The Kickers did what was needed today to all but guarantee their qualification to the US Open Cup second round.
Kevin Jeffrey led the Kickers to another solid performance, scoring 2 goals in as many minutes to take his season total to nine goals in nine games.
The Barons were no pushover and had some great moments, but despite being the first team to score against the Kickers in five open cup games they failed to further their own cup ambitions.
The Kickers go to Long Island next Sunday knowing that as long as they aren’t pounded by the Rough Riders they will finish top of group three and move onto the cup proper for their second consecutive season.
With an attacking game in mind Kickers coach Leigh Colishaw played forward Kevin Alvero, scorer of the golden goal at Indiana two days earlier, in place of defender Chris Brown. Josh Henderson was rested on the bench, fans favorite Rob Ukrop taking his place up-front. Reserve goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale was also given a starting position ahead of the in-form Mike McGinty.
The Kickers began the game positively looking to establish their dominance early. Burke and Jeffrey combined on the left in the 5th minute, the Trinidadian then delivered a swerving cross into the box where it was met by Kevin Alvero who unleashed a volley towards goal only to see it saved by Barons keeper Rob Vartughian.
The sight of goal seemed to inspire the Kickers and three minutes later their attacking play was rewarded. Battling in midfield, Mike Burke dispossessed a Barons defender and sent the ball through to Kevin Jeffrey who darted towards the Jersey goal, Vartughian came out in attempt to close Jeffrey down, but the forward coolly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner.
South Jersey were stunned, but the Kickers were just getting started. A minute later Marco Ferruzzi battled on the left wing and managed to produce a dangerous cross into the box, the keeper came to collect only to be beaten by Kevin Jeffrey who got his head on the ball and placed it into the back of net once again.
In two swift minutes the Barons were heartbroken, but to their credit they did not let their heads down. Perhaps the Kickers were a little over-confident as the visitors kept plugging away looking to get back into the game, in the 30th minute they got what they were looking for. Pat Morris found himself open on the left and delivered a powerful cross to Gary Williams on the near post, the Kickers defense were caught napping as Williams had plenty of time to place the ball into the top left corner past a helpless Ronnie Pascale.
With the Barons back in the game the Kickers were reawaken, within a minute Tony Williams made his way to the corner of the South Jersey box, curling a shot towards goal forcing a diving save from Vartughian.
No changes were made at half time, but it was soon obvious that the Kickers had been given a wake up call, within three minutes of the restart new signing Ray Goodlett sent a long ball over the heads of South Jersey to be met by Rob Ukrop. Holding off defenders in the six-yard box, Ukrop looked certain to score only to aim his shot at the keeper.
Ukrop was to get a second chance soon after. Mike Burke found Kevin Alvero inside the penalty area, seeing Ukrop charging towards goal Alvero played him a clever back heel but the resulting shot smashed against the crossbar. Jeffrey received the rebound, but with defenders closing in his first touch flew over the bar.
With chances being wasted, maybe fresh legs were the answer. A double substitution was made in the 58th minute, Keith Donohue and Josh Henderson were brought on for Tony Williams and Kevin Alvero. A few minutes later, Rob Ukrop was replaced with Kwaku Adu-Gyamfi.
With Richmond controlling the flow of the game, the Barons needed to do something before the Kickers completely killed them off. An opportunity arose in the 62nd minute as South Jersey’s Les Lunsford received a pass and found himself behind the Kickers defense, Ronnie Pascale quickly realized the danger and rushed towards Lunsford sliding in front of the ball, blocking the attack.
A few minutes later they were given another chance. Gary Williams sent in a cross to the back post from the right flank, Pascale was beaten as the ball flew over his head, breathes were held as the ball hit the woodwork and flew out of harms way.
But these were rare chances, and it seemed only a matter of time before the Kickers would get their third goal and the all important bonus point. It almost came on minute 75 after another attack ended with the ball rolling towards the goal line, the Jersey defenders stood waiting to be awarded the goal kick. But Kevin Jeffrey had other ideas, he ran after the ball and stopped it before it crossed the line, he turned only to meet a Baron defender but somehow managed to get around him in an impossibly small space, spotting Burke running towards goal he hit a low cross but Burke couldn’t control it and the deflection rose above the bar.
Richmond finally got what they were looking for with only 5 minutes left to play. Kwaku made an impressive run into the six-yard box, as two defenders began to close him down he turned and delivered a pass to a waiting Henderson who made no mistake as he swiveled and fired an unstoppable shot from ten yards.
And with that the Kickers go five points ahead of the Long Island Rough Riders with one game to play. As long as something doesn’t go drastically wrong we should once again see the Kickers pit themselves against MLS competition.
Stats by Mike Garbett
Richmond 2-1 -3
S. Jersey 1-0 -1
Richmond
Pascale, Luzak, Goodlett, Knight, Munthali, Ferruzzi, Williams (Donohue 57), Alvero (Henderson 57), Burke (Waugh 88), Ukrop (Kwaku 63), Jeffrey
Goals
Jeffrey (Burke)8'
Jeffrey (Ferruzzi) 10'
Henderson (Kwaku) 85'
Cautions
Munthali 73' (Foul)
South Jersey
Vartughian, Morris, McDaniel, Skahan (Hickey 75), Namazi, Harvey, Sullivan (Schultz 27), Lunsford, Middlemass, Agu, Williams
Goals
Williams (Morris) 30
Cautions
Namazi 69'(Foul)
Skahan 72'(Foul)
Weather - Perfect 75ish degrees & sunny
Referee - Kennedy (2 seeing eye dogs of four, Could have been worse, but could have been alot better, might help if he would see over the players knee caps)
Attendance - 2,442
