Huron United defeats Polish Eagles RED B Kitchener to clinch playoff spot

In a dominating team performance, the Huron United Football Club secured a spot in the playoffs by defeating the Polish Eagles RED B Kitchener, with a score of 1-0. The match was held at the Listowel Spinrite fields, Tuesday, Aug. 29.

Right from the outset, Huron United demonstrated its intent to dominate the game. Within the first two minutes, Drew Cobean delivered a pinpoint cross to striker Andrew Wiergersma, whose initial shot was thwarted by the Eagles' goalkeeper. However, Riley Cherrett capitalized on the rebound, coolly finding the bottom right corner of the net to give Huron United an early lead of 1-0.

The first half showcased Huron United’s relentless pursuit of victory. The team’s strong ball possession and efficient utilization of the field's width kept the Polish Eagles on their toes. Adam Carty and Wiergersma unleashed a barrage of shots on target, with some narrowly missing the opposition’s net.

The half-time whistle blew with Huron United maintaining its momentum and holding onto the 1-0 advantage.

As the second half commenced, Huron United continued to assert its dominance despite the challenges posed by heavy rain, causing the ball to skip unpredictably. Goalkeeper Dylan Simon's words summed up the trying conditions: "Just trying to keep my body in front of the ball and hoping it doesn’t take an awkward bounce is all you can do in these conditions."

In an unfortunate turn of events, the game was called off prematurely in the 75th minute due to lightning concerns. The final score stood at 1-0 in favour of Huron United, as the Polish Eagles opted to accept the loss rather than waiting for the weather to clear.

The commendable efforts of the Huron United players did not go unnoticed. Full-back Angus Sharpe was named the "Man of the Match" for his exceptional defensive prowess and his instrumental role in providing width during offensive possessions. Additionally, accolades were extended to Andrew Benney, Chris Coady, and Simon Andonian for their outstanding defensive contributions.

With this victory, Huron United secured the sixth place in the TMSL division and solidified a spot in the upcoming playoffs. The anticipation builds as Huron United prepares to face off against Stratford Home Farm SCFC, the third-seeded team, in the first round of the playoffs. Having split their regular season match-ups with both teams securing 2-1 victories, the playoff encounter promises to be a captivating showdown of skill and determination.

Follow the team at: www.kdslsoccer.com/teams/default.asp?u=KDSL&s=soccer&p=home; on Facebook @Huron United FC; and Instagram @huronunited.



The Huron United Football Club has advanced to the playoffs; in the back, are assistant coach Pat Carty (left), Ryan Shriek, Jason Leiskau, Simon Andonian, Gys Weverink, Masoom Saromie, Chris Coady, Andrew Benney, Drew Cobean, Ryan Carty, Angus Sharpe, player/coach Anirudha Panditrao; and in front, David McNeish (left), Cam Fletcher, Dylan Simon, James Tigert, Adam Carty, Jacob Hunsburger, Riley Cherrett, and Andrew Wiegersma; absent for the photo, are Gerrit Satosek, Aidan Calcutt, Haydon Armstrong, Carter Obasohan, Charlie Hall-Elwood, Jono Faragher, Kyle Branscombe, Zack Stoneman; photo courtesy of Anirudha Panditrao