DEA Bedford Over 30

The Bedford Pacers and Hollis United played to back to back draws, settling nothing in their quest for Division 2 supremecy. The two ties leaves the Pacers in the lead with a 4-0-2 record...Hollis still has a game to make up, and they remain hot on the Pacers' tail with a 3-0-2 mark. On Saturday afternoon, the Pacers started strong and went up 2-0 in first 20 minutes in Hollis. Chris Laberge took a Jon Cloutier feed and ripped a 25-yard, sharp angled drive that dipped as it passed over Hollis' stunned keeper and the Pacers had their customary early lead. About 10 minutes after, Dale Dubois' long throw in was flicked over everyone by Jeff Bailey and towards the net. Peter Cline laid out and knocked it home with his noggin and Hollis was stunned. About 5 minutes left in the first half found Fritz Shenk of Hollis turning the corner on the baseline. He took some contact, and flopped to the ground like a Mexican National team player. The ref (more on him later) bought it hook, line, and sinker and gave up the PK. Fritz finished it off and the score heading into the break was 2-1, Pacers. The second half saw some chippy play, with the Pacer on the receiving end of virtually every call...also racking up 3 yellow cards in the process. Pacers' management is expecting a speaking-to from league management during the week. With 9 card points already, the Pacers will forfeting points soon. You hate to blame a ref, but this moron was ridiculous. Marco Koolman would nutmeg the keeper on a direct shot from 30 yards out...and as the ball trickled towards goal Bailey would finish it off and the Pacers had their two goal lead back. Not long after, a turn over left "Funny" (I didn't name him, I just report it), a Hollis striker, in the clear with an open chance. Chris Cloutier stoned him with a diving stop to his left to preserve, at least for the short time, the Pacers' two goal advantage. However, their good fortune would not last as Hollis would bang a couple of goals home in the waning minutes, both again on calls that could have helped the Pacers out, but I digress.... A solid effort by the two class teams in Division 2. A mere 15 hours later, the two clubs were back at it on Sunday morning at Legacy Field in Bedford. An actually better-played game than the first one, neither squad could find the back of the netting, and the final finished at 0-0. Chris Cloutier recorded his second shutout of the season, taking a boot to the head for his troubles. A very solid effort defensively, the Pacers "bend, but don't brake" defense stepped up to the play numerous times, only allowing a few chances to actually get through. Those that did were smothered up effortlessly by Cloutier. Paul Cleary and Rob Cissel were forces all Sunday, and with Scott Sharby (playing forward) formed a formidable posse up front, with Scott banging a shot off the bar late in the match with their best opportunity. So, with the big two weeks behind them, the Pacers come through still undefeated, but they failed to distance themselves from Hollis. A great effort by both squads, each team was missing players so the true test may still be to come. The card points are going to be a problem, as unless Hollis drops a match to someone else, it looks like they will be front-runner to win the division. Pacers, if they hold form, looks to make the playoffs, where the Las Vegas oddsmakers have laid them a 3-5 favorite. The back-to-back ties were the fairest result for the two quality teams, but the Pacers can feel comfortable knowing they held the better of the play with a somewhat limited roster. Next Pacers action is in Lowell next week. Double-up on those shinguards, everyone.

The Bedford Pacers ran their record to 4-0 with a 2-1 victory against Windham. The victory gives them their best start in recent memory. The victory also get some revenge, as Windham has virtually owned Bedford, never losing until today. The Pacers started fast, with Jeff Bailey on the end of some smart play. Jeff Guild's fast break slowed, as he held up and waited for some friendly faces. Paul Cleary soon showed, and made a great cross field dish to set the play in motion. Strong Pacers D started the play. The Pacers soon followed, with Cleary on the end of Marco and Rob Cissel's hard work and they quickly were up by two. The Pacers held check for the half as Windham got their late arrivals, Ellie and Kirk (their behometh forward w/ a temper). The possession time ended up equal, but the backs again were solid. The second half brought much of the same, with the Windham goalie coming up big to keep it close. Chris Laberge kept a lid on bigKirk, and Sean Kelley again stopped effort after effort. All the defenders were just outstanding. What did get through was smothered by Chris Cloutier in net. Windham would finally break through with under 5 minutes left, when bigKirk blasted a drive from 5 yards out, but it was their last chance and the Pacers held on. Another great effort leaves them in first place heading into next weekend's home-and-home series with Hollis. Rare for a Sunday morning league, the early season snow-out is being replayed Saturday a 4:00 in Hollis. About 15 hours after the end of the game, they'll be back at it on Sunday morning at Legacy Park. What do the Pacers have in store for the newest nemesis? Tune in next Saturday afternoon to see.

The Pacers continued their early season roll with a convincing 5-2 win at Wakefield Bulldogs. Jeff Bailey led the Pacers with a hat trick. Starting quickly, the Pacers stormed to a 3-0 lead in the first ten minutes of play. Stringing multiple passes together, Bailey scored on a cross from John Guild to get the ball rolling. Minutes later, Marco Koolman finished off a great run and an equally great cross, again by Guild, to put them up 2-0. With the momentum still on the Pacers' side, Rob Cissel was on the receiving end of Alan Gagnon's great run and cross, and the rout was on. Wakefield did have a couple of chances that were turned away by keeper Chris Cloutier. Overall, a fine 45 minutes of play that sent a clear message who was the better team. The second half started when Bailey tried to chip the keeper from the midfield stripe. His shot hooked wide...but the keeper from Wakefield didn't seem to take the hint. The ensuing goal kick was settled by Marco, then dished to Bailey. Bailey turned the ball and this time his chip was dead-on from 40 yards. A brilliant strike that put Wakefield in a real big hole. Wakefield would get a couple in the second half to make it interesting. Even forcing Cloutier to make a leaping tip of a hard shot that would have closed the score to 4-3. With about 10 minutes to play, the Pacers had the ball once again in Wakefield's zone when the cry rang out from the box "On the floor, Jonny". Jon Cloutier, cleary noting Bailey's accent and position, sent a nifty cross to Bailey's foot for his 3rd of the game and 5th of the campaign. The Pacers overall play in both halves of the field was very strong. Another plus was they all behaved themselves and didn't get booked for the first time this year. The word on the street is they are the team to beat. The next two weeks will go a long way to deciding the Division 2 supremacy. Next week the Pacers take on a Windham team that has had the Pacers' number in recent years. Should be a good test of the quality of the Pacers' play. Game time is 9:00am at Legacy Park in Bedford.

The Bedford Pacers continued their strong start to the OTHSL Spring Season with a convincing 2-0 shutout at Westford. The game was played on a beautiful Sunday morning after a mess of a day on Saturday. The heavy rains turned the field into a soupy-mix inside the penalty box. The thick mud and puddles made for some interesting dirt designs on the back of some shirts, but didn't seem to affect the play too much. Both teams had to attack and defend in it, and the smart player knew when to wait for the patch of grass before making a move. Pacers started strong and held a majority of the ball possession. The defense was solid all day, holding Westford virtually shotless for the entire first half. With just seconds remaining, a corner kick by Jeff Bailey was bounced around until Alan Gagnon (making his Pacer debut) would take a shot at goal. The deflected strike weaved it's way onto Johnnie Guild's precision-guided rocket launcher of a left foot. Guild smoothly poked it home and Pacers had the lead about 2 seconds before the half-time whistle would blow. A huge surge in momentum at the break. The second half would be played much like the first. Pacers held much of the play in Westford's end. What few chances Westford did manage to create never tested Pacer's keeper, Chris "I don't want to get dirty" Cloutier. Pacers' "D" was the most solid this reporter has ever seen, with Chris Laberge, Dale Dubois, Rob Easton, Peter Hall, Sean Kelley, and Peter Cline all blocking at least one shot and flopping in the mud to keep Westford at bay. Chris' wife said she would like to thank everyone for their efforts. With time running short, another weak Westford advance was smothered by the Pacers. Dale calmly played a short outlet ball to Alan Gagnon. Alan knew already where he wanted to go with the ball, and smoothly sent Jeff Bailey in on a breakaway. This, as we have all seen, is "money in the bank", and Bailey didn't disapoint. His calm deposit would give the much needed insurance goal. The only matter now was to wait for the whistle and, as a DEA-Indoor player has been known to say, "That's G-O baby...Game Over". A very strong effort by all positions. Gagnon's play in the midfield was very strong, helping the Pacers maintain possession and to keep the continuity and flow going. There truly will be a battle for Rookie of the Year with the new additions the Pacers have. Look for the momentum to keep going next week at Wakefield. The Pacers are looking for a strong 3-0 start getting ready for the tough three-game stretch over the following two weeks against Hollis & Windham. Hitting the tough part of the schedule with three wins will be a big boost in their confidence.

The Bedford Pacers opened the 2003 spring season with an impressive 6-2 win over the PAC Lowell squad early on Easter morning. The Pacers welcomed two of their new rookies, Paul Cleary and Rob Cissel, to the squad. Both players showed that they had no problem fitting in with the Pacer personnel and are fine additions to the team. The game would start out cautiously, with neither team committing too much. It would be Lowell, who would get on the board first. A miss communication in the Pacer backfield would allow a PAC striker to rifle a shot into Bedford’s net passed Pacer Keeper, Chris Cloutier. This would spark the Pacers to step things up. Bedford would work on maintaining possession of the ball and pressuring the Lowell defenders. Bedford would get a throw in deep in the Lowell end. The ball would be headed out of the area by a Lowell defender. Dale Dubois would volley the head (the ball) from thirty feet out and thirty feet high. The ball would find its way to the head of Bertie O’Gorman, who would finish for the Pacers first goal of the season. The pace would quicken and the passing would become more accurate as the Pacers would gain momentum. Jeff Bailey would receive a pass from Paul Cleary down on the right side. Jeff would beat a defender to the corner and hit a hard cross to the head of Scott Sharby. Scott would time his run perfectly and head the ball past the frozen PAC keeper. Bedford was now up 2-1 and never looked back. The Guild brothers, AKA Red Heat, were up next for the Pacers. John Guild would beat a defender on the left side and find brother Jeff open in the middle. Jeff Guild would turn the ball and find the back of the Lowell net. Pacers 3 - Lowell 1, at the half. Lowell would pressure Bedford at the beginning of the second half, but the Pacer defense would shut them down. Rob Easton would contently receive a Yellow card, as he would take out a PAC player, outside the area, that was on his way to the Pacer net. Bedford would block the Lowell shot and start a counter attack. A rookie combination, Rob Cissel would pass to Paul Cleary. Paul would break to the right and crank a shot that was headed to the upper left corner of the net. However, a PAC player would deflect the shot into the right hand side of the net. We count them anyway we get them. Minutes later, Jeff Bailey would get the ball in the left corner of the Lowell end and cross a ball towards Paul Cleary and Dale Dubois, who was making a run out of the back. A Lowell defender would deflect the cross and it would roll into the net. Dale was credited with the goal. Bedford was now up 5-1 and comfortable. Lowell would get a goal back in a last ditch effort to narrow the lead. The Pacers would answer right back as Paul Cleary would loft one over the defenders to Jeff Bailey. Jeff would carry the ball toward the net beating a defender and the keeper and another defender before depositing Bedford’s sixth goal. Chris Cloutier shut down all of the remaining Lowell chances registering his first victory on a fine performance. It was a fine start for the Pacers. Next Sunday, Bedford is on the road as they travel to Westford for an 11 AM start at Parker Field. Go to “Locations” for a map and directions. The team will meet at Parker Field at 10:30 AM.