It was a windy night to play soccer in the Port City as Wilmington hosted the Western Massachusetts Pioneers. And the wind would get an assist in three of the four goals played on the night.
Coming into this match I was very excited to be seeing the Pioneers in Wilmington for the first time. While Wilmington is celebrating its 10th year of play in the USL it is the Pioneers that have the longer legacy. The Pioneers were formed two years after Wilmington by Gremio Lusitano. Gremio Lusitano is a club in Ludlow, MA originally organized by Portuguese residents in 1918 and used as a social and athletic club. In Ludlow you will find Lusitano Stadium, where the Pioneers play and the Gremio Lusitano club which is active in athletic, social, and charity events in the community.
In many respects the Pioneers are the latest incarnation of an old school soccer club. A club that has competed professionally and in the amateur ranks for 87 years. In many respects it is sort of disappointing that the club does not compete as Gremio Lusitano or Lusitano FC as it did in the 1930s.
The Pioneers and Hammers while both having individual histories both have entered the season with fresh squads from the last few seasons and both having the aim of returning to the playoffs. The Pioneers opened the match keeping a good shape to the squad on the field and seemed to prefer to defend against Wilmington and attempt counter attacks. This tactic was somewhat hampered by the strong wind on the night that made several long passes go off course. The Pioneers also had the disadvantage of playing their second match in two days and may have been seeking to conserve energy for the duration of the match.
Wilmington though had no intentions of sitting back and used wings Kenny Bundy and Paul Chase to open up the cramped interior of the field. Ryan Miller was the recipient of Paul Chases efforts when the Pioneers failed to clear a ball sent in with the wind and Miller sent the ball into the net in the 27th minute. Then in the 35th minute Paul Chase would again find space and a good breeze to send a ball to Derek Popovich for the 2-0 header, to the delight and cheers of the home crowd.
Wilmington would continue the attack and the Hammerheads would finish the match with a 17-5 edge on shots and an 11-2 total in corner kicks.
After half time the Pioneers attempted to get some forward motion going and the field began to see some of their most creative efforts on the night along with an increase in fouls given. In the 75th minute the Pioneers Kyle Fletcher found the sweet spot that Wilmingtons Chase had been crossing balls from in the first half. Fletcher found the Hammerheads keeper, James Jordan, off his line and sent the ball goalward, from 30 yards out on the side line, into the swirling winds. Jordan fell back to clear but the looping shot bounded into the net.
With the full points now in jeopardy the Hammerheads sought to get another offensive push and substituted Junior Zarate in for Kenny Bundy. After only a minute on the field Zarate had joined both teams in a contest in the Pioneers box. Once again with most of the Pioneers playing defense none of the visitors defenders could clear the ball and Zarate sent a half volley in on the 79th minute for the third Wilmington goal. Then much to the amusement of the home crowd, Zarate forgot the recent declaration handed down by FIFA and proceeded to rip off his jersey and run down the sideline, exposing a Superman shirt in celebration of the goal. Mr. Zarate was then given a yellow card for the in fraction before the Pioneers resumed the match with the kick off.
Wilmington looked much better in this match than against Northern Virginia last week and many of the fans were wondering if perhaps they might see both Derek Popovich and the man he replaced after a red card last week, James Gledhill, on the field at the same time. The prospects of those two joining together with George Corrie and Kenny Bundy might give Wilmington one of the best midfield sets in the league this season.
The Pioneers will have some questions that they will need to answer in the coming weeks in regards to finding some speed in the counter attack if they are intent on defending as much as they have. The two teams will meet again on May 6th at old Lusitano Stadium. Wilmington will next be in action against the Harrisburg City Islanders on Friday April 29th.
Chris Caron
Against All Flags
Wilmington Hammerheads Unofficial Fanzine
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