Vikings edge out Bombers in Jr. boys soccer
andrew brethauer September 27th, 2011

Sarnia, ON – Spencer Charlton had two goals for the Northern Vikings, as they defeat the SCITS Blue Bombers 3-2 in LSSAA junior boys soccer from Tuesday afternoon.

SCITS had the original lead in the game coming early in the first half. Tyler Rand would send a cross into the box where Riley Eyer would put it passed Leonard Ancheta to give the Bombers the early 1-0 lead.

SCITS would settle into a defensive game, stopping the Vikings from getting any prime offensive chances at the net, or making it difficult for the Vikings when they did have the chance, making shots go wide or high. SCITS would have a chance to take a 2-0 lead but a bouncing ball would be kicked wide with Ancheta out of position to make the same.

It would cost the Bombers, as the Vikings would capitalize on a miss goal kick by SCITS keeper Zach Barons, who only got a piece of the ball, sending it right to Charlton who raced in, beating the Bombers keeper low to tie the game at 1-1.

Northern would strike again fast, as Charlton would pick up his second of the half after Afridee Haque sent a cross into the box that the Bomber defence couldn't handle and Charlton put in for the easy goal, giving Northern a 2-1 lead.

The Blue Bombers keeper Barons would come up with two big saves to end the half, first on Haque who got a penalty kick that was pushed aside by Barons, and on a free kick just outside of the box that Barons punched away to end the half with the Vikings up 2-1.

In the second half the Bombers would bring the offensive to the Vikings, but this time it would be Northern who would take away the passing and shootings lanes as they held onto their one goal lead.

It would prove beneficial to Northern as Dylan Wardell would get the Vikings third straight goal early in the half to give Northern the 3-1 lead.

SCITS would continue to fight for another goal, owning possession of the ball for the better part of the half. The sustained pressure would lead to a leading pass into the box, where Tyler Rand would win the race to the ball ahead of the Northern keeper and put a sliding shot high enough to score, cutting the lead to 3-2.

But it is as close as the Bombers would get, as Northern would hold on to the 3-2 victory.

Northern is now 2-0 to start the season, but the team aspects is still in the works.

"As a team we are still not quite there," said Vikings coach Nick Nienhois. "Individually every player is executing well. We just need to piece it all together to play as a team."

SCITS is now 0-2 on the season after a loss to St. Clair. The Bombers were short-handed in that game and had only one substitution for the Northern game, and were able to keep both games close.

"SCITS was awesome, they worked hard and had a lot of good effort," said Nienhois. "A good hard fought game."

SCITS will have Thursday off from LSSAA action while the Vikings will travel to St. Christopher's to take on the Cyclones.

Follow Sarniasports on twitter @sarniasports. Get up to the minute news, and live scores

as they happen from local events.