Tuesday's game against undefeated Manchester Central in Manchester's historic Gill Stadium presented the Marauders with a huge challenge. The Little Green, D1 finalists last year, had beaten Hanover twice: a 1-0 defeat at Merriman-Branch Field, and a 4-0 drubbing in the NHIAA semifinals. The last time the Marauders had visited Manchester, they were dismissed 5-1. Central is always loaded with talent, well-coached, confident and aggressive. Coach Chris LaBerge is a Hall of Fame.
Given that contest, it was reasonable to expect that the Marauders looked at this game as a measuring stick. Hanover is good, and improving, but two weeks ago they were brushed off by Bedford. Now, they has a chance to measure their progress. What resulted was an epic contest, full of drama and passion, and Hanover's thrilling 4-3 victory made a statement. Charlie Adams scored twice in the second half to break a 2-2 tie, and the Marauders played just enough defense to emerge with a hard-fought win against their biggest rivals.
If the Marauders were intimidated by the task in front of them, they didn't show it at the start of the match. They took firm control of the match, launching six shots and a number of corner kicks, carefully controlling the call for long stretches, despite Central's skill and work rate. Amane Matsuoka got the first good look early in the game, stealing a lazy square pass but shooting wide of the goal. Off of a short corner kick, Blake Palmer hit a short into a crowd in front that deflected into the arms of Little Green goalkeeper Alex Walker. Eight minutes in, Adams left his first calling hard, hitting a long, hard line drive that was snared by Walker before it tucked under the crossbar. Eight minutes in, Eric Ringer, as he does regularly, lofted a cross-field pass to Matsuoka on the left flank and the speedy senior hit a chip shot that beat Walker but died at the far post and was cleared away. Four minutes later, Adams broke into the box and his a hard shot that was saved by Walker. For the Marauders to dominate so much and have nothing to show would have been dangerous, but fortunately the next shot by Hanover was a screamer from outside the box by Ringer that tucked into the extreme upper 90 for a 1-0 lead.
Central finally recorded their first shot 20 minutes into the half, a dangerous close-range bid by Central Captain Sam Latona, but it was blocked by his Marauder counterpart Kyle Doucette. A minute later, Joey Perras made the best save of his career, diving full extension to his left and deflecting a shot by Latona that was labeled for the corner. Central was now one the front foot, and at 22:13 they tied the match when the ever-dangerous Sam Assantha took advantage of a turnover at midfield, racing into the box and winning a one on one battle with Doucette before depositing the ball into the left corner of the goal from close range. Two minutes later, Central took the lead. After a rec league call provided Central with a quick break into the Hanover end, Rahul Drupka hit a hard cross into the box. As he moved to play the ball, Kyle Doucette slipped and fell, and the ball his his upraised arm squarely. It was an easy call for a penalty kick, and Latona expertly converted the spot kick.
It would have been so easy for Hanover to lose complete control of the match at this point, but the gritty Marauders dug in and regained their composure and their effectiveness. Matsuoka responded with a dangerous shot, and Adams hit a free kick that was saved by Walker. With less than eight minutes remaining in the half, the Marauder clawed their way back into the match after Blake Palmer's hard shot from a short corner with Adams found its way into the back of the net to tie the match 2-2, It was the senior winger's fourth goal of the season, and none have been more important than this one.
Hanover emerged from halftime eager to go back to work, and full of confidence. They continued their patience in their own end, possessing with quick passes and forcing the Little Greenb strikers to chase the ball fruitlessly. After two good looks, the Marauders were awarded a free kick at the top of the Central box, in almost the same spot that Adams had used to launch a sweet upper 90 shot in Hanover's Homecoming win against Portsmouth. He went one better this time, hitting a sensational shot that bent into the upper left corner, giving the Marauders a 3-2 lead. The Hanover bench erupted. How good, and how important was this goal? It actually elicited a modest celebration from Adams, something almost never seen from the phlegmatic midfielder. What a goal!
Eight minutes later, Adams scored a critical insurance goal, stripping a dumbfounded defender of the ball and cooly walking in on Walker , tucking the ball into the corner for a 4-2 lead. The Marauders weren't done. Blake Palmer nearly added to the lead with a shot ticketed for the lower left corner from the edge of the box. Central wasn't done, either, Brendan Brigham, in for Dylan Kotlowitz at right back, won a crucial one on one battle in the shadow of the Hanover goal. Doucette and Judd Alexander locked down the the center of the Hanover defense, when any slight misplay would have handed the Little Green a goal. With barely ten minutes remaining, Central grabbed a lifeline when Assantha, one of the most dangerous strikers in New England, raced through the midfield and found enough room to launch a shot to the far corner, pulling a goal back and guaranteeing a chaotic final ten minutes. Hanover bent but never broke. Joey Perras was huge in the Marauder goal, buying critical time and space with several long punts, and battling for an airborne 50-50 ball that left two Little Green strikers sprawling. Noah Pikielny, in for a cramping Evan Nichols and isolated on the left side, made several big-time tackles. The Marauders did a great job at midfield through Adams, Ringer, Latham Allison and Toño Correa, holding the ball and eating up crucial seconds. As timer ticked down, Central had one final free kick, but their bid went for naught, and Hanover celebrated as though they had won a critically important match. They had.
Film study will remind the Marauder that they are still a work in progress. There is much they can do to improve, particularly in the area of communication. They also have a vitally important game almost immediately, a home match with Concord at 4:00 on Thursday. Seemingly having a down year, the Crimson Tide sent shock waves into Division One on Tuesday, burying highly-regarded and undefeated Windham 5-1. A semifinalist last year, Concord will provide a stern test. Hopefully the Marauders will understand how dangerous this game is, and respond accordingly.
Thursday's match is also a great opportunity to continue their effective season-long mission to solicit food for the Haven Food Pantry. An anonymous donor has offered to match every food item donated. This is huge. How cool would it be to double our donations? Please, please consider bringing contributions. Tell you what. Here's another offer: You know how much this means to me. So I'm offering to match any cash donation for food. C'mon, people. Hand me a check, and I'll match it. Double dog dare you. Food, checks, whatever. Let's get it done in every respect on Thursday.
No comments:
Post a Comment