Acton-Boxborough 0-3 Concord-Carlisle
13'
45'
48'
Lineup: A. Li, C. Li, T. Meagher, D. Meagher, Goldman, Bloomstone, Davis, Lush, Kollm, Condron, Conwill
Subs used: Green, Davis Brown, Doelp, Abbate, Chacon, Kashin, Rose, Rodrigues, Rosenfield, Kononenko
The 2009 campaign got off to a tough start for the Colonials as they dropped their opener to Concord-Carlisle. In spite of the 3-0 scoreline, the game was even throughout the first half until two goals just after half time broke the game open. An experienced CC team dominated possession in the early going. AB was solid in defense and waited for the right times to strike. A Peter Kollm shot in the 3rd minute got the Colonials right into the match. Oliver Davis picked off an errant Concord-Carlisle pass in the left channel. He fed to Eliot Conwill, whose forward play was excellent throughout the match, who dropped the ball off for an onrushing Kollm. The resulting shot sailed over the bar but it gave the Colonials some confidence going forward.
AB almost broke the deadlock when Nolan Condron's free kick from the right side found Dillon Meagher 7 yards out from goal but he was not able to get enough of the ball to trouble the CC goalkeeper. The game was turned on it's head in the 13th minute when an inocuous ball was played over the top of the AB defense. The speedy CC forward got in between the central defenders from AB but it was a Colonial who got to the ball first. Unfortunately, his recovery tackle poked the ball into his own net to give the Patriots an undeserved 1-0.
Despite the setback, the Colonials continued to be dangerous on the attack while keeping the Concord-Carlisle players at bay. A Davis direct free kick from 22 yards out sizzled past the wall. The goalkeeper did not see the ball until late but was able to throw his hands up in time to deflect it over the bar. A yard on either side of the goalkeeper and AB would have found their equalizer. Dillon Meagher had a chance to pull the Colonials level in the 20th minute. A long throw in from his brother Tom was flicked on across the face of goal. With the goalkeeper out of the net, any touch would have done the job but Dillon was just narrowly beaten to the ball by a desperate CC defender. There was one more chance before the half to equalize. It was Davis again who failed to hit the target from 18 yards
when the ball ricocheted out to him after a long throw from Tom Meagher.
With numerous scoring chances in the first half the Colonials felt good about their prospects for the second half. Conwill's header at the near post from a Condron corner got the Colonials off to a good start but their hopes came crashing down two minutes later. Concord-Carlisle doubled their lead 5 minutes into the second half. A corner from the left side was flicked on at the near post to an unmarked CC player at the far post who slammed the ball into the net. Three minutes later the outcome of the game was essentially over. The Colonials lost possession on a thrown in from midfield. A pass split the central defenders leaving the Concord-Carlisle player alone to slot home the third goal.
Looking at the two teams, especially in the first half, it would be difficult to say that there was a three goal difference between the teams. One team took maximum advantage of their limited opportunites while the other was left wanting. The Colonials will look to take their first half performance into their next game against Arlington.
Man of the Match: Matt Doelp
Next Match at Arlington
4:00 Kickoff
Friday 9/12
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