Bluewater Jr. Blaze U-13 vs. Kitchener “A” June 13, 2009

The Bluewater Jr. Blaze hosted Kitchener “A” looking to prove they belonged with the WOYSL elite.

Bluewater pressed early. Richeal O’Neill spotted Dilly Ohuegbe who passed wide to Matt Sheeler. Sheeler found O’Neill in the middle alone in front but the Blaze striker found the mid section of the Kitchener keeper rather than the back of the net.

Bluewater kept the pressure on. Zach  Horvath collected the ball and chipped ahead to O’Neill. O’Neill headed the ball on to Sheeler who shot just over the goal.

Kitchener tried to strike for the equalizer with a through ball. Josh Graham streaked from the Blaze goal but was deeked by the hard charging forward. The shot however was headed away at the last minute by the Bluewater defense and cleared.

Brent Arthur won the ball and found Ohuegbe. The striker couldn’t beat the defense but won a corner. O’Neill on the short corner bent a shot towards the Kitchener goal but the goalie held his line and made the save.

Arthur controlled the ball and found O’Neill. A left footed chance was turned aside but Ohuegbe was there to gather the rebound and finish for a 1-0 Blaze lead.

Kitchener looked shocked and the goal gave the Blaze confidence. Jenelle Labadie passed to Garth Denys who spotted Ohuegbe but the ball was cleared just before the striker could bury it.

Kitchener settled down and started to find their passing game. A pass just outside the 18 and the striker was allowed to turn but the shot sailed high.

A Kitchener pass wide on the wing resulted in shot that just missed the far corner on a cross.

Justus Kerkoff-Fox passed to Ohuegbe who distributed wide to Denys. Denys hurdled the Kitchener challenger and a great cross was grabbed by the keeper to keep the score 1-0 Blaze.

Kitchener worked the ball down the field and were rewarded with a corner. The Spirit cross, looped over Graham’s out stretched hands and was headed home to tie the match at 1.

The Blaze looked rattled . A poor clearing attempt from the backs was sent into the middle of the field onto a Kitchener foot. A big kick found the top part of the net over Graham and Kitchener had jumped into a 2-1 lead.

Bluewater again failed to challenge in the middle outside their box and Kitchener again had an easy chance to fire high into the net for a 3-1 .

Bluewater tried to regroup before half when Denys crossed to Horvath but a tackle in the box did not generate a call and the goalie was able to collect the ball easily and keep the score 3-1 Kitchener at half.

Bluewater knew they had to strike early to get back into the match. Marcus Dusseault won he ball in the middle of the pitch and forwarded the ball ahead to Ohuegbe. Dilly seemed to have the keeper beat but a low hard shot just missed wide the far post.

Bluewater worked the ball with good passing from Dylan Wardell to Horvath to Ohuegbe but again the shot went wide.

Kitchener struck back with a ball into the heart of the Bluewater defense, a mistake, allowed an unchallenged Spirit player to deke a charging Graham and deposit the ball for a 4-1 lead. The goal seemed to take the wind out of the Blaze sails.

A Bluewater pass was intercepted. Kitchener scampered down the wing and crossed to the middle for another strike and a 5-1 lead.

Bluewater tried to score once more when a Free Kick was taken by Mitchel Leblanc. The ball was sent on to Stephen Blysniuk but he couldn’t finish and the match ended in a disappointing 5-1 loss.

The Blaze look to regroup Friday night as they travel to Byron to battle the Athletics.