Match Report: Stars 4 Torch 1
May 20, 2017 | National Premier Soccer League | Monsignor Bonner High School | Attendance: 100 | Scorers: Dennis 20, 87, Allison 55, N’Guessan 83; Mayah 48 (OG)
A brace from Zoncher Dennis and goals from Anthony Allison and Kouassi N’Guessan gave Junior Lone Star FC a convincing 4-1 victory over BuxMont Torch FC at the Monsignor Bonner High School Stadium in Drexel Hill, PA.
The Stars looked in control of the game from the first whistle with majority of the possession and most of the chances created in the first 15 minutes. The fireworks began in the 20th minute when would-be Man-Of-The-Match Zoncher Dennis received a lay-off pass from forward Anthony Allison on the right edge of the 18-yard box to fake out two defenders before burying the ball in the back of the net to put the Stars ahead 1-0.
BuxMont Torch responded with a 10-minute spell of possession before their back line was caught up field with a telling through ball from midfielder Fatoma Turay that saw forward Mitchell Torh through 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper but the Torch’s net-minder Matt Palmer came up with a magical save to keep the tally 1-0 at half time.
The second half started in a similar fashion like the first ended. The Stars got out of the blocks on the front foot and continued their dominance but a seamlessly innocent long ball played in the defensive half of the Stars saw them let in their lone goal of the game when Abu Donzo tried to shield the ball out of bounds only to see a determined Torch player hustle and keep it in-bounds before crossing across goal which hit Mohammed Mayah to send goalkeeper Boubacar Keita the wrong way for an own goal and Torch’s equalizer in the 48th minute.
The Stars picked up their game and seem to enter another gear after conceding. In the 55th minute, a diagonal ball over the top of the Torch defense saw Anthony Allison in on goal only to be fouled by the goalkeeper. Allison coolly converted the penalty to put the Stars ahead 2-1 and tally his 6th goal in 7 appearances across all competitions.
After going up for the second time in the match, the Stars took total control of the match. The third goal came from an unlikely source in defender Kouassi N’Guessan who followed up a shot to calmly finish a rebound in the 83rd minute.
MOTM performer Zoncher Dennis got his second and the Stars’ fourth in the 87th minute when he dribbled past a defender before slotting the ball in the back of the net to give the Stars the 4-1 victory.
After the game, head coach Neewill Saie stated, “I was pleased with the performance the boys put in today. Everyone played a good game and the win was a collective effort. We have not been playing badly; we have just had a series of bad fortune when it came to getting the ball in the back of the net. We hope that this victory will serve as a launching pad for the rest of the season.”
Yesterday’s win sees the Stars moved up to third place on the Keystone Conference with three points from two matches. In other Keystone Conference matches, league debutants West Chester United continued their amazing run with a 4-0 win over Hershey FC, Clarkstown SC Eagles defeated Greater Binghamton FC Thunder 5-0, while Electric City Shock FC and New Jersey Copa FC played to a 1-1 draw.
The Stars will take a break from NPSL action during the Memorial Day weekend before travelling to Mahwah, New Jersey to face Clarkstown SC Eagles on Sunday, June 4th at 3:30pm.
THE TEAMS:
JUNIOR LONE STAR FC: Keita; Donzo, N’Guessan, Watson, Mayah; Y. Fane, Turay; V. Slueue (Davies 75), Dennis, Torh (Karpeh 55); Allison (c) (Walleekendeh 63).
Subs not used: Mason, Jappah, Kennedy, Mulbah.
Booked: none.
BUXMONT TORCH FC: Palmer; Coupar, Mateola, Powers, Woodfin (Giudice 46); Burris (Boerema 46), Kan, Robinson (Dos Santos 46), Rudloff (Varady 61); Hagerty (Marculo 46), Shafer.
Subs not used: Kennely, Sousa.
Booked: Dos Santos.
THE REFEREES:
CENTER REFEREE: Amber O’Connor (MN)
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Gerry Blase (EPA), Patrick McGarry (EPA)
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Ray Melendez (EPA).