Trojans fade after fast start, fall 8-0 in Bay Rivers soccer

New Kent’s Gunner Gilland and Matt Thomas (8) contest for the ball with Jamestown’s Blake Sutherland and Charles Cloud (22).

Alan Chamberlain photo

Heading into their Bay Rivers District soccer match last Thursday with Jamestown’s Eagles, New Kent’s host Trojans had good reason to believe they could effectively challenge and possibly upset the defending Group AA state champions.

Two nights before, the Trojans lost 3-1 at Tabb. Tabb, meanwhile, had defeated Jamestown earlier by the same score.

And even though the Trojans just missed on an early chance to open the scoring, a favorable outcome wasn’t to be. The Eagles dominated, scoring four first half goals and tacking on four more after the break on the way to an 8-0 shutout.

“We couldn’t have been any flatter,” said disappointed New Kent coach Clinton Leckie. “We couldn’t get organized on defense, and they took advantage of that. We just didn’t have that intensity.”

New Kent surprised the Eagles just moments into the contest. Gunner Gilland dribbled past Eagle defenders to unleash an open shot from the right side of the goal. Eagle keeper Tim Slade, however, made a diving save.

Less than nine minutes later, Jamestown’s Brandon Jordan blasted a shot beyond the reach of Trojan keeper Jay Barbour to put the visitors on top. At the 20-minute mark, Matt Cullom upped the lead to 2-0 and matters rapidly deteriorated for the Trojans.

“They ate us up in midfield,” Leckie said, pointing to the Eagles’ speed and skill. “We gave them too much room to challenge us.”

Barbour finished with 10 saves. Slade and replacement keeper Trevor Hartnett combined to stop four New Kent shots.

The outcome dropped the Trojans to 1-3 in the district and 5-3 overall.