Real Maryland and its young Head Coach victorious in debut

By Michael Elfman, Potomac Soccer Wire Staff Writer

Despite the Bermuda-like temperatures of near ninety degrees and flashes of lightning looming on the horizon, the Real Maryland Monarchs defeated a stubborn Bermuda Hogges squad, 3-2, before approximately one thousand boisterous and enthusiastic spectators to open its second season of play.

The match also marked the debut of Head Coach, Anthony Hudson, whom at the age of only 28, is America’s youngest head coach of a professional soccer club; Coach Hudson previously served as an assistant for the USL’s Wilmington Hammerheads during both the 2007-2008 seasons.

The young boss was excited in anticipation of both his and his new team\'s debut, telling Potomac Soccer Wire prior to kick off, “I was very excited all day. It\'s been a very long pre-season, it\'s been a long time coming. We\'ve built a team form November and we finally have a match”

Merely two and half minutes into the match, Monarchs midfielder, Sean Rush, scored from former D.C. United team member and newest Monarch team member, Jeff Carroll’s, brilliant set-piece. Although behind early, Bermuda did not panic, but attacked relentlessly and in the 11th minute, the Hogges created a wonderful chance to score from a well crossed ball into the six yard box, but Monarchs ‘keeper, and NISL Champion- Baltimore Blast team member, David Kern, came off his line to calmly grab the ball.

The Monarchs nearly doubled the score in the 21st minute when the ball was whipped into the Bermuda penalty box only to be pounced on by the Hogges ‘keeper, Jason Williams. Just two minutes later, Bermuda created a two versus one situation and appeared certain to score, but Kern made a world class save with his right foot and still maintained a clean sheet. A few moments later, a penalty kick was awarded to Bermuda and Stephen Atwood’s shot to the right was brilliantly saved by Kern whom was a strong candidate to earn Man of the Match honors.

In the 32nd minute, a yellow card was issued to Bermuda’s Atwood and seconds later, the Monarchs doubled their score from yet another Jeff Carroll set-piece whose well delivered ball found Tom Taylor whom clinically placed the ball past Bermuda ‘keeper, Williams, for the 2-0 lead. Soon thereafter, Ryan Cordiero, another former D.C. United team member, was thwarted by a well time save after going in alone in on the Bermuda ‘keeper.

Despite the brilliant play of Kern, the bid for a clean sheet was not to be as Bermuda’s Atwood scored in the 37thminute as the Monarch’s back four appeared to lose its concentration and perhaps look too far ahead to the half-time interval. Although equal in shots at 10 and ahead in corners 7-1, the Hogges were behind on the scoreboard 2-1.

The Monarchs dictated the tempo early in the second half, circulating the ball and generating much rhythm in their possession which subsequently led to some scoring opportunities although nothing came to fruition until the 74th minute when the Monarch’s Jamie Holmes scored from an assist from Gary Brooks to increase the Monarch’s lead to 3-1.

Just two minutes later in the 76th minute, the Monarch’s back four would lose its concentration again and the Hogges punished them; this time it was a goal from Daniel Coddington and it was game on with score now 3-2 in favor of the Monarchs.

The Monarchs gained a tremendous advantage in the 82nd minute when Bermuda’s ‘keeper, Wliiams, was red carded for viciously bringing down a Monarch’s player whom was in a one versus one situation with Williams and had just ran by him with the ball.

With a one man advantage, Real Maryland ground out the win and managed the final minutes to earn its first victory of the young 2009 season.

Commenting on his first ever victory as a professional team coach, Hudson shared his thoughts on the performance, “I felt the positives were there, we created many good chances at times and we played promising, good football. The areas where we fell short where organizational. We showed signs of a brand new team, playing together for the first time. There were glaring mistakes just form the newness of it.”

Coach Hudson and his Monarchs are away at Pittsburgh next Saturday where they’ll play the Riverhounds who have earned two draws from two matches.