The game began with some expansive soccer, real end to end soccer with some very good chances at both ends, the Nor’easters finally begin to take control on their home field after 15 minutes. Jason Plumhoff’s delivery from wide free kicks and corners was, as always, very dangerous producing chances for Frank Tweneboa and Markhus “Duke” Lacroix.

 

Ocean City really started to assert their dominance after Dennis Zoncher scored from close range, on the 32^nd minute, after great work from Tweneboa down the left crossed it low and hard for the striker to get his 6^th goal of the season.

 

The storm intensified when Zimbabwean defender Tapiwa Machingauta capitalized on a goalkeeper mistake 42 minutes into the game to poke the ball home from three yards.

 

By half time it looked like the game was over as the Nor’easters began to get the City in the mood for the big July 4 celebrations. With the biggest crowd of the year so far, the Nor’easters half time game Bobby Ball Drop was hugely successful allowing one lucky fan the chance to win a ‘The Storm Is Coming’ t-shirt.

 

Into the 2nd half and the pace down the width paid dividends as Kevin Curran overlapped with purpose and supplied Jason Plumhoff for an easy finish. The game started to slow down but it was soon bought back to life as club captain Terry Gibbs hit a David Beckham inspired powerful free kick with great accuracy into the top corner from 25 yards out leaving the Hogges keeper stuck to his line. The heat of the day got to some of the players as the Bermuda Hogges defender Damon Ming got booked for kicking the ball into Junior Chapman after the foul had been called only for Chapman to react badly and see the referees red card.

 

Coach Oswald reflected on the game “It was great to get off to a good start today against a quality but tired Bermuda team who are at the end of their long road trip. The effort from our guys was great and the goals we scored were of excellent quality.” He continued “It is a great feeling to be number two in the whole Eastern conference but we are still hungry for more”.

 

MVP of the game Tapiwa Machingauta has been getting a lot of friendly banter from team mates about a chance he missed in an earlier game but he can put those voices to bed now as he got on the scoresheet and kept Bermuda from scoring with some fantastic blocks and tackles. He told us “I am delighted that I scored my first goal of the season but more important that we got the win. I am happy to score but I get even more pleasure from keeping a clean sheet and tonight we have one”.

 

The Nor’easters play again at home on Friday July 6 and Sunday July 8 against the New Jersey Rangers and the Westchester Flames respectively, 7pm kick off at Carey Stadium. Keep up to date with all the news and information through our twitter (www.twitter.com/oceancityfc) or like our facebook page (www.facebook.com/oceancityfc)

 

 

Nor’easters Starters – John McCarthy (GK), Glenroy Chapman, Kevin Curran, Tapiwa Machingauta, Jason Wells, Max Hamilton, Jason Plumhoff, Emmanuel Kollie, Zoncher Dennis, Markhus Lacroix, Frank Tweneboa

Substitutes – Tyler Miller (GK), Alex Weidman, Blake Fink, Patrick O’Neil, Karl Reddick, Terry Gibbs, Alec Golini

 

Hogges Starters – Bell Tahj (GK), Dominique Williams, Rakeem Deshields, Roger Lee, Damon Ming, Damico Coddington, Jahmel Swan, Tre Ming, Antwan Russell, Idrees Sharieff, Lashun Dill

Substitutes – Troy Hall (GK), Cecoy Robinson, Lejuan Simmons, Shakir Smith, Drewonde Bascombe

 

MVP Of The Game – Tapiwa Macingauta

 

Attendance - 782