RECAP: ELECTRIC CITY SHOCK 5, BUXMONT TORCH 0

For the first time in their history, Electric City Shock are playoff bound.  It took until the last day of the regular season, and needed NJ Copa FC to beat Junior Lone Star, but Electric City did their part in their 5-0 win over Buxmont Torch Saturday evening.  Each team had some early chances on counter attacks, but once Shock got on the scoreboard there was little looking back.

Cade Harmon got the scoring started in the 32nd minute after Brandon Smalley found him just inside the box.  Harmon feigned to his left before a neat spin move put the ball on his favored right foot and allowed him space to bend a low shot just inside the far post.  Just a few minutes Mike Bazadona continued his fine scoring form, three goals in four games, to put City up two.  A free kick from Jarrod Smalley was flicked on by Victor Weaver. Weaver touch fooled everyone but Bazadona, who was perfectly positioned to nod the ball home.

City continued to press and had several more chances in the first half before Smalley got his first of three goals on the night, as he finished Bazadona’s cross with the last kick of the first half.

The second half started exactly as the first ended, with Bazadona providing an assist for Brandon Smalley again, just one minute into the half.  Bazadona, who impressed down the right flank all day clipped a through ball into Smalley’s path, who raced in on the Buxmont keeper and placed a little chip over and into the back of the net.

The final goal of the night would cap off Smalley’s hat trick. Similar to the fourth goal, Smalley got on the end of a lobbed through ball, this time from Weaver.  With plenty of space, Smalley put this on to the keeper’s left and celebrated his sixth goal of the season.

Electric City’s impressive night could have all been in vain had results elsewhere not gone their way. Fortunately, Junior Lone Star was not able to beat NJ Copa FC in their 7:00 pm kickoff, which allowed City to grab the fourth and final playoff spot with 15 points after ten games. We now wait for the result of West Chester United and Clarkstown SC Eagles to see if our first-round opponent is NJCFC or West Chester.