Manchester Central Stops Bears Winning Streak 2-0

 The high-flying Bears were grounded on their home turf by Manchester Central, undone by a critical mistake and their inability to finish, and losing 2-0 to end their nine-game winning streak.  Hanover's loss drops their record to 11-2, and relagates them to second place in the D1 standings behind 13-2 Nashua South.

After 39 minutes of scoreless soccer in a back and forth first half, a miscommunication error between Bear goalkeeper Wyatt Seelig and center back Sam Ames allowed Little Green Striker Celestin Buloze to score a fluky goal from 40 yards out, and despite an  impressive offensive response in the second half, the Bears were never able to solve a determined Central defense.  Another strange goal in the last minute of play accounted for the final 2-0 scoreline, and the disappointed Bears  are now tasked with regaining momentum in the last three games of the season.

The match against Central, always one of the toughest outs on the Hanover schedule, began with some promise.  The Little Green were clearly one of the most talented teams the Bears had faced, but Hanover created two good scoring chances in the first five minutes of the game.  Less than two minutes had elapsed before Will Guerin got loose on the left and centered the ball to Andrew McGuire, who volleyed the ball wide. Three minutes later, Guerin worked free for an shot last the top of the box, and hit a hard, low shot just past the left post.  

The chances were much harder to come by as the half progressed,  particularly because the center of the Central midfield did a great job pressuring the Hanover midfielders, disrupting tier usually fluid passing game and causing turnovers.  Central has the next clear-cut scoring chance,  winning a free kick opportunity just at the top of the Hanover box. Little Green holding midfielder Martin Lubunga, a solid candidate for Man of the Match, struck his kick into the Hanover defensive wall, and Jean-Awiss Ayawi, first to the rebound, hit a soft shot that Seling saved with a dive to his left. Hanover's best bid of the half occurred after a corner kick, when McGuire got to a loose ball in the box and hit a short header that was saves by Central goalie Samuel O'Toole.

It appeared as though the half would end in a scoreless draw, which would have been an accurate reflection of the run of play.  But with Hanover pressing and the ball in the Central end, disaster struck. The ball was cleared just past midfield, right in front of the Hanover bench, and Seelig, always quick off his line, made a long run to the ball.  Same Ames was closing on the ball from the other direction, but a miscommunication between the two gave Buloze all the time he needed to nip between the two and poke the ball toward the distant goal.  It slowly, slowly rolled toward the vacated goal. eluding a desperate run by Schuyler Clapp, and trickled over the line for the only goal Central would need.

There was urgency on the Hanover bench at halftime but no panic, and whatever was said, it was clear that the Bears were ready to play with more precision and urgency in the second half. It may also be true that Central was probably happy to stop pressing and start collapsing to get numbers behind the ball.  In any case, it was not long before Hanover was working the ball wide and generating some good chances.  Ryder Hayes hit a low,  hard free kick that was deflected over the top for one of the seven corner kicks Hanover would earn.  Both Zach Tracy and Andrew McGuire came close to connecting.

Pressing deep into the Central end naturally opened the Bears to being countered, and the Little Green occasionally attacked with authority.  Seelig made a great point blank save on a shot by Lamdon Vasquez, but then it was Hanver's turn to respond.  Sam Ames had one of his best headers yet from another corner, and then Zach Tracy saw his hard shot saved by O'Toole.  Ian Press had two great rips from the top of the box, and did a great job combining with right winger Seam Smith to create several good crosses from the right side. Carter Guerin forced a save with a hard shot from the top of the box, and both Mcguire and Tracy once again forced O'Toole to be a hero.

Hanover had control, penetration, restarts, and shots.  But they could not crack O'Toole and the Little Green defense, and the clock began winding down.  Central eventually won a pair of corner kicks as the clock stopped at 5:00, allowing time to be kept by the occasionally moving center official.  The Bears defended, and earned two more final corners as the clock started to run out.  With nine of Hanvoer's ten players pressing forward, the ball was cleared to midfield, and was collected by Landon Vasquez, who carried it in a one one situation and found room just over the line to hit a long, high clearance that managed to carry over the head of Seelig, who had begin to creep forward in anticipation of a possible breakaway.  The 45-yard chip snuck under the crossbar for an insurance goal that added insult to injury.  The final whistle soon followed, after one final fruitless corner, and Hanover's win streak was long gone.

After such a loss, the thing that players want the most is a chance to play again soon.  Fortunately, that opportunity will present itself on Saturday.  Hanover hosts Salem at Noon.  We'll see how they respond.