Sting Make it Five
The Wallaceburg Sting took to their home field, Kinsmen Park, for only the second time this season on Friday, July 6th. There they hosted a St. Thomas team they’d previously beaten 4-1 on the road in their season opener, but who as of late, had strung together three consecutive victories. With the Sting, themselves, currently on a 4-game win streak, it became a match in which something had to give.
The game got underway in sizzling summer temperatures, that when factoring in Humidex, reached above 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Prior to kickoff, it had been agreed upon between each club and game officials that for safety reasons, a water break be taken midway through each half.
Early on, both teams showed early patience when in possession of the ball but it was Wallaceburg mounting the more threatening of attacks. Around the 10th minute, Wallaceburg’s keeper, Sam Youlton, scooped up a ball played toward his net and quickly booted the ball deep down the middle of the field. Long enough to clear the head of the deepest St. Thomas defender, Phil Nywening, in hot pursuit of the ball, took control and buried a breakaway shot, for a 1-0 Sting lead. The Sting continued to move the ball down the wings, creating scoring chances off balls crossed toward goal, but weren’t able to find the back of the net. Their St. Thomas counterparts, began to take control of the game, possessing the ball with ease in the fading minutes of the game’s first half, but really didn’t produce any legitimate scoring chances as a result. Wallaceburg went into the half with a 1-0 lead.
The second half began with Wallaceburg in total control, and remained that way for the most part. Quality scoring opportunities were available for the likes of Taylor MacArthur, BJ Charpentier, and Colin MacArthur, amongst others, but either missed the net, or were stopped by a very strong St. Thomas keeper. Had it not been for his play, this game surely would not have been close. Late second half, the Sting’s offensive onslaught finally had something to show for it when a shot came from an attacker off the left wing. The goalie got a piece of the ball, seeing it rebound out in front, atop the goal. Following a quick scramble between both teams, the ball found its way to an open Taylor MacArthur. He buried his shot into the corner of the net, giving the Sting a 2-0 led with approximately 5 minutes remaining. Nothing more came in the game’s final few moments, seeing the Sting win their 5th straight game.
Sam Youlton earned his third clean sheet in goal for the Sting, while Nywening’s tally put him within one of the First division’s leading scorer. With the win, the Sting now hold a 6-1-3 (W-T-L) record, tying them with the London English for first place in the division standings with 19 points. The Sting will next play, in what will be their final road game of the season on Saturday, July 14th taking on London Bosnia. Their next home game will be Saturday, July 21st, 5:00 PM at Kinsmen Park versus St. Marys.