Sunday, July 7, 2013
READING, Pa. – In a match that will be remembered for the extreme weather in which it was played, Reading United and the Baltimore Bohemians played to a 1-1 draw. Brutal heat and humidity gave way to a severe thunderstorm which forced a one-hour delay in the match. Following the weather delay, each side frantically pushed for the winning goal. In the end, two teams desperate for a win that would edge them closer to the PDL Playoffs had to settle for sharing the points.
United entered the match looking to get back into the win column following back-to-back draws against the Jersey Express. The Bohs came to town on a roll following emphatic wins over the Central Jersey Spartans and F.A. Euro-New York Magic. Both sides are part of a tight Mid Atlantic Division playoff race, one in which the top five teams were seperated by a mere four points coming into the match.
From the opening whistle, Reading came out aggressively. With much of the early action in the Bohs’ half of the field, United created all of the early chances. Steve Neumann, leading the United attack from the center of the pitch nearly had the opener for Reading in the seventh minute. The midfielder found himself in on goal, but Bohs goalkeeper Andrew Harris got a hand to Neumann’s chipped effort.
United’s captain would find himself on the score sheet moments later. Under constant pressure for the Reading forwards, the ball struck a Baltimore defender's arm in the penalty area. Referee Darth Newman pointed straight to the spot and Neumann stepped up to take the penalty kick. The captain went low and down the middle to give Reading an 11th minute lead.
The lead would last for just 15 minutes before Baltimore evened the score. On a counter-attack, the Bohs broke through the United back four that was playing for an offside call. Facing a three-on-one situation, United keeper Alex Bono raced off his lined and blocked the initial effort. The deflection rolled to Bohs forward Peter Caringi, who crossed to former Reading Under-20 player Austin Martz who only had to tap home the equalizer.
Despite the withering heat, both sides continued to race end to end, creating scoring chances. Neither side was able to capitalize and the sides went to the locker room knotted at 1-1.
Reading had their tails up and mounted continous pressure on the Baltimore defense as the second half got underway. With United dominating possession, the Bohs looked for opportunities on the counterattack. Martz and Caringi were successful in creating chances for the Bohemians, forcing Bono to make eight saves.
With storm clouds gathering over Don Thomas Stadium, the intensity of the match was ratcheted up as each team desperately searched for a game-winning strike. Reading defender Damion Lowe nearly created the go-ahead goal, hitting a 40-yard through-ball to Fatai Alashe. The midfielder got the slightest of touches to the ball, sending a slow roller past Harris and his defense that went just inches wide of the net.
The referee stopped the match in the 83rd minute with lightning crashing all around the stadium just as Reading was about to take a dangerous free kick 25 yards from goal. The teams retreated to the locker rooms for one hour while the thunderstorm passed through the area.
Play resumed with just seven minutes plus stoppage time left in the match. Each side used the hour long break to recover their energy for what would be a grandstand finish.
Everyone in the stadium thought United had scored the game winner in the 87th minute when second-half substitute Jordan Vale hit a looping ball that looked to have caused Harris to save the ball behind the goal line. The referee saw it differently and Baltimore counter-attacked. Martz again found space in the Reading defense and sent a shot the whistled just wide.
Newman found himself forced to make another critical decision seconds later as Darius Madison look to have been scythed down by a Bohs defender in the penalty area. The referee waved play on despite the protestations of the United bench and their faithful fans that had weathered the storm. The final whistle sounded and teams had to share the points as the match ended 1-1.
Despite peppering the Baltimore defense with 22 shots, United were unable to break the deadlock. Neumann lamented United’s inability to put away the Bohs.
“We got a little bit unlucky there in the last eight minutes," Neumann said. "We could have buried one, but it’s something we’ve been talking about, being more clinical in the final third so we’re ending up with wins in these games instead of ties.” The captain kept the big picture in mind stating, “All the other teams are fighting against each other as well and these are the vital games. If you beat a team in the top three or four, it’s going to be big points earned.”
For Reading, the draw keeps them unbeaten in league play in 2013 and moved them into a first-place tie with their next opponent, the Long Island Rough Riders. The Rough Riders have a game in hand over Reading, but face a brutal run in with games against each of the other top five teams in the division. The draw leaves the Bohemians two points adrift of the playoff places and third place Ocean City. The Nor’Easters have two games in hand over Baltimore.
Reading United will conclude their 2013 regular season home schedule and celebrate Fan Appreciation Night at Exeter’s Don Thomas Stadium on Friday, July 12th with an important divisional match against the Long Island Rough Riders. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00pm and tickets are available at www.readingunitedac.com. Reading United offer 2013 Game Day Youth Packages, Group Discount Packages, Birthday Parties and Fundraising Ticket Packages. Contact Denise Strohmayr at denise@readingunitedac.com for all your group needs.