Antigua Barracuda FC News Release -- www.antiguabarracudafc.com
Sunday, July 10, 2011
ST. JOHN'S, Antigua – Jyler Noviello scored the game-winning goal for the Wilmington Hammerheads in the 75th minute, sending the Antigua Barracuda FC faithful home crushed and deflated as 10-man Wilmington took a 3-2 victory at the Sticky Wicket Stadium on Sunday evening.
Keen to give their fans a better result than last Friday, the 'Cudas started brightly with little or no response from the visitors who seemed more determined to soak up the pressure and cause problems with their aerial superiority, particularly from set plays.
That superiority came to the fore in the 28th minute when a corner to the near post, aided by a flat-footed defense, saw Tom Parratt force home to give the Hammerheads the first goal of the match.
Disappointed but not daunted the home team pressed further to extract something from the game but to add more pressure to the visitors, Hammerheads forward Chris Banks was dismissed for dissent, reducing the Hammerheads to 10 men.
But it was not long before the visitors provided the best response possible and capitalised on yet another defensive error when the impressive Manny Guzman was allowed to get in front of Roy Gregory and head home to rub more salt in the wound of the Barracuda in the 42nd minute, which is the way it would remain at halftime.
Upon resumption the intent was clear for Antigua as they changed their formation and pushed more men forward. In the 48th minute of play the change of shape paid dividends as Lawson Robinson struck home from close range to bring life to the small crowd. Buoyed by this early and important goal, the 'Cudas sprung to life with a series of attacking moves resulting in three corners in as many minutes.
The game was all square after a powerful header by Christopher Harvey in the 55th minute, his third of the season. Now the crowd was making enough noise to suggest they could feel a dramatic comeback was in the making.
The Hammerheads continued to sit back, intent on securing at least a point from the game but also aware that the home team seemed vulnerable to set pieces. Their chance came in the 75th minute when Noviello was first to react to a ball headed back into the six-yard box from the back post, putting home his second goal of the season and denying Antigua any chance of a dramatic comeback.
It was a bitter pill to swallow as the home team failed to make any further in-roads into the Hammerheads defense. The defeat leaves Barracuda FC languishing at the bottom of the American Division with only a slim chance of advancing to the playoffs, while the Hammerheads move on to 27 points and firm up their position as postseason contenders, taking sole possession of fourth place in the division.
Antigua will try to get back on track next Saturday when it travels to face the Richmond Kickers next Saturday at 7 p.m. at City Stadium.