WS Chronicle

Photo by Timothy Ramsey

BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY 

THE CHRONICLE

The Flat Rock Flyers came into the game against Wiley down three of their better players.  Even while playing somewhat shorthanded, the Flyers defeated the Wiley Wolverines 2-1 in a defensive battle.

To begin the game, the defenses from both teams held the upper hand.  Neither side was able to penetrate the ball deep inside their opponent’s territory.  Later in the half, Flat Rock assistant coach Courtney Hurst gave her team some helpful adjustments and they began to dominate the ball.  The Flyers were able to get a few shots on goal but none got past the Wolverine goalkeeper.

With Wiley’s offensive opportunities few and far between in the first half, they took advantage of the possessions they did have and scored the first goal of the game. The goal by Wolverine striker Pleh Reh was laser from 30 yards out that hit the top right corner of the net.

Wiley head coach Tom Dempsey said Reh has been scoring long goals all season and are impressive every time he makes one.

“He’s had five or six goals like that this year and they are all from around mid-field,” said Dempsey.  “They are like cannons, and there is nothing the goalie can do about them because they are hitting right or left top corner post.  It’s incredible, and when he came over to us at Wiley, it was a big treat to have him here.”

The Flyers continued to apply pressure on the Wiley defense but the Wolverine goalkeeper would not allow any balls get past him early on.  That all changed when Flat Rock striker Chris Rosales put his team on his back and scored their first goal of the game to tie the affair at 1.

For the rest of the first half,  the defenses stepped up once again and held the offense on each side at bay.  The score was tied at 1 at the break.

Coach Hurst said her team did a good job in the first half but needed to work on their spacing.  She said they remedied that in the second half and really listened to their teammates’ input from the sidelines.

Both sides seemed to ratchet of the defensive intensity coming out of the half. With great individual effort, Rosales put the Flyers up 2-1 by scoring his second goal of the game.  Rosales used his superior dribbling skills to beat multiple defenders and get a clear shot on goal.

Flat Rock did not let up and continued to try and stretch the lead.  They had a few shots on goal but failed to convert on any opportunities.  Wiley had a golden chance to tie the game late as the ball sailed over the goal.  The Flyer defense held up and they closed it out with a victory.

Hurst said her team played well but even with their circumstances they expected to win the game. She says her team need to work on their shooting and communication going forward.

Coach Dempsey felt his team played great but he wants his team to play full throttle all game long.

“We had a great first half, came right out and scored, and Flat Rock came right back and tied it up.  Coming out of half-time, we came out ready to play and it was great play on both sides, just great soccer,” said Dempsey.

Dempsey said his team underestimates some of their opponents and they need to come out and attack 100 percent of the time, and if they did so, it would be a “wonderful game of soccer every time.”