DEA Bedford Over 30

Nine players showed for a home game against third-place Ipswich. That's right...NINE. Three players commited to being "IN", and failed to show. Ipswich, who hadn't travelled well all year, showed with three subs as they attempted to climb into the playoff chase. By the time the whistle blew, DEA had secured maybe their biggest victory in their long history of the OTHSL, while Ipswich had a long, frustrating ride home. Playing down a couple of players, DEA defended nicely in a zone and let Willie Mungere run wild up top. They were industrious with their attempts at goal, and compacted well in their own third. Elvis Zukovic had the first great chance fifteen minutes in. After receiving Willie's pass, Elvis' slicing run left a defender on his back and only the goalie to beat. He slipped his shot just wide, and DEA was worried that might have been their best chance. Back at the other end, a cross sent Ipswich in clear on the ride side. However, DEA keeper Chris Cloutier timed his charge well, and forced a shot that was saved and cleared away. When playing down players, you need to take advantage of the chances when they come, but you also need some luck and good goaltending. The luck came five minutes later, first when an Ipswich shot bounded off the crossbar, and then a few minutes later when a ripper from 20 yards hit the frame and went wide. Mungere then took an eerily similar shot at the other end, and it had the same result: post...but no netting. DEA had to be content to let Ipswich build-up, but the midfield trio of Chris Laberge, Jerrold White, and Elvis played tremendously. Jerrold in particular had an outstanding game, playing from corner to corner and end to end. Defensively, Cloutier was only called on to make a couple of saves due to the brick-wall backfield of Dale Dubois, Chris Florek, Chris Jones and Peter Cline. At halftime, DEA realized they didn't need to look at the parking lot any longer. Reinforcements were not going to arrive. Second half saw Ipswich start to play with a bit more urgency. Their efforts paid off when a PK was called against DEA. The call could have gone either way, but DEA wasn't getting any favors and certainly needed one there. Ipswiched finished and DEA was now down. Five minutes later, Ipswich made it 2-0 on a clear chance that Cloutier got a lot of, but not enough. Down by two goals and two players, this reporter began to pen the game report. It wasn't going to be pretty. Here's where DEA began to impart their will. Ipswich, who had not pressured DEA in the backfield all day, continued to lay off and let DEA dictate the pace. More and more, the pressure was at the far end of the airstrip. They finally broke through, and it was Elvis who took over the game. First, his restart from 20 yards out was nicely placed into the low far-side corner to bring it back to 2-1. At this point, DEA began to play even more confidently and Ipswich really laid off with the pressure. When Elvis skated from the corner, he found sweeper Florek charging through the middle unmarked. Flo took the pass and tossed it into the scrum. After the ball bounded around a bit, it found Cliney's feet...six yards out. His finish wasn't pretty, more of a shovel than a shot, but it was huge as DEA had levelled. Still with 20 minutes left, all thoughts of a draw were gone. At one time content to play level, DEA smelled blood. Elvis scorched home the winner with a screaming drive that everyone knew was in as soon as it left his foot. High and hard, it dipped after passing the keeper and DEA was now in the lead. Just like that, this game reporter ripped up and threw away his original report that was so scathing against the unattending, and instead concentrated on the efforts of those who were. Ipswich tried to get back into it, but DEA continued the lock down in their third. Cloutier had to make one save, but really this was all the backfield. First, Jonesie was eating his man alive on the right. Flo and Dale in the middle won ever ball. Cliney and Laberge on the left teamed to play a full containment. Nothing terribly threatening came, and that's how it ended. An incredibly smart game played by "THE NINE". DEA played to their numbers and strengths all game, and came home with the well-earned victory. They clinched at least a playoff spot with the win. Man of the Match has to go to Elvis with the two goals. However, there was an eight-way tie for second as everyone who laced their boots deserved a nod today. Third half was an easy one, as Ipswich didn't really want to hang after the tough loss. That's a long ride home after dropping a two-goal lead against a short-handed team. Give Ipswich some credit, as they played DEA close in both games this year, but this one has to hurt. DEA goes to Windham next week in a battle of heavyweights. Currently ahead by four points, DEA clinch first with at least a tie next week or a victory the following week. Best to get it out of the way early, however, as Windham has handed DEA their only blemish on the year. They are looking for some payback.