DEA Bedford Over 30

DEA recorded the first Division 1 victory in their franchise history, bettering Pepperell 3-1. DEA leapfrogged Pepperell, climbing out of last place and leaving Pepperell in the bottom slot. The match was also DEA's first home game of the year, and kept their unbeaten home string alive at six games. Also making their season debuts were goalkeeper Lucas Hill and all time O-30 franchise leading scorer Jeff Bailey. Both made huge impacts in the game. Pepperell held most of the first half action, playing with the strong wind, they created a majority of the scoring chances. DEA got a break on a couple very close offsides calls, and Lucas gobbled up anything else inside the area. DEA had one great chance, when Elvis Zukovic tore into a drive that Pepperell keeper John Zuzenak leaped to punch. He didn't get much of it, but just enough as it slammed off the crossbar and out of harms way. DEA began to play better later in the half, but had to be content with a 0-0 result heading into the lockeroom. Second half saw play continue to even out. DEA were again led by the combination of Chris Florek and Dale Dubois in the back. Elvis played a stong match in the midfield, having the unnerving task of tracking Pepperell leader Reyad Mahmoud while also leading the charges into the offensive third. Willie Davis juggled between midfield and on the front lines, and he played with passion. Pepperell finally broke the deadlock in the 55th minute. Big forward Kevin Chevalier, a pain to handle all game, scored on a nifty drive of 12 yards that had Lucas only resonding with an "Oh, sh**" as the Dale's new $100 2006 FIFA Official World Cup Ball settled softly into the far webbing. This was a big goal, as the loser of this match must know it will be a tough go to stay in the upper echelon. DEA responded amazingly. Bailey stood at attention on the restart at the midfield stripe. Just before the whistle, Bailey cooly noted Zuzenak off his line 12 yards from goal. Discreetly, he whipped out the protractor, a ran some quick formulas through the abicus, and furiously jotted a few notes. The whistle blew, and Bailey uncorked a beauty. Knuckling, it caught the airstream and launched toward goal. Zuzenak scrambled to get back, tried to parry the drive over the bar, but it instead tucked in under and DEA had levelled. Yes, after almost an hour of deadlocked soccer, Pepperell had held the lead for FOUR SECONDS. DEA now had momentum. The sugar high Pepperell had, and ensuing crash, had to be heartbreaking. They did muster one more opportunity, with John Leblanc's hard shot from the right side punched aside by Lucas. This was a game saver, as it looked destined for the corner. DEA then put the game away. Gary DuPlessis set up the next two goal within five minutes to seal the match. On the eventual winner, DuPlessis sprung Bailey steaming down the right side. His perfectly slotted pass allowed Bailey in clean. He doesn't miss these, and within being on the pitch for 25 minutes he had already personally equalled the goal output this season for the entire team. After settling Lucas' long punt, DuPlessis saw Mark Walinsky in similar space as Bailey just was. Walinsky was in clean, and after rattling around the keeper he potted his first DEA goal and a nail in Pepperell's coffin. Lots of time remained, but this was essentially "G.O., Baby." With the win, DEA climbs to 1-3. Each match has seen them drop their goals against from four, to three, to two, and finally to just the one today. The help that Peter Cline, John Demeritt, Jon Cloutier, and Chris Laberge provide on the flanks was immeasurable. DEA has been playing much tighter in the back, and today it showed. Look for DEA to try to make it two in a row next week in a rematch with Seacost. Currently middle-of-the-road at 2-2-0 on the year, Seacoast rudely welcomed DEA to Division 1 in week one. DEA is playing like a different team, and with a win next week will bring themself level with Seacoast in the standings. GREAT WIN DEA!!

The Fan of the Year battle is off and running. Heather Hill, wife of Lucas Hill and the Defending Champ, hasn't made an appearance yet. The Laberge clan already has two games under their belts, so they have an early lead. However, when you have a following like DEA-Bedford SC, fans tend to crop up all over the place. Some camp out for weeks in advance of matches to ensure good seating. Others buy them drinks out at the bars after matches. Others, like this young lass, send in pictures to Management to try to sway the voting. This is encouraged ;-)

Hollis United dropped DEA to 0-3 on the season this morning, as DEA couldn't hang on to a 1-0 halftime lead. The Hollis pitch was in excellent shape, the grass appeared to have been recently shaved it was so short. Both squads were ready for this much anticipated matchup, and came ready to play. Hollis took control from the start, sending Sean Wisby through numerous times in leading the rush. The DEA central defending combo of Chris Florek and Dan Martin locked down any direct looks, and kept a tight clamp on Hollis striker Jerrold White. After ten minutes, DEA built a strong charge from the right. Barry Fitzgerald sprung Chris Laberge, who drew two defenders before finding Gary DuPlessis. DuPlessis saw Hollis keeper Brock Bair out, and lofted a squirley chip that just settled over the bar. This swaray into the Hollis third seemed to get DEA going a bit. They worked the ball a bit more, noticing how nice it was to play with the ball instead of chase after it. They finally worked a corner, and took their first lead of the year. Fitzgerald's restart was driven just inside the six-yard box, where Rob Cissel slipped clear and his glancing header was perfectly placed. A sweet goal that brought cheers from the packed stadium. Play evened out, with Hollis becoming more and more dangerous. Martin, Peter Cline, and the newly arrived Dale Dubois (who stopped at the Flea Market on the way in), kept any shots from making it through. The halftime whistle sounded, and as expected this was a tightly contested battle. Second half brough more pressure from Hollis, and more DEA hanging on. Hollis sent 4-5 crosses into the box, none that found luck or were cleared easily. In the 71st minute, Hollis strung together five minutes that put the match away. Hollis midfielder Ryan Carvalho would be instrumental in both. The Leaping Salmon swims on. First, Wisby skated across the penalty area, and touched to Don MacMillan. MacMillen calibrated and ripped a low screamer that DEA keeper Chris Cloutier dove to his left and came up empty. Luckily for DEA, it clanged off the post. Unluckily, the ensuing rebound found a spawning Carvalho, tucked inside an eddy and waiting for a gift. He swam to the bait and popped home into the vacated net to level. Next, Wisby again started from the left. This time, his short pass was to Carvalho, who scaled one to MacMillan. Again he calibrated, loaded and beat Cloutier, this time to his right side. Proving, he can't go left OR right. Gggrrrr. DEA had played with the lead for over a half-hour, now they had to play catchup. They did have their chances. In the 80th minute, Laberge ran onto DuPlessis' through ball. Laberge looked to be in clear, but Jeff West got back and cleared before any shot was taken. Four minutes from time, DEA thought they levelled only to see Dan Martin's header cleared off the line. That ended what was a truly frustrating match for DEA. A good effort in a well played match on both sides. DEA deserved a point from this one, but instead are at the bottom of the standings. Look for DEA to get off the schnide next week, making their 2006 Home Opener at Sportsman's Field. If you haven't already purchased our tickets, don't bother. The match is already sold out, but standing room only seating will be available at game time.

DEA was locked in a battle to win the third half with Ipswich, finally outlasting them to keep their win streak alive. DEA knew they were in for a battle when they saw a card table set up, with a cutting board, fresh fruit, a crockpot, and plenty of other things to snack on. This Ipswich squad looked like they really knew how to bring it. DEA countered with the Magic Cooler, and eight thirsty livers. Oh, for the game, the news wasn't quite so bright. At match time, a paltry nine players were ready to take on an Ipswich squad who was typically one of the class squads in Division 1. Jon Cloutier's arrival just after the initial whistle brought it to ten, but still nowhere near enough to give DEA hope of taking home a win. DEA had hoped their days of fielding a short team for the road games was gone, but it appears that is not the case. The pitch in Beverly was lined as big as can be, and was in solid condition despite some recent rains. DEA knew they would have to defend smartly, and take advantage of any counters when they presented themselves. Ipswich's deft passing and the open spaces allowed for a 85%-15% possession advantage, but DEA put the clamp down in the final 20 yards and kept the chances to a minimum. The back tandem of John Demeritt, Dale Dubois, Chris Florek and Peter Cline did an outstanding job. Content to let Ipswich run the flanks, they cleared cross after cross and kept DEA keeper Chris Cloutier's action reasonable. Elvis Zukovic and Chris Laberge worked the middle of the field, with Rob Cissel and Jon Cloutier on the flanks. Tiressly up and down the pitch, they tried to create chances while ensuring they were back to defend. DEA tried to key off Mark Walinksy up top, but the bottom line is the holes in the lineup were evident. DEA could be proud that they held on until the half at 0-0. Cloutier was only upon to make one save, a 25 yard knuckling scorcher that he just punched away. Could they hang on for another 45? Fifteen minutes into the second half, that question was answered with a "no". After Cissel skyed to head clear, Ipswich settled 30 yards from goal. Cloutier was scrambling to get back into the net, but Ipswich central midfielder Rick Boomer did just that...ripping a hard drive that broke the ice. Ten minutes later, and questionable non-call on a handball along the touchline was costly. The ensuing cross was headed home and it was 2-0. Fifteen minutes from time, Daryl Zanardi took a short pace, turned neatly, and hammered home to close out the scoring. Cloutier was called upon to make a couple more saves to keep the scoring down. DEA can hold their heads high, especially the hard working Florek and Dubois by clearing chance after chance. 3-0, under the conditions, was a respectable result. DEA was left wondering how they would have done with a full squad and some subs against this solid team. Offensively, it was just too difficult to get anything under way. Laberge and Elvis did well on occasion, and can commended for their efforts. Ipswich looks to be a quality team, and the way the standings show so far there is definantly an upper and lower class. Seacoast, Ipswich, and Stoneham all have six points. Battling already to avoid relegation are DEA, Hollis, and Pepperell. DEA has already played two of the three upper echelons squads (with a postponement against Stoneham). The next two weeks sees DEA at Hollis and home against Pepperell. DEA will look to break into the win column soon. Getting some attendance would be a nice benefit, as the only way to know how DEA can stack up in this Division is if...well...if all of DEA shows up. Next week's game is at 9:30 in Hollis.

This game will be rescheduled for a later date to be announced