Northview Titans Junior Varsity Boys Game Summary
Northview v. South Forsyth - 1-1
March 13th
The Titans’ team, which was captained tonight by Josh Taylor and Steve Kim, kicked-off in a 4-4-2 formation with the starting line-up being:-
Bader Kashlan
C J Jones Caulin Collier Jarrod Neser Steve Whiteside
Ricky Van Patten Russell Bradford Michael Driscoll Chad Elsey
Josh Taylor Steve Kim
The temperature was quite pleasant as the Titans kicked off this game with the wind and the Titan Tron at their backs. Northview got their first attack underway after 4 mins. when Steve Kim took the ball down the right wing and crossed it but the Forsyth keeper got to the ball before any Titan players. A minute later, Josh Taylor was fouled and Jarrod Neser’s free kick was just over the bar. Three minutes after that Steve Kim also put his shot over the bar after the Forsyth goalkeeper’s clearance went straight to Steve.
Sebastian Czech came into the game for Ricky Van Patten and shortly thereafter Northview took the lead in the 13th minute. The Titans won a throw-in on the right side of the field and Jarrod Neser took a long throw into the penalty box. Chad Elsey just failed to reach it and South Forsyth put the ball out of play on the left side. Jarrod again took the throw and sent the ball towards the goal. Unfortunately for the Forsyth goalkeeper he touched the ball as it sailed over his head into the net. Had he not touched the ball then it would have been a goal kick but since he did touch it, the goal counted. That will be one of Jarrod’s strangest goals ever!
After 14 mins Bader Kashlan touches the ball for the first time as Forsyth pump the ball over the Titan defense. Five minutes after that, Steve Kim, Josh Taylor and Russell Bradford combine well but the shot from Russell goes wide. Ross Cantrell then replaces Mike Driscoll in midfield. Northview won their first corner in the 20th min and as the ball went across the face of the goal and over the heads of all the players, Forsyth made a quick counter attack which Caulin Collier broke up.
In the 26th min the Titans had a good opportunity to take the lead as Russell Bradford played the ball through to Josh Taylor who took the ball into the Forsyth box and rather than shoot he tried to take the ball around the goalkeeper who saved the ball bravely at Josh’s feet. With six minutes left Jarrod Neser had another long throw which was headed out by the defense. The ball went towards Logan Greenburg, who had come on for Steve Whiteside, but he was unable to get the ball back into the danger area. With seconds left in the half Steve Kim won a corner and from the set piece Jarrod Neser got in a good header which was just wide.
Forsyth changed their goalkeeper at half time and began the second half dangerously as they had the wind advantage. They had their first shot within the first minute of the half and the signs were there for the Titan defense to stay on their guard. The Titans were going to have to be dangerous on the counterattack and Jarrod Neser fed the ball to Josh Taylor who passed to Russell Bradford on the right wing. He brought the ball into the box and his shot from a narrow angle was just over the bar.
In the 40th min Forsyth had a long throw into the Titan penalty area but Mike Driscoll headed the ball to safety. Steve Kim and Chad Elsey then combined well and forced the Forsyth goalie to chase the ball towards the edge of his penalty area. As he got to the ball his momentum carried him out of the area so he had to drop the ball in order to avoid giving away a free kick. He stopped, turned and dived back into the area where he was able to smother the ball as Northview players bore down on him. Interesting play! Northview had a nice move in the 46th minute as Russell Bradford headed the ball to Josh Taylor who played it down the right wing and crossed to Steve Kim who headed just wide. In the 53rd min Josh played the ball through to Steve forcing the goalkeeper to make a diving save at Steve’s feet. A few minutes later Mike Driscoll had a shot from outside of the box and the Forsyth goalie had to gather it at the second attempt. Chad Elsey then took his turn at a long range shot which was stopped on the goal line. With 11 mins left in the game CJ Jones put the ball into the back of the net but the officials called it back for a foul on a defender. Not to be outdone, Forsyth came back and forced Bader Kashlan to make a fingertip save as he pushed the ball over the bar for a corner.
The game was tied up 1 – 1 with 7 mins left as Forsyth scored their rather unusual goal. Following a clearance by Northview, a Forsyth player won the ball just inside the Titan half and he punted it back into the Titan penalty area. Bader appeared to have his hands on the ball above his head, but unfortunately lost control of it, and it bounced into an empty net. Being realistic the two strange goals cancelled each other out.
Northview came straight back with Steve Kim feeding the ball to Russell Bradford who shot just wide. As time was running down Forsyth put the Titan defense under pressure but CJ Jones, Chad Elsey, Caulin Collier and Steve Whitesides held their ground. With 11 seconds left the Titans thought they had won the game as Chad Elsey got the ball into the net but for some reason known only to himself the referee called it offside.
Final score Northview 1, South Forsyth 1.
