The Taft Boys Thirds soccer team traveled to Avon Old Farms this afternoon to play an always tough, big, strong and mature team of Winged Beavers. On a beautiful day, the WB’s got the better of us and won this match six goals to three. Avon scored only four minutes into the match by taking advantage of Taft’s defensive confusion to earn a good shot and a goal. We haven’t had many chances to practice properly as a full team due to the weather and illness and injury. Therefore our defense has not really gelled into a cohesive unit. We’ll work on that on Monday certainly. Our lads did not become discouraged, however, and actually played up to Avon’s level by passing effectively and earning a couple of good chances. An excellent chance was had in the 11th minute from a restart from 22 yards in front of the Avon goal. Isaac Korus lifted a ball over the Avon wall that Will Henderson headed to Joe Dayton who pushed the ball by the keeper to even the score at one. Avon came roaring back, however, and Taft ‘keeper Bryce Smith was called upon to make a very good save on a point-blank shot in the 13th minute and then the post saved our bacon in the 18th minute. Unfortunately, the WB’s went ahead again the 33rd minute as a long pass forward skipped off the top of the head of a Taft defender to an onrushing player in blue who scored on an almost breakaway. Next, Taft sent the subsequent kickoff all the way back to the back line where the ball was stolen by an Avon forward who then scored in the 34th minute, ouch! Taft dug deep and earned a goal back in the 38th minute as Jeff Ricciardelli gathered his own rebound and sent in a left-footed stinger from about twenty yards out. The first half ended then with Avon ahead three-two. Avon came out very energetically in the second half and earned a quick goal in the 42nd minute as Taft failed to properly defend a long throw into the box. Then, our lads earned their own long throw goal as Darren McNerney tossed one that Joe Dayton passed to Quinn Hedges for a very nice goal, unfortunately Taft’s last of the match in the 53rd minute. Avon scored again in the 60th and 66th minute to ice this game and earn the six three victory. However, our boys played hard to the final whistle. Once again Jin Young Min played very well for Taft and received more than one stiff tackles from big Avon lads for his trouble. T.J. Gresham played well at right back and also had a very busy day as Avon was absolutely relentless on the attack. Our next match is this Wednesday 3Oct18 at 2:30 PM over in Simsbury at Westie. See you there!