DEA Bedford Over 30

The Bedford Pacers couldn't hold on to a late 3-1 lead, and allowed Westford to come back and knot the match with a couple of late goals. The Pacers now stand 0-1-1 on the season. The Pacers dominated the first ten minutes of the game, and went ahead when Scott Sharby ripped an 18-yard blast off a Chris Laberge feed. Westford dominated the next 10 minutes, and knotted the match after a short corner kick and drive found the far side webbing past a screened Chris Cloutier in the Pacers' net. The Pacers would pick up the pace with the addition of some late arrivals. Sharby was fouled just outside the box creating a direct kick opportunity. Laberge had the honors, and his beautifully struck drive curled away from Westford's keeper and found the far corner. Pacers had their lead back at 2-1. The Pacers had a golden opportunity to get a two-goal cushion when George Wegricht linked up with Jon Cloutier. Jon's first instinct was to look for Laberge in the middle, but he instead turned, beat the sweeper, and had a step on the keeper. He was chopped down in the box, creating a penalty kick. Unfortunately, Sharby's PK attempt wasn't struck well, and plotted a course over the bar. The Pacers had a few more great opportunities to build on the lead before the halftime marker. Joe Correia's long cross to an open Jeff Guild was just awry, and Laberge's second direct kick (this time with his right foot) would bang off the crossbar. As time ran out in the first half, Westford's Graham Barrowman and Pacer's Rob Easton would bang head's, leaving both sprawled out on the pitch. Easton's head was split open, calling an end to the afternoon for him. The second half saw the game ebb and flow, with both sides managing to retain possession for great stretches. The Pacers would again create more opportunities, with Joe Correia and Jon Cloutier having the best chances for the insurance goal. Correia's open header would just slip by, and Jon Cloutier's semi-breakaway was stymied by Westford's keeper's toenail. Louie Correia would get the important insurance tally with a nicely taken 20-yard drive. Jon Cloutier and Laberge would get the helpers. As the match wore on past the 75-minute mark, Westford's constant pressure would start to pay off. First, Shane Kilmon dribbled through a maze of bodies to find himself with an open drive from 15 yards out. Pacer's Chris Cloutier would parry the shot over the bar, and the pressure was temporarily relieved. Temporarily relieved indeed, as their continued problems on corner kicks would haunt them again. Graham found himself unmarked on the ensuing kick and he headed it home to make it a one goal game. Westford would tie it up with under 5 minutes left when poor marking left more Westford bodies than Pacers bodies down the left side. Their shot was somewhat poorly taken, but it was neatly placed down low and slipped past a diving Cloutier for the tying score. Westford wasn't done, and had another opportunity in the dying seconds that Cloutier had to punch out, then watched as the rebound slip just by. The Pacers MUST do a better job on corner kicks, as they have given up 4 goals so far this year. Defending is a total team effort, and right now they aren't getting that. Playing strong matches for the Pacers were the previously mentioned Jon Cloutier (energy all over the field), Chris Laberge (1 goal and 2 assists), Dale Dubois (as usual), and Chris Florek (making his Pacers debut, he was a strong presence on the right side). The Pacers look for their first win of the season next Sunday at Lowell. Game time is 9:00. If anybody sees a real ref, can you send them by the field?