DEA Bedford Over 30

DEA couldn't get it done over the weekend, and will remain in Division 2 despite going undefeated all year. After the disapointing draw against Billerica on Friday night, DEA had their work cut out for them in Pepperell. Needing a win to claim the Division Title, DEA and Pepperell played to their second 2-2 draw of the year. Pepperell moves on by having a bigger goal differential. Starting with only nine players for this all-important match, Pepperell took it to DEA from the start. DEA knew players were en route, so they just needed to hang on while the reinforcements arrived. Pepperell kept DEA keeper Chris Cloutier busy in the opening five minutes, as he had to come up big with three saves to keep the sheet clean. Once DEA got their full numbers the play evened out a bit. The ref, however, had other plans. Pepperell striker John Leblanc, easily three yards behind DEA's defence, settled a through ball and slammed it home to give Pepperell an important lead. The ref pointed to Rich Powlowsky and advised Rich was keeping Leblanc onside....he just flat out blew the call. Minutes later, Pepperell put DEA in a huge hole by going up 2-0. This time, a scramble in front found Powlowsky again alone off the post. He slipped home a short shot to give Pepperell an important insurance tally. It was disapointing for Rich, playing with an injury and he was put in a tough position. Knowing they had to win the match, DEA looked and realized they had 75 minutes to score three goals, all the while keeping Pepperell silent for the rest of the match. Could they do it? With 15 minutes left in the first half, DEA finally got a break when Scott Sharby was hammered down in the box. Chris Laberge took the ensuing PK, whistling it by Pepperell keeper "Zeus". It would remain 2-1 at the half, but Laberge's goal gave DEA some life. The second half saw DEA dominate for long stretches, but unable to find the equalizer. Jeff Bailey at times took over the match, whistling a shot off the crossbar that fell harmlessly aside. Then, he too got taken down in the box by "Zeus". DEA looked to see what color card the ref was going to pull. Would it be a red? A yellow? Surely...at least a call? It was not to be, as the ref missed it completely and play kept going. "Unfortunate" is the how I am going to describe it...otherwise, there would be a string of explatives and this being a children's website and all..... With five minutes left, DEA finally got the equalizer. Chris Florek found Sharby just off the left post. Sharby sneaked home DEA's second goal, and now they could throw everybody up in the box and hope for a wild finish. With so many players forward, however, Pepperell broke down virtually unimpeded and forced Cloutier to make one more great save. Bailey found Laberge for a header, with "Zeus" again coming up big. The whistle blew, and DEA was left with another disapointing draw. DEA congratulates Pepperell on a solid season and their advancing to Division 1. Nobody proved they could beat DEA on the year, but the same could be said for Pepperell. That call by Dan Roberge in Week 5, allowing Pepperell to level DEA late, proved to cost DEA the season. This editor will never forget that misfortune. The way it looks right now, DEA will travel to Canton, Mass to take on the South Boston Bohemians. Sporting a 9-0 record and an ungoldly +31 goal differential, the Bohemians look to have a strong squad. Look for e-mail updates regarding the match. Postseason awards will be announced in the coming weeks. Great season DEA!

DEA could have put themselves in the driver's seat for Sunday's title match against Pepperell, but instead drew with Billerica. Now, it's winner-take-all when they take on Pepperell for the D2North crown. DEA started fast and furious, with Gary DuPlessis storming down the left flank. After beating one man, he fed Peter Cline inside the area. Cliney's shot whistled by, but DEA was already setting the tone. DuPlessis had another great opportunity five minutes later, this time beating the keeper to a loose ball but slamming his shot off the post. DEA had a feeling that the two missed opportunities could cost them as the game wore on. Billerica would go on top 15 minutes into the match on a direct restart from 19 yards out. After Chris Florek nudged Billerica's jerk striker Peter Kuleska, fatboy Peter dropped to the pitch with a moan. The ref, a nice guy but in over his head, bought it and awarded the kick. Billerica's Samire Ezzeddine took it beautifully, bending it over the wall and destined for the upper 90. DEA keeper Chris Cloutier got a fingertip on it, but ultimately not enough as it hit the bottom of the bar and trickled in. Cloutier was left lamenting ordering the Ninety-Nine's extra-large Buffalo Tenders for lunch instead of the regular...those extra two tenders were just enough to weigh him down..... After releasing a gas valve, Cloutier was much more spry on the next restart, taken from 22 yards out and off to the side a bit. This time, he dove far to his left to punch away another drive destined for the other corner. DEA would go into the half down 1-0, but ahead in shots on goal 10-2. DEA kept up more of the same in the second half. Barry Fitzgerald had a glorious chance that he didn't get enough wood on. Sonny Gagnon had another. Willie Davis was all over the pitch after coming on. However, chance after chance went for naught. Finally, Fitzgerald and Davis hooked up after finishing off a fast break. Fitzgerald's crisp cross found Davis, who punched it home and DEA had finally levelled. Not content to settle for a tie, they kept the pressure on in pursuit of the important two additonal points. Fitzgerald tried another one of his long range shots that the keeper made a good save on. Jeff Bailey had a good look, but misfired. They kept coming, but couldn't break through a second time. Defensively, JD, Dale, Flo, Rich Powlowsky and Chris Laberge prevented any real chances on DEA's goal in the second half. Finally, one last overhead volley from DuPlessis was saved, and the match was over. It was a tie...but it surely felt like a loss. The tie didn't do much to help DEA, as if they lost or tied they still have to beat Pepperell on Sunday for the crown. Howeve, they did clinch at least the second seed in the upcoming playoffs, their first entry in since the Spring of '03. DEA will be scrounging for numbers on Sunday. This match looms very large, as Pepperell and DEA knotted 2-2 earlier in the year. If the match ends in a tie, Pepperell goes through on a more favorable goal differential.

Windham rolled into Sportsmans field this morning with a full squad and a one point lead in the division standings over DEA. It didn't need to be said that this game was a must win for both sides to keep their hopes for the D2 crown alive. Windham was coming off a disappointing loss to division leading Pepperell on Saturday, as they could only field 8 players for the match. DEA was fresh off a tough victory against the surprising FC Barley Club on Friday night. So the stage was set for this clash of the titans. Once the Bedford Jaguars Mighty Mack football team defeated Salem and cleared the field, the match began. Windham would win the toss and pick the west end of the field with the wind to their backs. Play would be back and forth with no real threats at scoring for the first 30 minutes of play. Both teams played superb defense and the keepers were on for both sides. Lucas Hill being called up for another key game for DEA took charge in the net and Derek Dane was excellent for Windham as their regular keeper was out with a broken finger. Windham would get on the board first in the 44th minute as a miscue in the DEA backfield would take an awkward bounce that would elude 2 DEA defenders. Ellie Monteiro was there to collect the important first goal. The half would end seconds after the kickoff with Windham up 1-0. DEA remained confident as they would have the wind at their back for the second half of play. Once again the second half would start with each side playing very tough defense. The DEA defense would play the always dangerous striker, Kirk, very close that would allow Sweeper, Chris Florek to scoop up any attempts at sending him through on a breakaway. DEA managed to contain the big forward to a header the was sent wide right of the net. DEA would level the score when Gary DuPlessis would lay a nice pass back to Willie Davis. Willie would hit a rocket from 20 yards out that would turn the game around. DEA, playing with more confidence, would remain on the attack. At about the 70th minute Jon Cloutier would take the ball down the left side from his defensive position to about midfield. He would spy Chris Laberge streaking down the center of the field an launch a perfect cross over the Windham defenders. Chris would time his run just right to head the ball over the on rushing Dane out of the net. DEA was now up 2-1. DEA put bodies behind the ball for the last 20 minutes of play and played possession ball to kill the clock. Windham would get a few chances but Lucas came up huge to seal the victory for DEA. A huge and must needed win for DEA going into the final week of the regular season. Excellent play from everyone today. DEA now is one point behind Pepperell but has a game in hand. DEA takes on Billerica in a makeup game Friday night at 8:00 PM in another ESPN2 telecast. Billerica is always a tough opponent and now they are clawing at relegation.... This will be a tough match for them on the very large pitch of Sportsmans Field.... There were words of Elvis buying some beers at Shorty's following this game also.... more to follow on that... GREAT WIN DEA !!!!!

Congratulations to the DEA U-19 team for winning the Kohl's Americas Cup State Championship this morning at Rising Stars in Bedford. DEA entered into the finals by posting wins over Manchester East and Suncook. The finals would be a rematch of the City Championship with the Manchester South team. South edged DEA out of the City Championship earlier this month. But this game would be different. DEA controlled the game from the start, scoring in the opening seconds of the game and continued to a 4-0 lead at the half. South would get back into the game in the second half, but could never close within 2 goals of DEA. DEA would go on to win match and 7-4 and bring home the hardware. GREAT WIN DEA !!!

DEA will be calling in the big guns for a big weekend series that could decide who wins the Division. Lucas Hill, newly married and knowing how to show a girl a good time, will be in full gear for the Friday Night clash against Barley. This is his wife's 30th birthday, and how else to spend the time then a romantic evening under the lights at Sportsman's Field? Hill will also be between the pipes on Sunday when division-leading Windham come to town. The playoff outlook could clear itself slightly by Sunday afternoon. With a win in tonight's prime time battle against FC Barley, DEA could find themselves knotted with Pepperell at 15 points, one behind leader Windham. Pepperell and Windham do battle on Saturday morning. With the pending clash against Windham on Sunday looming, there could be a big shakeup with the "Big 3". DEA could find themselves anywhere between first and third, with their total points adding up to between 12 & 18. DEA still has one more scheduled game against Pepperell next week, which could loom large as well. DEA also has a makeup game against Billerica, who is fading fast and appears to be heading to Division 3 as they have only lit the lamp twice all year.