Sting Continue to Improve Record
The Wallaceburg Sting travelled to London on Saturday, July 14th, for their last road game of the regular season, taking on the first place, London Bosnia. The Sting won the previous outing at home between the two squads by a 3-1 score.
The two teams took to the pitch in a much important battle for division supremacy. From the get-go it was evident both clubs knew of the game’s significance and came ready to play. Both teams possessed the ball well and exchanged chances throughout the first half. The lone tally came when a Bosnian crossing attempt from the right wing was touched midair by a fellow attacker near the front post and buried behind the Sting keeper.
Early second half the Sting lost central midfielder, Colin McArthur, to an ankle injury. After adjusting on-field positions to accommodate his loss, the Sting continued to mount pressure, but none made it passed the Bosnian keeper. The Sting fell by a final score of 1-0.
A week later, they returned home to take on a St. Marys squad not far behind in the standings. The Sting had previously beaten the offensively dangerous team by a score of 2-1 on the road. They knew if they could get a repeat performance defensively, that another tally in the win column would be very achievable.
The Sting rebounded after a slow start and quickly took control of the game. They created chances, and controlled the pace of the game. Defensively, they stalled the St. Marys attackers and held them to the outside, away from striking distance.
Late first half, the Sting got the result they were looking for. After the St. Marys keeper was unable to hold onto a well-paced shot, Kyle Allaer pounced upon the rebound, burying his first career goal in a Sting uniform. The Sting went to the half leading 1-0.
The second half began much the same, until a mistake by a Sting defender, saw a St. Marys striker break down the field unscathed and bury the ball to knot the game at 1-1. Before the Sting could re-group, they found themselves ball-watching while St. Marys possessed the ball atop the Sting 18-yard box. A St. Marys player found space and unleashed a bullet just below the crossbar, giving them a quick, 2-1 lead.
Despite generating numerous quality chances, the Sting couldn’t seem to find the back of the net. Their chances of getting back in the game looked bleak, until Kurtis Lubbers found room down the left wing. As he began to move toward the net, he crossed in a ball that caught the keeper off-guard. The keeper made a last ditch effort to get his hands on the ball as it sailed overtop him, but his fingertips only got a piece of the ball. It fell behind him and across the line to even the game 2-2 with 12 minutes to play. As time dwindled down, the Sting continued to press hard and were rewarded for their efforts. With 2 minutes remaining, the Sting’s, Matt Feddes, received the ball down the right wing. At from the corner of the 18-yard box he unleashed a hard, low shot toward the far post. The goalie sprawled out in an attempt to save it, but was unable to. The Sting scored the go-ahead goal and held on for a 3-2 victory.
With a record of 7-1-4 (W-T-L), the Sting are tied for second place, and remain only one point from first place, London Bosnia. Their next league game will be, Saturday, August 11th at 5:00PM at Kinsmen Park vs. Tillsonburg.
On Saturday, July 28th, the Wallaceburg Sting travelled to Strathroy, taking on London Bosnia, in their quarter-final match-up of the First Division Cup. It was the random draw, done to determine Cup game opponents that pitted the top two ranked clubs of the First division against each other.
The Sting began the game very shaky, and it showed quickly. Approximately 5 minutes into the game, a Bosnian attacker was fouled from behind when he received a goal-mouth pass with an empty net in his sights. The ensuing penalty shot was converted, giving Bosnia a 1-0 lead. Wallaceburg tried to recover and get back in the game before the half, but it was Bosnia striking again on an odd-man break to give them a 2-0 lead at the half.
A different Wallaceburg team began the second half, and it showed. The Sting took control of the pace of the game, creating chances of their own. Their ball possession and poise became noticeable and they began to break down the Bosnian defense. Following a foul midway through the first half, Wallaceburg sent their free kick into the goal area. After an initial deflection, the ball bounced free, inside the 18-yard box, where the Sting’s Matt Feddes ran on and hammered it. Making no mistake, he found the back of the net, cutting their deficit in half, 2-1.
As time dwindled down the Sting continued their push for an equalizer. In the last minute of play, a Wallaceburg winger was fouled deep, down the right wing ling, giving them a free kick. The Sting sent all players, including their keeper, inside the Bosnia 18-yard box, for a last second push – and it paid off.
Mark Foster sent in free kick toward the front post and Sting defender, Chad Lubbers, flicked it on, directly in the area of brother and teammate, Kurtis Lubbers. Kurtis lined the ball up, and hit home a header that found enough space between the keeper and a couple Bosnia players lined up near their goalline. The Sting had tied the game, 2-2, with virtually no time left in regulation.
Per Cup game rules, they headed into two, 15-minute overtime periods, under the ‘Golden Goal’ format. During this, both teams had quality chances to score, but whether due to fatigue or misplaying the ball, they sailed high or wide. The Sting’s best opportunity to ends things came, in the first overtime period, when Mark Foster, cracked a loose ball off the Bosnian crossbar. Neither team found the back of the net and the game needed penalty kicks to decide the outcome.
Wallaceburg’s Phil Nywening, Kurtis Lubbers, Roberto Attardi, and Taylor McArthur all scored, as the Sting outscored their counterparts 4-2 in penalty kicks.
The Sting now advance to take on the London English in the Cup semi-final on Saturday, August 4th, 6:00PM, at the London Portuguese Club.