty even as DEA was countering and creating the better of the opportunities to that point.  Up to that point, indeed.  The last ten minutes saw DEA scrambling to go into the half level.  First, Cloutier slid out to force a corner.  On the resulting corner, a dangerous ball filtered through the box where Mike Robichaud came off his line to head away.  The rebound was hammered back at him, where  Robichaud again cleared off the line impressively as DEA was thankful for the halftime whistle.

Second half saw a rough first five minutes, and Irish take the lead for good.  With a goalie change, another newcomer Doug Henion manned the pipes and his first opportunity to impress didn't work as planned.  When a spin-and-dip floater was crossed into the box, Doug's hesitated only briefly before heading to the backpost.  Unfortunately, it was enough as it softly fell into the webbing.

DEA was now down, but not out.  Again, the Irish held possession, but DEA created the chances.  With Bailey schooling defenders down the right side, he crossed into the box where Ibanez misplayed a bad hop and shot wide.  Five minutes later, another cross into the box saw Ibanez looking to head home from close range.  However, a high-boot up around his eyebrows saw it go clear and the ref pulled an "ostrich" and waved the play on.

Henion was called upon to make two saves to keep it a one-goal margin.  As the match wore on, the feeling of doom began to take over the squad.  DEA could not break down the Irish defense and their searching for the leveller went unheeded.

With 9 new players on the squad, DEA Management can afford to give a mulligan on this game as there was a lack of familiarity on the pitch.  That excuse can be used only once, and DEA will have to improve next week when they travel to Westford to take on the Grey Goats.