New Orleans Jesters Finish Trip Through Carolinas with 3-1 Win in Asheville

The New Orleans Jesters got two second-half goals to pull away from Asheville City Soccer Club Friday night en route to a 3-1 win, completing a six-point trip for the Southeast Conference leaders.

The Jesters scored first in the 26th minute when Mason Walsh made a run down the left wing and crossed it to Tom Peers, who put it away decisively.

Peers credited Walsh for setting him up.

“Mason has done excellent down the wing again. He has been on fire these last 3 games. He’s beating his man every time.  Luckily I was in the box at the right time and was able to finish with my left foot to put us one-nil up.”

Asheville City would answer eight minutes later when Elma N’For got the equalizer off of a loose ball in the box that brought the crowd of 2,129 to life.

But the Jesters jumped back in front in the second half.  In the 54th minute Tony Judice hit a low shot that found its way through a crowd in the Asheville penalty box and into the back of the net for the eventual game winner. For Judice, it was his first goal of the season and couldn’t have come at a better time.

“Last two games I got myself in a good position to score and I was a little unlucky.  Just looking for another opportunity. All I needed was one.”

Oliver Roberts would add an insurance goal in the 66th minute on a free kick from about 30 yards out that beat the keeper near post to push the lead to 3-1.

Jesters head coach Kenny Farrell said this trip couldn’t have gone better as the team came away with two road wins.

“We got six. We had to work hard for it, both games, we had to work hard for it. We didn’t get a lot of chances tonight but we scored some good goals. We had some class play from Oli and Mason, just great players.”

The Jesters play at the Atlanta Silverbacks Wednesday night and then return home for their regular season finale against this same Asheville City squad next Saturday night at 7:00 pm at Pan American Stadium.

Contributor: Paul Boron/New Orleans Jesters
Photo Credit: Paul Boron/New Orleans Jesters