Bluewater Blaze U-13  May 22/09
 

After winning the Tom Ogle Bluewater Early Bird Tournament, the Blaze opened their WOYSL L3 season by visiting Guelph.
 

Guelph wanted to show the visitors from Sarnia they were in tough and pressured the Blaze in the early going. A challenging Josh Graham in the Bluewater net made sure the score remained tied.

Bluewater found their game and won a ball at midfield. A pass outside to Dilly Ohuegbe saw the lanky forward streak down the wing. A high cross from the right side found the top corner of the Guelph net and the Blaze had drawn first blood 5 minutes in.

Guelph tried to counter but their shot sailed wide. On the ensuing goal kick, Graham found the foot of Ohuegbe who punched the ball outside to Matt Sheeler. Sheeler spotted Richael O’Neil who drove the ball at the Guelph goal but was denied by an astute defender.
 

Guelph tried to break through with an aggressive through ball past the Blaze defense. Drew McFeggan was the lone defender back for the Blaze but could not be beat on the one v. one. Guelph continued to attack with through balls up the middle but Graham was able to effectively read the play and charge from the net to thwart the Guelph strikers.

Bluewater made some substitutions and started to find their patented possession game. An effective switch of the field found the ball at Matt Cservik’s feet. Cservik found O’Neil who turned but the shot sailed just wide of the Royal’s goal.  Hard work by Ohuegbe allowed a good pass to Sheeler. The winger switched the field to Justus Kerkof-Fox who blasted a left foot shot but the Guelph keeper was up to the task.

Steve Blysniuk finding time in the middle, carried the ball for the Blaze. A strong pass to O’Neil who shielded the ball and returned the pass to a charging Blysniuk, saw a shot tipped just wide.  Bluewater took advantage of the ensuing Corner. A short corner saw O’Neil carry and pass  back to Mitch Leblanc. Leblanc made no mistake and Bluewater had a 2-0 lead at the half.

The Blaze tried to extend their lead early in the second half. O’Neil crossed to Dylan Wardell inside the Guelph 18 yard box. Wardell looked to control the ball for a shot but an unfortunate bounce resulted in a hand ball call and a wasted chance.

Marcus Dusseault for the Blaze won a ball in the middle and blasted a drive that the Guelph goalie was fortunate to save.

Guelph continued to believe that the flat four of the Blaze could be beaten with through balls. They looked to be correct when a through ball allowed a streaking Guelph player to break free on Graham. Josh challenged the striker and the ball sailed wide.

A Guelph throw in deep in Blaze territory found and unmarked man who went unchallenged toward the goal and made no mistake to give Guelph life at 2-1.

Bluewater, rather than collapsing into a defensive shell looked to attack. Jenelle Labadie won a challenge and spotted Wardell. Wardell chipped the ball on to O’Neil who deked a Guelph defender but his shot sailed just high over the bar.

Guelph looked for the equalizer and poor clearing by the Blaze backs saw a hard crack from the Guelph midfield sail just over the Blaze goal.

Blysniuk showing patience carried the ball down the line and again found O’Neil. Once again the Blaze striker looked to be snake bit when his blast just missed the outside post.

O’Neil was determined to find the back of the net and was rewarded with an individual effort. Winning the ball, O’Neil beat 2 Royal defenders and then beat the keeper with a smart shot far post. 3-1 Blaze.

Bluewater was awarded a Free Kick 25 yards outside the Guelph goal. Mitch Leblanc lobbed the kick inside the 18 yard box for Wardell. Wardell challenged a Guelph defender with a header and the ball ricocheted over the head of the Guelph goalie for an own goal. Leblanc had his second of the match. 4-1 Blaze.

Guelph refused to quit and Graham had to make a good save looking into the sun on a Guelph free kick.

Guelph scored their second, when a goal kick from their own end went through the Blaze backs. A break away saw the ball slipped just past Graham. 4-2.

The Blaze controlled the ball the final 3 minutes and celebrated their well deserved win.

The Blaze next tackles the Kitchener “B” squad at Lambton College Sunday.