Fredericksburg, VA – (Sunday, July 6, 2008) – With fans already heading for the exits and Gunner staff rushing to clear the field before falling victim to torrential downpours, the Richmond Kickers Future team tallied in the closing minutes of Saturday’s game to steal three points from FC Fredericksburg.
The game started out on a relatively even playing surface with both teams sharing possession of the ball. Gunner attacker Ryan Johnson had the first opportunity of the match, however, when he was freed into the attacking third of the field through a series of quick passes in the 14th minute.
The speedy striker darted up the field and took a touch around the right side of Richmond’s keeper. A quick recovery by the retreating net-minder, however, was good enough to keep “RJ’s” shot from finding the back of the net.
The Gunners threatened again in the 26th minute when player/coach Cristian Neagu played a through-ball that found midfielder Matt Lacey charging in on Richmond’s goal for yet another one-on- one opportunity. The captain’s low strike from 18 yards missed just left of Richmond’s post.
The Gunner back four, solidified by the strong first-half play of central defender Tennant McVea did well to neutralize much of Richmond’s attack, and the teams found themselves locked at zeros when the referee signaled the end of the half.
Both sides experienced finishing woes as the second half got underway. A missed open look from the Gunner offense was answered by a miss-hit one-on-one opportunity for Richmond. Just minutes later, both squads took turns rattling their opposition’s goal frames.
In search of the win, Fredericksburg added attacking options late. But their personnel changes were countered by defensive substitutions by a Richmond side evidently in search of a tie. With no more than three minutes left in the game, irony presented itself at the most inopportune time. Richmond took advantage of a quick restart and a Gunner defense pleading for an offside call and sent an attacker in on goal alone. The striker made no mistake from 8 yards, and left the home team in disbelief.
The Gunners hope to reverse their recent fall in form as they use the coming days to prepare for a weekend doubleheader. The team will host division-leading Reading Rage at home on Friday at 6:00 PM and kick-off exactly twenty fours later against the Hampton Roads Piranhas. Both games will be played at Fredericksburg Academy, and the boys would love a huge crowd on hand for their final home games of the season.
