JV1 Opens The Season With a 4-1 Win Over Concord

 


Hanover's JV1 boys opened the season on Friday with a decisive 4-1 victory over visiting Concord. The Bears started off brightly,  dominating the game but struggling to get shots off and being a little sloppy. Concord were completely outplayed,  though,  and seldom had the ball in Hanover's box. Jojo Drent almost gave us the lead when Jack Myer's corner was headed on to the head of Jojo, who could only nod it into the left side netting. Jack was very industrious through the game and crossed again to Ronan Przydzielski, who was free inside the six yard line, but was off balance and volleyed well over. The Bear midfield kept pinning Concord in their own box and it almost paid off as Ben Thaler-Wellborn took a shot from well outside the box which almost went in top left hand corner. Up to this point, Concord had barely had a sniff, but the striker crept past our line and hit a shot which was was superbly saved by Gavin Nartowicz, with his first (and only) important action of the game. The Bears knew that sooner or later, with  increased pressure the goal would come and it did when Jojo overlapped Jack on the left and crossed the ball perfectly for Oliver Jackson to score his first Hanover goal from a volley in front of the goal.

Hanover picked up the second half as we began, and Jojo was sent one on one with the Concord keeper, and lobbed it over him.  He was barged over, and it might have been a penalty. The ref thought differently, but right on the next play, Denis Pletnev was tripped in the box and a penalty was given, which Jojo scored in the top left corner. The goalie got hands on it, but not enough. After this, the floodgates opened, and 2-0 became 3-0 as Jack again crossed in to Ronan who tapped in for 3-0. The game became congested in the middle of the field, making it hard to find openings and making it a slow game, but Jojo took his tally to two goals as he dribbled past four defenders to slot it into the back of the net. Hanover got too relaxed after this, and were punished by an unlucky penalty off a handball. It was unlucky, (and maybe because of the bumpy field), but they scored as the player went down the middle. There was nothing that Bear goalkeeper Jackson Souther could do. Hanover had out-played, out- thought, and out-smarted Concord for a 4-1 victory. In the end, the man of the match was Jojo, who collected two goals and one assist. 

Next up for Hanover is a road trip Tuesday to play Nashua North. The Bears resume training Monday at 4:00.

Thanks to Nicholas DelPino for his excellent reporting!

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