New Kent comeback falls short in soccer opener

New Kent's Tyler Brightwell (left) battles with Colonial Heights' Derrick Jackson for control of the ball in first half action.

Alan Chamberlain photo

Despite playing one man short for most of the second half, New Kent’s host Trojans managed to erase most of a three-goal lead Colonial Heights’ fast-starting Colonials built in the first half of Tuesday’s season opening soccer battle.

And an apparent game-tying goal on an indirect free kick appeared to pull the hosts even with the Colonials just past the second half’s midpoint. But that scored was waved off, enabling the visitors to cling to a one-goal advantage. Colonial Heights then added an insurance score down the stretch to escape with a 4-2 win.

“We started to really pick it up in the second half even though we were one man down,” said Trojan coach Keith Grant. “Actually, we played some of the best offense I’ve seen since last year, and I was really happy with them.”

But the Trojans could not unleash a consistent attack early on, and, in fact, were rocked back on their heels in the face of Colonial Heights’ pressure. Five minutes in, the visitors’ David Taft drilled a shot past Trojan keeper Justin Cox to open the scoring. Four minutes later, another open shot, this time off the foot of Davi Fernandez, created a 2-0 lead. A Trent Jackson header then made it 3-0 midway through the first half.

With 12 minutes left before intermission, however, New Kent began its comeback, thanks to the Colonials’ Austin Hauser tripping Darren McCaughan. The violation set up the Trojan co-captain for a penalty shot that he blasted well beyond keeper Ben Napier’s reach.

Eight minutes into the second half, McCaughan struck again, this time on a perfect cross from teammate Jonathan Bottoms. McCaughan slipped a shot past a diving Napier to close the gap to 3-2.

Jan Czech’s booming indirect free kick from beyond the midfield stripe sailed over defenders before bouncing above Napier’s leaping save attempt and into the net for the apparent tying goal with 18 minutes to go. But by rule on an indirect free kick, a player other than the kicker must touch the ball before it enters the goal. Game officials erased the score, saying Napier never got a finger on the ball.

Colonial Heights then put the affair out of reach with five minutes to play. Positioned in the right spot to pick up a teammate’s miss that caromed off the goal’s frame, Taft created the final margin.

Colonial Heights managed a 17-10 edge in shots. Cox stopped four shots while Billy John, who took over in goal for the Trojans in the second half, recorded two saves.