Huron United Football Club draws with Oriental SC Reserves; defeats Riverside B

The Huron United Football Club battled the Oriental SC Reserves to a gritty 2-2 draw in Listowel Tuesday, July 9.

Oriental SC took the lead 10 minutes into the match, but Huron United drew level after a well-placed dropkick by keeper Dylan Simon caught Oriental’s backline, allowing striker Adam Carty to attack the bouncing ball and loop a volley over the keeper.

The second half followed a similar script, with Oriental scoring in the 50th minute on a free kick to the top right corner of the Huron United net. Fortunately, a defensive error by Oriental ceded a penalty in the final minute of the game. Ryan Schriek stepped up to the spot and calmly dispatched the ball into the top left side of the net, preserving a tie for Huron United.

The Man of the Match award went to Simon for his performance in goal, with honourable mentions to James Tigert at centre-back and irrepressible winger Luke Kim.

Huron United got back in the winning column the following Tuesday, with a 5-3 victory against rivals Riverside FC B, July 16.

Huron United got off to a hot start this time around, going ahead 1-0 in the 12th minute with another goal from A. Carty. Midfielder Schriek out-muscled his marker off a throw-in and laid the ball off to A. Carty at the top of the box. Carty calmly controlled the ball before stroking it into the bottom right corner.

Masoom Saromie and Simon Andonian supplied timely blocks during the subsequent Riverside press, but the visitors eventually drew level midway through the first half.

Winger Drew Cobean restored the Huron United lead in the 30th minute after Saromie stepped forward to launch a through ball in behind Riverside's high line. Cobean protected the ball from the closing defender before slotting a low shot around the Riverside keeper. Minutes later, Cobean got loose again on the left side and chipped a cross to Kim, who confidently put his volley home to put Huron United up, 3-1.

Moments before halftime, A. Carty took advantage of a misplaced back-pass by Riverside, attacking the loose ball and ripping his brace past the outstretched keeper.

After keeper Aidan Calcutt dispatched a series of chances, Riverside cut the deficit to 4-2 in the 58th minute with a blast from the top of the box. A. Carty nearly completed his hat trick in response, but was denied by the woodwork after a glancing touch from the Riverside keeper.

Fullbacks Angus Sharpe and Anirudha Panditrao had golden opportunities well inside the Riverside box, but each had his shot pulled off the goal line. Calcutt preserved the lead with a clutch double-save after a swinging Riverside cross eluded the Huron United backline in the 85th minute.

Riverside converted a rebound in the 89th after Calcutt stopped the initial free kick, upping the pressure in the closing minutes. Huron United responded with conviction: Andonian placed a perfect through ball ahead of Cobean, who made it 5-3 with the final touch of the game.

The Man of the Match was a dead heat between Cobean, the focal point of the offence, and Saromie, whose ability to win headers in the second half evoked a young Dave McNeish.

Huron United is playing out of the Tri-City Men's Soccer League again this season, and the next match was slated for Tuesday, July 23, against the Oriental FC at Spinrite Field, Listowel. Huron United’s roster is composed of players from Kincardine, Port Elgin, and surrounding areas.  The club can be followed at https://www.kdslsoccer.com/teams/default.asp?u=KDSL&s=soccer&p=home.



Huron United midfielder Simon Andonian plays a pass against Riverside FC B