Woodland FC (15 pts, 6 games played) traveled to Grandview MO to take on Southside FC (15 pts, 7 games played) in a battle between 2nd and 3rd in the standings, though they each carried games in hand against 1st-place Northland. The winner of this match would be in pole position for the title as the midway point of the season approached.
"We knew what was on the line," Coach Ross Harris said. "Their goal differential is enormous. We can't leave anything up to tie breakers." When asked about how he prepared the team for this match he said, "We had our weekly meeting to discuss team tactics and starting lineup. We had incredibly dangerous threats on Southside that we had to declaw, and neutralize. Once we settled on how we were gonna make that happen, it came down to our mindset. Very few men have the blessing of dealing with pressure in their lives. Matches like this are where you see who people really are. I know what my players are made of...all that was left was for our men to show everyone else what I already know is true about them."
{ '2 }
The Royals roared out of the gate, eager to pounce on any mistake. It would come early in the form of a defensive turnover forced by Chandler Givler. Givler collected the ball off strong defensive pressure, raced into the penalty box, and delivered a pinpoint cross to Brett Jackson headed calmly over Ryan Neil. It was Jackson's 3rd goal in two matches. An ideal start for an in-form team.
{ '17 }
The Royals continued to press their advantage through possession and short passes. It was clear they wanted Southside to chase the ball on a hot and humid day. Their persistence would be rewarded when Brennan Williams played a perfectly weighted through-ball to Spence Jean-Baptiste who raced into the box, and cooly slotted it home for the 2-0 lead.
{ '42 }
Eager to deliver a knockout blow, Woodland continued to push for a decisive 3rd goal. Fiorentino played a long cross from the left-hand side that was overhit. The ball stayed in bounds, and Joseph Caughron hustled to contest for the ball. He won it well, crossed it back in from the right, and Brennan Williams rose highest to head it in off the cross bar. 3-0 Woodland.
{ '43 }
As Southside readied the kickoff after going down 3-0, Southside captain and league leading goal scorer Tony Rangel was shown 2 yellow-cards for dissent, and given a red card. Southside defender Zach Murphy followed suit from the bench, and was sent off shortly after Rangel.
Reduced to 10-men, their top goal scorer sent off, and down 3-0, Southside limped into halftime with more questions than answers.
{ 2nd half }
The 2nd half showed very little of note happening. The Royals were content to salt the game away, get their bench some experience, and play in control. Southside fought hard the whole way, but couldn't find a breakthrough.
Derrick Carson put in a true man-of-the-match performance as he led a defensive partnership with Johnathan Young and Captain Gage Pemberton that kept the league's leading scorer off the score sheet. It was the first time all season that Southside had been held scoreless. Woodland pitched a combined shutout thanks to the goalkeeping efforts of Luke Heaton, and Naguib Nassir, who made his Royals debut in the match.
The win puts Woodland FC in first place going into match day 8. The Royals' next match is against Northland FC on Monday, June 17th at 6PM, at Charles J. Stump Memorial Park, Field #3, in Shawnee Kansas.
You can watch the replay of this match on our club Youtube here.
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