DDL FC picks up important win against Antigua 3-1

DDL FC picks up important win against Antigua 3-1

Swartzendruber Puts Two of the Three Away for key Dayton Victory 

 

Friday, July, 26, 2013. DAYTON, OH - Citing a heavy travel schedule of nine games in 22 days, Dayton Dutch Lions Coach Patrick Bal has decided to give the Dutch Lions (8-6-7) a well-earned rest after a hard fought 3-1 victory over Antigua Barracudas FC (0-22-0) on Friday night.

 

Coach Bal was worried early in the evening.  “We could have lost just as easily as we won the game,” said Bal.  “They (Antigua) had a lot of opportunities, especially at the beginning. With their breakaways and the speed they had at the top, they were very difficult to play against.”

 

Antigua’s Tamorley Thomas was a threat the whole game and stalked Dayton early and had several long runs, including one in the 13th minute, that he did not convert.  However, two minutes later, Granger slipped and Thomas picked up the ball going into the box convincing Dayton keeper Matt Williams to dive out to the right post and quickly shooting in to the left back pocket.  Antigua went ahead 1-0. Dayton settled down and got back to their possession-style ball, spreading the field well and drawing the Barracuda defense out from the mid.  This created a Dutch Lions opportunity in the 28th minute, when Brandon Swartzendruber got on the end of a through ball from Gibson Bardsley and popped up the right flank, drawing Antigua’s Corey Whisenhunt, out too early.  Whisenhunt, a Wright State University and local high school graduate, chopped to the right of Swartzendruber, who then saw an easy lane and tapped the ball precisely in to the back left post, bringing the game to an equal 1-1.

 

brandon 1-1 antigua

 

After the half, things looked bright for Dayton, when an Antigua handball in the box created an opportunity for Dayton’s Joel DeLass, who took the penalty shot for the Dutch Lions.  DeLass, in a rare misstep, sailed it high over the Barracuda goal, the first time DeLass has ever missed a penalty shot for the Dayton Dutch Lions this season. For a short time the Dayton team seemed defused by the miss, and Antigua tried to capitalize on the reduced energy.  Antigua’s Thomas tested Dayton keeper Williams including a 53rd  minute bouncing ball which took a spin to the goal and appeared unstoppable until Williams reached and knocked it to the right outside for a brilliant Dayton save.

 

bardsley dribbling antigua

 

The Dutch Lions found momentum again when TJeerd Westdijk came in found Joey Madigan who headed the ball to Swartzendruber who shot the ball in the low right corner for his second goal of the game . The 72nd minute saw Dayton go ahead, 2-1. Dayton pretty much controlled the game and Antigua could not really threaten the Lions' defense. Dayton put the final nail in the coffin for Antigua in the 87th minute.  Dayton’s Bardsley won the challenge at the midfield and, leaving the Barracuda defense behind entering the box on the top right side and burying a shot into the Barracuda left post, for a Dutch Lions’ score, pulling further ahead 3-1. It was Bardsley's team leading 7th goal of the season while also adding an assist.

 

bardsley header antigua

 

“You could see the guys are not fresh anymore, they’re tired, they’ve been traveling, they need to recover now.  With this win we’ve put ourselves in a great position,” says Coach Bal, “We’re at 31 points, which keeps us in the running for the play off spot.  But, we’ve got to show we really want it.”  So the Dayton “rest” will be brief, and they’ll return to play early next week.

 

Line up: Williams, Lord, Presciado, Granger (Westdijk), Smith, DeLass, Harada, Khutsidze (Klaasse), Bardsley (Visser), Schwartzendruber (Hertsenberg), Madigan (Kissinger)

 

On Friday, August 2, Dayton travels to Sahlen’s Stadium, the home field for the Rochester Rhinos (3-8-10), and then returns to Beavercreek to face the Wilmington Hammerheads (6-11-4) at 6:30 on Sunday August 4th in Miami Valley Hospital Stadium.