Bluewater Jr. Blaze U-13 vs. Byron

August 7, 2009

The Byron Athletics were in town to face the Blaze. Byron broke through early with a good scoring chance, but Josh Graham turned away the shot in the Bluewater net.
 

The ensuing corner kick found a Byron foot and rolled into the bottom corner of the net for a 1-0 Athletic lead.

Bluewater tried to regroup and a long string of passes from Leblanc to Wardell to Foster to Ohuegbe and then on to Cservik looked dangerous but Byron was able to clear.
 

Richeal O’Neil received the ball at the forward position. A lob pass into the 18 was headed by Ohuegbe but he was fouled by the Byron defender. A penalty shot was awarded to the Blaze. Mitchell Leblanc stepped up to tie the game but was thwarted by a diving save from the Athletic keeper.
 

Bluewater looked to even the score when Jenelle Labadie won the ball from a Byron player and found Garth Denys. Denys passed to O’Neil who gave a quick through ball to Jordan Walsh. Walsh raced in and buried a high shot that appeared to even the match….but a late raised arm called the play offside and Byron held the half time lead.

The second half saw Bluewater continue to press. A Byron player attempting to play the ball while on the ground was called for a handball in the 18-yard box. Bluewater again was rewarded a penalty kick. Coach Arthur showing confidence in Leblanc again chose the fullback for the PK. Leblanc made no mistake and buried the shot knotting the game at 1’s.
 

Bluewater attempted to take the lead when a short corner allowed O’Neil to rip a shot that was tipped at the last minute wide of the Byron net. Joey Eddleston was sent in alone on the Byron goal but a good shot was turned aside by an equally good save. Bluewater attacked again. Drew McFeggan won the ball and passed to O’Neil. O’Neil slipped past the defender and finished for a 2-1 Blaze lead.
 

A save and kick by the Byron keeper was deflected off a hard charging O’Neil’s chest, and as both sides held their breath the ball rolled just wide of the open net. Bluewater needed the win and Steve Blysniuk attempted to increase the lead with a headman pass to Zach Horvath. Horvath attacked the goal but his shot sailed high.

Byron could not penetrate the strong Blaze defense led by Brent Arthur and Bluewater earned the 3 points as the final whistle blew.