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Barons save home unbeaten streak

O.C. scores equalizer late against 10-man Dynasty

The Ocean City Barons extended their home unbeaten streak to 28 games, but failed to earn all three points in a 2-2 draw with the Delaware Dynasty on Wednesday night. Ruben Mingo scored late to save a point for the home side, his first non-penalty kick goal of the season.

In a back and forth, closely fought contest, the Barons had to fight back to get level despite playing with the man advantage from the 37th minute when Delaware's Ricky Henderson was shown red.

The night started well for the Barons whose best chance early came in the 13th when Ryan Heins' hard drive was parried by the keeper right to Jeremy Ortiz in the six yard box. His shot went well over the bar.

In the 16th, Heins found Byron Carmichael on a nice run but the low hard shot went narrowly wide at the back post.

The breakthrough came in the 36th when Carmichael put Ortiz in and this time he buried his chance for the 1-0 Barons lead. It was only a minute later when Henderson was shown red on a dangerous foul.

Playing a man up, a long ball out of the back from Thompson found Carmichael who looked sure to make it two but was instead stoned by the keeper on a fine save.

The second half was a very different game. The Dynasty, down a man, were the better side for the first 20 minutes which was all they needed. Their first came off a free kick on a strange play where two Dynasty players crashed together and lay prone on the field. A foul on the Barons was given leading to the free kick taken by Mulyena which deflected off the wall and past Edwards in goal.

Eight minutes later, it was 2-1 Dynasty. With the Barons pushing up looking to get back on top the hustling Dynasty front runners created the opportunity when the ball found Bekoe in front and he made no mistake about what to do with it, blasting it past Edwards.

Now down to the 10-man Dynasty, the Barons pressed even harder. At times too hard as they seemed to be in a rush with more than 25 minutes left. Flooding the area on every opportunity the Barons appeared to have scored the tying goal from Thompson but it was disallowed for a handball. The Barons pressure was nearly continuous and they forced several solid saves. They settled, got fresh legs on and it paid dividends in the 81st. A hard drive from Heins was parried aside by the diving keeper but right into the path of the hustling run to the back post by Mingo who buried it. Tie game.

The Barons kept the pressure on and nearly had the game won off a header from Scott Hawkins and another from Carmichael, but it wasn't to be.

The Barons are still alive in their bid for a playoff spot. Tonight's draw just eliminates some of the possiblities as it draws them into a tie with the Williamsburg Legacy for the 4th playoff spot.

Another thing it does for certain is this; a win in any of the remaining three games by Westchester means they win the division. It is actually still a possibility that the Barons could win the division; they MUST win all of their last three while the Flames fail to win any. Two draws by Westchester and 3 wins by the Barons would leave them in a tie with 30 points to be settled by tie-breakers.

The Barons continue their home stand on Sunday when they welcome the Ottawa Fury to Carey Stadium. As always, the kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

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