ERSL Cup Final
Hornets U14 regional boys team claims
ERSL Cup with win over east end rivals
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

The Gloucester Hornets Evan Gin (11) fights for the balll against the Cumberland Cobras Ezio Vento during the U14 ERSL Cup final on Sunday. Fred Sherwin/Photo

The Gloucester Hornets U14 boys regional team finished their season on a high note Sunday, posting a 3-1 upset over the regular season champion Cumberland Cobras.

After the Cobras' Mikael Conde scored earlier in the first half, the Hornets Mathius Herman scored on a brilliant bicycle kick with five minutes to go before the break to even the game at a goal apiece.

The Hornets caught a break at the 12 minute mark of the second half when a Cobras player was sent off after getting his second yellow card of the tournament.

Despite being down a man, the Cobras held their own through the middle part of the half, but it was only a matter of time before the Hornets potted the go ahead goal. It came in the 21st minute off the foot of Nathaniel Davis who was the beneficiary of a fortuitous rebound when Joe Khoury's original shot fell to his feet with a wide open net in front of him.

The Hornets would get an insurance marker three minutes later when the Cobras were called for committing a foul in the penalty area. After the Cumberland keeper stopped Herman's initial shot, Herman coolly tapped home the rebound to give the Hornets a 3-1 lead.

The game was a physical affair with two players being sent off on both sides. In the end the difference was the Hornets ability to keep the Cobras in check through aggressive marking and out-hustling their opponents.

It was a remarkable effort by a team that had finished 15 points behind the Cobras during the regular season and lost three straight to their east end rivals including a 1-0 loss on Sept. 5.

Hornets head coach Keith Wallace said Sunday's win was the ultimate culmination of a season long process.

"We brought in a new system this year and went from a defensive style to moving the ball more. We ended up finishing in the middle of the pack, but today they brought it all together and played as a full unit," said an overjoyed Wallace.

To be honest, the Hornets showed their potential during the last week of August when they scored 16 goals in two games, including an 8-0 drubbing of Ottawa South United in the Cup semi-final.

Despite the disappointing loss, Cobras coach Carlos Conde was proud of team's performance all season long.

"This is our first year playing at this level after being promoted last year and we finished at the top of the ladder. We finished first at the Icebreaker and third at a tournament in the U.S. All in all it's been a very good year," said Conde who must now consider moving up to the provincial level for next season. "We'll have to decide what we want to do. We have a very small roster which will make it difficult. So we'll have to wait and see."

Members of the Gloucester Hornets U14 regional team pose for a group photo after winning the ERSL Cup on Sunday. Fred Sherwin/Photo

(Posted 8:30 a.m., Sept. 18)

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