Phantoms Defeat Wilmington Hammerheads, 3-2
July 28, 2007 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
New Hampshire Phantoms News Release
MANCHESTER, NH - (July 28, 2007) - The New Hampshire Phantoms season is heating up just as the end is nearing. The Phantoms earned a hard-fought victory tonight at Manchester Memorial High School versus Wilmington Hammerheads, 3-2, coming from behind.
Wilmington, coming off a win last night at Western Mass Pioneers in the Bay State, also tied first place Richmond Wednesday night, 2-2. Playing its third match in four days, the Hammerheads fought valiantly before tiring in the second half.
Phantoms leading scorer Almir Barbosa scored his sixth goal of the season jumping high to bang home a header off a Val Teixeira cross from the left flank just seven minutes into the contest. The Hammers looked sluggish early, but came on strong as the first period progressed. At the 39-minute mark, Wilmington's front-runner Jamie Holmes penetrated the Phantoms' penalty box with a blazing 15 yard sprint with the ball. Four Phantoms collapsed on Holmes leaving Hammerheads' Michael Thompson free on the right side. Thompson collected Holmes pass and shot it past Phantoms goalkeeper Brian Levey.
Romelle Burgess, playing arguably his best match of the season, scored the go-ahead goal for the Phantoms at 65:00 on a dazzling play from the top of the box. Burgess, a Barbados National Team player, received a ball from teammate Patrick White at the 25-yard line and darted to his left with the ball before slamming on the brakes and shifting back to his right. He one-timed a line-drive bullet that never left the ground past a sprawling Hammerhead goalkeeper Tyler Kettering giving the Phantoms a 2-1 lead.
Teixeira then gave the Phantoms its biggest lead of the season with a goal from the right side on a right-footed shot that squeezed inside the near post at 83:00. The Phantoms hung on from there as the tiring Hammerheads' grew frustrated. The visiting team was penalized with four yellow cards and played a man down for the last 25 minutes of the match when Nick Beasant undercut Barbosa's legs knocking him to the pitch in an unsportsmanlike act.
Wilmington managed a late goal in added time when Luke Ibbetson found the back of the net on a mishandled save by Levey from a Brian Bell shot. But, it was too little to late, and the Phantoms prevailed.
The Phantoms have two remaining games on its schedule, both at home. First, the Phantoms will take on Bermuda on August 4 before closing out against Cincinnati on August 11.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 28, 2007
- Islanders Beat Richmond, Gain Berth in Playoffs - Penn FC
- Phantoms Defeat Wilmington Hammerheads, 3-2 - New Hampshire Phantoms
- Thrilling 1-0 Victory Over Charlotte Keeps Stars In Hunt For Top Honor - Cleveland City Stars
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