Missed shots thwart New Kent bid to overcome Colonial Heights

New Kent's Christian Lysek controls a pass in front of Colonial Heights' Yanni Dones.

Alan Chamberlain photo

Several near miss shots cost New Kent’s Trojans in their bid to keep pace with Colonial Heights’ visiting Colonials during the first half of Thursday night’s soccer clash. Down 2-0 at intermission, the Trojans cut the deficit in half after play resumed but could not draw closer as the Colonials held on for a 3-1 win.

“We could have played a little cleaner,” Trojan coach Keith Grant said. “After a slow first half we picked it up in the second half, but we were already behind.”

Just over six minutes into the contest, Matt Mehfoud drilled a shot from the left side to put the Colonials on top. Five minutes later, Kyle Claytor’s bid to even the count sailed just wide left of the Colonial goal.

Midway through the first half, the visitors added to their cushion. Yanni Dones’ penalty shot eluded a diving save effort by Trojan keeper Billy John to up the count to 2-0.

Leading up to the halftime break, New Kent earned several opportunities to get back in the match. First, a Claytor pass found teammate Adam Caldwell open for a shot, but Caldwell’s foot appeared to catch too much turf, driving the ball wide of the goal. Moments later, Caldwell launched a better effort, but Colonial keeper Ben Napier smothered the shot.

Late in the half, Daniel Meza came close on two shots, but the first sailed over the goal. Napier stopped the second after a Caldwell throw-in.

Caldwell opened the second half with a line drive saved by Napier. But 13 minutes in, Caldwell got redemption, taking a pass from Meza and blasting a shot under a diving Napier to close the gap to 2-1.

Colonial Heights, however, tacked on an insurance goal with 16 minutes left. John lost his footing on Dones’ direct free kick, enabling the visitors to build the final margin. Other than Alan Walker’s shot stopped by Napier, the Trojans could not make further inroads as the final minutes ticked off the clock.

John, meanwhile, stopped 10 Colonials’ shot to help the Trojans, now 1-2, remain within striking distance. The visitors managed a 17-13 edge in shots on goal. Napier registered five saves.