The morning started with the 18-man squad sleeping in a little later than usual to accumulate rest; Breakfast was presented at 8:30am and enjoyed. Thompson Hew, our liaison officer came by with additional things we needed to make snacks for midday as lunch was ordered for 3:00pm. Grace delivered additional food items, and we settled our obligations with all. The bus departed at 4:30 pm for our 6:30 game against USA’s REV Soccer team, where we were seeking a positive result. Warm up was intense, players seemed ready.

Starting Eleven:
GK: Ricardo Laing
Defense: Kristoper McDonald (left back), Andrade Wright (center half), Noel Walker (center half), Shaqkeil Campbell (right back)
Midfield: JahHari White (defensive), Shawn Daley (defensive), Oquasso Chong (attacking), Ronaldo Robinson (wide left), Romaye Davis (wide right)
Forward: Kellijah Morgan

Substitutes:
Trevaughn Irwin (GK), Sean-Michael McIntosh, Rojaughn Joseph, Parker, Matthew Bell, Javain Green (replaced Kristopher McDonald), Kafui Douet (replaced Andrade Wright).

We started well, creating opportunities that we played too selfishly and squandered from both flanks. REV Soccer responded with simple penetrative passes down the middle to their main ball-handler, #8 Jacob Salmon. He weaved his ball wayward, missing a couple chances and scoring once. HVFC got another look at goal but it hit the side-netting. Kellijah sped away, penetrating the defense, but his effort was low to the custodian, Elliot Brown’s, right who was able to dive and collect. Kafui Douet, shortly after gracing the pitch, sent a shot towards REV’s goal but it was held well by the keeper. A forgettable half ends 0-1 in REV’s favour.

This could not be the same unit from practice; Coach Vin Blaine used half-time to motivate them to play more composed and effective football as they have trained for, resulting in one-way traffic to REV’s goal. In the second half, attack after attack led to mounting pressure and penetration on target but no goals. Romaye Davis had a great opportunity to equalize, but it instead rattled the crossbar. Some time later, Oquasso Chong had too hit the crossbar then crashed two more bombs against the upright as the goalkeeper was rendered powerless, but they still wouldn’t go in. The pressure was relentless, thirteen shots on goal at the end of regulation time.

The fourth official signaled additional time of three minutes. It got desperate and time was against us but the young ‘Stars of the East’ marched forward in search of any result. Dribbling, passing, and more shots were struck and blocked inside the area. One of the times, the referee signaled a handled ball on REV’s sweeper within the 18-yard box and a penalty was awarded to us. Ramoye ‘Giggs’ Davis got another chance to equalize, he stepped up to convert with his favoured left foot to make it 1-1 in stoppage time. Finally, something to cheer about as a game of contrasting halves ended level!

We went home disappointed at not reaping the full bounty, but clear we can and must do better to win tomorrow.