Royals stumble in first home match to visiting Cary Clarets

The Northern Virginia Royals stumbled in their second match in less than a day, falling 3-2 in their home opener to the visiting Cary (NC) Clarets. Despite narrowing the margin to a single goal in the final five minutes of the match, the Royals were unable to catch the upstart Clarets.
 
Fresh from their first 2009 match of the season the previous evening, the Royals looked to rebound from a 1-1 draw at Reading Rage and begin the winning ways at home. Pitted against a PDL newcomer in the Cary Clarets, this year’s squad looks to fuse wily veterans with fresh new faces to produce a winning combination.

Out of the gates, Cary took control early in the first half with a relaxed possession game and struck quickly on 5th minute goal from Zack Schilawski.  After the very grim start for the home side, the Royals nearly equalized on a near-miss shot fired by Northern Virginia forward AJ Sheta.

Cary doubled their lead in the 17th minute when midfielder Thomas Drake made a slicing run into the Royals penalty box and sent a lofting cross to the back post.   Claret Ronnie Bouemboue struck true, sending his header went untouched into the back of the Royal net.  Cary nearly scored again two minutes later when a contested foul on the top of the penalty box led to a Claret free kick dangerously deep in Royal’s territory. Midfielder Conor O’Brien drove his free kick nearly on target and saw his effort strike the woodwork.

The Royals stepped up their intensity and narrowed the margin in the 30th minute. A quick counter attack started by Royal forward Matt Brady ended in a Cary defender dragging midfielder Eber Martinez to the ground.  On the ensuing set piece, midfielder Mo Hughes blasted his kick into the upper corner of the Cary goal, leaving the Claret keeper with no chance. 

The goal provided the home side some inspiration, and the Royals began to pick up momentum in the second half.  However in the 66th minute, the Royals were struck with another dose of misfortune when the ensuing free kick off of a foul was tucked neatly away by Cary midfielder O’Brien to up the home-side deficit to 3-1. Down two goals late in the match, the Royals launched into an offensive response and were rewarded in the 86th minute by a goal from substitute forward Dave Atkinson. Despite some opportunities in the final minutes, the Clarets managed to hold the lead and earn the 3-2 victory at the final whistle.
 
The Royals will not have to wait long for the rematch as Northern Virginia travels to Cary next Saturday, May 16th.  The Royals return home the following week on Saturday, May 23rd, to face the Hampton Roads Piranhas at Fairfax High School in Fairfax, Virginia.  Match time is set for 6:00PM.