DEA Bedford Over 30

Jeff Bailey's team-leading fifth goal of the year with under 10 seconds left to play would lift DEA to a 2-1 victory against stubborn Barley on OTHSL Prime Time. With Pepperell and Windham playing on Saturday morning, the win currently lifts Los Federales into the logjam at the top, with a single point seperating the three teams. With a full squad and with Barley having just enough players, DEA thought this would be a cakewalk. When Scott Sharby slammed home a half-volley on a Barry Fitzgerald cross, DEA had an early lead and all the momentum. They dominated play in the first half, but could only light the lamp once. Second half saw DEA start out the aggressor as they looked to build on their lead. Elvis Zukovic ripped two drives that just went over the bar. Jon Cloutier made a great run out of his right back position down the left wing. His cross found Gary DuPlessis in front, but DuPlessis' header popped high. Peter Cline slammed a shot off the crossbar. Los Federales couldn't get the insurance tally, and it eventually cost them. By the 70th minute, Barley had turned the tables and sent foray after foray into DEA's zone. Lucas Hill made two tremendous saves to keep the slate clean, but the match had the feeling of impending doom. With 10 minutes left, Barley finally ended Hill's shutout streak 257 minutes when a long cross was neatly headed home. To make matters worse, DEA lost all momentum and it appeared Barley would finally get their first victory of the year as they carried the play. With time running down, Chris Florek and Fitzgerald teamed a run down the right side of the pitch. Laberge, who was out since the fifteenth minute after getting his achilles raked, then took over from there. He snaked his way along the endline, and slipped a pass to Bailey in front. Time seemed to standstill while Bailey gathered his feet under him and settled the ball. He made no mistake with his third game-winner of the year. DEA wasn't sure how much time was left, but soon found out as the ref blew the whistle just seconds after the restart. Amazingly, Barley drops to 0-4-4 on the year. They can't seem to get a win, but that squad just can't seem to get a break. DEA has been on the wrong side of many tough losses over the years, so they surely can empathize. However, Los Federales surely earned the victory this evening as they continue their drive to Division 1. After the match, DEA leader Dale Dubois sported the squad to a night at Shorty's. I can't vouch for the rest of you, but this columnist is hungover this morning as DEA closed the place. A wild night and a wild win. DEA takes on Windham this Sunday at 9:30. This should prove to be a huge battle. Update: Pepperell SPANKED Windham at Windham Saturday morning, 6-0. The game against Windham looks to be even a bigger match then it was originally being billed.

Heather Hill, newly married to DEA keeper, Lucas Hill, received a nomination for Fan of the Year for encouraging Lucas to travel from their home in Connecticut to Bedford to play soccer on her 30th birthday.

Lucas Hill, newly married standout keeper for DEA, who resides in Connecticut, travels up to Sportsmans field for a Friday night game on his wife's 30th birthday. Lucas travels again on Sunday to play a division deciding game with Windham.

Barry Fitzgerald netted the tying and go-ahead goals with under ten minutes left to lead DEA over Westford. Gary DuPlessis added a great insurance tally in the final seconds to secure the 3-1 win. Afer nine days of rain, Sunday morning broke with this high, yellowish, warm orb up in the sky. DEA anticipated a sloppy pitch, but the Town of Westford Parks and Recreation Department should be commended, as the pitch was actually in pretty good shape. Somehow, they had even mowed recently. Alas, it would not be the field conditions that would be deciding this game, it would be the extremely high winds. Westford got on the board in the first five minutes when the sent a foray down the right side. A cross slipped through the box, where JD ran onto it and slammed home a low screamer inside the short post for a 1-0 advantage, Westford. Playing into the wind, DEA did the best they could with a short passing game. Anything lofted long was surely going to die. Even still, they had their chances, with DuPlessis working hard all over the opposing third and creating havoc. Luckily, Westord's only other chances were awfully struck, and lofted aside without much concern. At the half, DEA decided to come out with a 4-3-3 alignment. Anything played to the air was surely going to find it's way to the back touchline, so having as many players up front as possible proved to be a good idea as the match wore on. Elvis Zukovic had the best chance when he slammed a left-footed drive that Westford's keeper made a great save on. DEA controlled the play for the entire half, but in the 80th minute they still had nothing to show for it. Then, Fitzgerald sent the crowd home with a smile. First, standing on the sideline, he sent a cross from about 40 yards out. The wind got a hold of it, and as Westford's keeper punched he got nothing but air. Surely, a lucky break, but DEA was now level. Not five minutes later, Fitzgerald duplicated the feat to give DEA the lead. This time, his restart went where he intended, which was tucked neatly inside the far upper '90'. DEA, trailing for over 75 minutes of this match, suddenly had a lead. In the final moments, Peter Cline smartly cleared to Mark Wilensky just inside Westford's zone. Wilensky pushed a through ball to DuPlessis. DuPlessis' hard wark all match was rewarded, but not before he beat a defender, the keeper, tracked down the loose ball, and slipped it home to round out the scoring. One can't say that was a good match for either side. The weather was not ideal for game, but both squads perservered and made the most of it. However, a win is a win, and this win was a great one. DEA now trails Windham in the overall standings by a single point, with each squad having a game in hand over washed out Pepperell. DEA looks to keep pace next week with the Billerica Hackers. The Hackers are currently last in the division, but always seem to give DEA a battle. Sometimes, it's a good game, too. **NOTE** Game time is 11:45, as this will be a nationally televised game on ESPN2.