DEA Bedford Over 30

Jeff Bailey had two goals and Lucas Hill threw up a blank scoresheet as DEA Bedford topped Westford, 2-0 at Sportsman's Field. DEA had a solid squad while Westford had no subs, and for once the shoe was on the other foot. DEA took it to Westford for much of the match, holding nearly 60% of ball possession in the win. With the match level mid-way through the first half, Hill was called upon to make a big save. A low, curling screamer was destined for the corner. Hill, fighting to see through a screen with the sun directly in his eyes, got down low to push it aside, off the post, and out of harm's way. Certainly a big stop, as DEA was playing well but hadn't broke through yet. Peter Cline, skying for a header, took a punch above the left eye while his header sailed wide. He came up with blood above the eye, and left for the hospital. (ed. note, thanks to Gary DuPlessis' wife for driving him to the hospital, classy move). The post-game Vegas oddsmakers set the over-under on stitches at eight. At press time, the final count was not available. Back to the action on the pitch, DEA kept attacking in waves. Chris Laberge, Marco Koolman, and Bailey kept the pressure on with some solid outside midfield play from Scott Sharby and Barry Fitzgerald. Defensively, Chris Florek and Dale Dubois were keeping any real chances in the DEA zone to a minimum. DEA kept the pressure on, and finally broke through in the 35th minute. After Westford tried a short outlet pass, sometime keeper playing wingback for the day Chris Cloutier intercepted. He fed Sharby with a short little pass, who then sent in Koolman down the left flank. Koolman setup Laberge for a shot, but instead Laberge popped one into Bailey in front of the goal. Bailey doesn't miss those, and banged home the go-ahead goal. 1-0 DEA at the half. Second half saw more of the same. Dale did an outstanding job of lining the field, and the big pitch was playing into DEA's hands. Hill sent a long goal-kick to DuPlessis well past the midfield stripe. DuPlessis' header sent Laberge in clean. Westford's keeper came up big with the save to keep it a one-goal game. However, DEA would break through soon after. Again, it was a DEA defender starting the play when Dale's through ball found DuPlessis. It was up to Laberge and Bailey to work their magic in the box again. Bailey doubled his efforts with the short finish and DEA had their insurance tally. Now just time to run out the clock. John Demeritt and Flo continued their strong play in the back as Westford hardly threatened and DEA ran out the clock. A solid win that puts DEA on top of the table after two games. With Hill between the pipes, DEA looks to have the most solid lineup in the Division. Next week, it's another payback match against Billerica. Game time is at 10:30 at a different field, so pay attention to the e-mails this week.

Sometime DEA Keeper Lucas Hill will suit up in the DEA colors again this fall. Lucas, who arrived off a turnip truck a few years ago, is a dominating keeper who has the ability to pull some serious saves out of his butt. He has the size and strength to get a hand on any ball, and his organizing skills in the backfield will be a huge asset. In Lucas's first season with the DEA Summer Squad, he posted blank scoresheet after blank scoresheet in leading DEA into their traditional place in the finals. He had been manning a forward position off and on for the Indoor Squad before relocating to the Nutmeg State. However, Hill has signed on for a minimum four-game contract for the upcoming Fall schedule. He will receive a roster bonus for each additional game played. As with all DEA players, the bonus will be paid in beer. DEA looks forward to having Lucas yelling and screaming at them from the backline, and are hopeful his presence will finally lead them into Division 1. Since news of his pending return has hit the Internet Blog sites, ticket sales have been fast and furious. With the limited seating at Sportsman's Field, all fans are advised to get their early to get a good seat. Game time is 8:30 against Westford.

DEA Bedford kicked off the Fall '05 season with a 2-2 draw at FC Barley. DEA was behind 2-0 with 20 minutes left before equalizing late. DEA started with 8 players, as the directions to the game were downright awful. Yes...there are TWO POND STREETS, apparently. Basically, it was get to Main Street and ask the newspaper dude for directions. Then, to make matters worse, the game was on Field Turf, and some players could have supported better boots. However, they perservered. Anyhoo, after playing smart at the start, DEA didn't create many good looks at the goal, but they were showing flashes of ball possession. This would prove hopeful for some success as more troops weaved their way through town. Not long after fielding the full squad, however, a quick counter found a nice little cross and Barley jumped ahead with 15 minutes left in the half. With under five left before the break, Barley got off a ripper from just outside the 18. Pacer keeper Chris Cloutier dived far to his left to parry the low drive. Bedford would go into the break only down one. With numbers for the full half ahead, they hoped they could still gain an important three-points on the road. Early in the second half, Barley got another with a similar play as the first. A short DEA pass in the back doesn't find fruition, a quick counter, a cross and #@*$%&!! DEA was down by two. Their black jerseys began to look hotter and hotter on the artificial surface. DEA had shown themselves to be the better squad by carring more of the play for almost an hour. However, it only matters on the scoreboard, and that looked bleak. It almost looked even more bleak when Cloutier was caught off his line, and left the gaping net wide open. However, Chris Florek battled back and cleared smartly off the line to keep it close. This would prove to be a huge play by day's end. Right about the 70-minute mark, Rich Powlowsky sent a long cross that Jon Cloutier had to turn on the jets to track down in the far corner. Jon sent a cross back across the goal. After Scott Sharby kept it in along the far touchline, he found Sonny Gagnon inside the box. Gagnon slipped a pass to Rob Cissell who hammered home a short drive to give DEA some life. With the clock becoming more of a worry, the sound of someone's car alarm distracted some on the sidelines. When Cissell's corner kick found the head of Chris Laberge, it soon became evident who's car it was. Laberge's thumping header found all webbing and DEA had levelled. Laberge ran up the pitch in celebration, soon passing the DEA players near the midfield stripe, and announced as he ran off the field "My car alarm is going off". OK, first...how in the hell did he know it was his? Second, he probably knew it was his for a while, but waited until he could pound home knotting goal before addressing it. Pure legend. All was well with the car (foul ball...stupid sport that baseball is, huh?), and now instead of trying to battle back, DEA looked to go ahead. Two glorious chances remained. One by Elvis Zukovic, a screaming drive that the Barley keeper got a finger tip on before it smashed off the crossbar. The second a low scorcher by Barry Fitzgerald that whistled wide. The game would end level at 2-2. Overall, not a bad start to the campaign. DEA is off next week in celebration of Labor Day. Two weeks out, they battle Westford, who will be "arriving" for an 8:30 battle at DEA's new fall home...Sportsman's Field.

DEA management has worked overtime during this off season to assemble a highly talented squad to go after the Division 2 Championship. The DEA machine will open the 2005 fall season in Melrose, MA as they take on the promoted division 3 champs, FC Barley. They used to be from Chelmsford, MA, but they were relegated to Melrose for unreported reasons. Any how, DEA is stacked this season and should only have real competition with their, in-state, long time foe from Windham. Look for these two titans to clash as they meet in September. If DEA is healty and shows with numbers, they are picked as favorites to win 3-1 in Vegas.

On a tough mid-week travel game, two hours from home, Bedford Pacers managed to rally 10 players to take on Marblehead in an effort to save their season. They may have done just that with a thrilling, methodical 1-0 victory this evening. Later, Pepperell upset Billerica 4-2 to keep the pressure on. No team is mathematically forced into relegation yet, but the pressure is now on Marblehead to sweep their weekend series with Hollis. If Bedford beats Billerica on Sunday, they will definantly stay in Division 2, with no outside help needed. Kudos to the referee and to the classy Marblehead squad as they held up the opening tap while some Pacers fought their way through traffic to make the game. Bedford started with nine players, and Chris Florek arrived 5 minutes in to provide the important 10th player. Realizing they were short, Bedford spread out the field the best they could and played with full concentration. Every pass, shot, defensive stance, and save was deliberate with no wasted efforts. To be able to hang in there, it was important not to fall behind early and get out of their game. Going ahead would be even better. Bedford got their wish 12 minutes in when Flo sent Jeff Guild down the right side. Guild settled and slipped a short pass to Mark Walinsky near the touch line. Walinsky looked up and found a wide open John Guild in the box. He lofted his cross over Marblehead's keeper and John Guild nodded home a very important tally. That play was just huge. This proved to Marblehead that Bedford wasn't going to lie down despite their predicament. Twenty minutes in, Marblehead go their first chance with a ripping shot destined for the short side. Pacer keeper Chris Cloutier pawed it wide and left them with a corner kick. On the ensuing kick, their drive weaved through players and after a short keystone-cop routine, their shot bounded off the post and went wide. Marblehead's best chance of the night went for nothing. Five minutes later, Cloutier was forced to make his best save of the evening when a hard, dipping shot from just inside the 18 that had 'upper ninety' written all over it. Cloutier punched it over the bar. A confidence building stretch needed after Sunday's meltdown against Hollis. Bedford was not out of the woods yet, however. With 10 minutes left in the half, a turnover in the corner and ensuing cross forced Cloutier and a Marblehead player to collide and left Marblehead with an open net from 15 yards out. Somehow, Peter Cline hustled back and cleared an open opportunity aside. Bedford's alert play all over was just outstanding. At the half, Bedford was pleased with their performance. For the third straight game, they held the opposition scoreless in the first half. Solid play by Gary DuPlessis, Doug Alderton, and Jamie New Guy was the key. They were all over the pitch and kept Bedford organized in the back. The second half saw Bedford box it in and pony up with their most solid defensive play of the year. First, everyone was tracking back to defend when needed. JD came up huge, absolutely huge, in winning a clearing header with two players draped all over him. Cloutier made two more great saves, one a long range ripper that he parried aside and the second was to come sliding out on a clean break. Seemed the Soccer Gods were looking upon the Pacers favorably this evening. Bedford was forced to defend for almost 35 minutes in the second half. Players legs were wilting, but success was awarded by their methodical play and strong mental concentration. By not trying to do too much, and playing within themselves, they provided the tonic for success. With darkness now upon them, the referee finally blew the whistle to end the match and ensuring the Pacers' fourth win of the year. After the game, there was a ten-way tie for "Man of the Match". This was a total team effort by Bedford. An absolutely HUGE win. Bedford is not out of the woods yet, but their destiny is in their own hands this Sunday. Billerica's loss to Pepperell puts them in jeopardy of relegation. They will be bringing their 'A' game on Sunday against the Pacers. Great win!!!!!!