Acton-Boxborough 1-1 St. John's Prep
73' Davis Brown (Rose) 24'
Lineup: A. Li, C. Li, D. Meagher, T. Meagher, Goldman, Abbate, Davis Brown, Bloomstone, Davis, Condron, Conwill
Subs used: Chacon, Kollm, Lush, Rodrigues, Rose
The Colonials got an early taste for the post season in their hard fought 1-1 draw with St. John's Prep. The game was well played by both teams with scoring chances coming at a premium. The Colonials started brightly, controlling the center of the park and springing Seth Davis Brown down the left and Oliver Davis down the right side. The two would combine for Acton-Boxborough's first chance at goal in the 14th minute. Davis cut inside from the right to pick up a loose ball and sent a well weighted ball over the defender into the path of Davis Brown. His left footed cross was met by Eliot Conwill in the box whose header sailed past the near post. Conwill's activity and sharp movements were a key to the Colonial attack as his hold up play brought the other players into the offesive third and helped the team
stay connected.
Davis had a chance of his own ten minutes later when he cut inside again, this time unleashing a thunderous right footed shot that bent and swerved. The goalkeeper took a few steps before steadying himself and making the save. The Prep earned a corner off the ensuing goal kick which was cleared by the Colonials for another corner. This time the low near post kick could not be cleared and a Prep player was allowed to toe poke past the AB goalkeeper for the lead against the run of play.
The Colonials showed their fighting spirit on this day. They gathered themselves and brought the game to the Prep in search of the equalizer before the break. Chris Li had the best chance with 2 minutes left in the half. Davis Brown delivered to the far post after receiving a short corner from the right side. The angle was tight as Li stretched to get his head on it. He watched as it dinged off the outside of the upright.
It appeared that the Colonials might let the game slip away at the beginning of the second half as they could not clear their end for 4 minutes straight. Perhaps the Prep was feeling a bit over confident when off the first clearance Conwill sent Nolan Condron in behind the defense. Conwill was tucked inside the left channel. Condron made a slashing diagonal run from right to left to split the defense. The weight on the pass was perfect as Condron sailed in clear against the Prep keeper. He rolled the ball from his left foot past the goalkeeper but it was always curling towards the post which it hit and then bounced out of danger.
Condron was in the thick of things again six minutes later. Tom Meagher's long throw from the left was flicked on by Conwill towards the back post. Condron lunged at the ball with his right foot to strike a solid half volley only to see the goalkeeper make a stunning save at the near post.
Redemption would come with the timely substitution of Ryan Rose. His well timed run across the back of the defense allowed him to latch onto another good header from Conwill down the left side. Rose's intentions were clear as he turned with one touch and released Davis Brown down the left with his next. Again the weight and angle of the ball were perfect as Davis Brown took a touch and blasted the net at the near post for the well deserved equalizer.
The Colonials now await the tournament draw scheduled for Thursday November 5th.
Man of the Match: Dan Abbate
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