Shock Pick Up Important Road Win

Electric City Shock returned from their first road game of the season with three points, after prevailing 3-1 over Greater Binghamton FC Thunder Saturday night. With the threat of rain subsiding as kickoff drew closer, Electric City was excited to add to their positive start to the season while GBFC was looking to overcome a tough loss last weekend.

As was the case in last weekend 1-1 draw, Shock were the first to get on the scoreboard.  In the 23rd minute Steve Golding sent a long ball into the channel for Jarrod Smalley.  Smalley beat out the defender and squared a pass into the box for Victor Weaver, who turned a one-touch shot past the Binghamton goalkeeper.

However, the Thunder would answer right back a minute later, when Alex Varkatzas clipped a ball behind the Shock defense.  GBFC captain Mike Rood brought the ball down and calmly slotted home for his team’s first goal in 2017.

Just minutes later, Shock looked to regain the lead. Brandon Smalley was brought down for what initially looked like a penalty, but the referee adjudged the foul to have taken place just outside the box.  Smalley’s ensuing free kick sailed over the bar. The remainder of the first half played out without much fanfare and the teams went into the halftime break deadlocked at one.

Both teams came out of the break flying. Binghamton had a free kick from 20 yards out that went well over, and Smalley again had chance for Electric City, rounding the keeper but he was unable to cut the back across goal.  Shock continued to press, having a few chances lead to a corner. Mike Bazadona then headed over from six yards out, before Brandon Smalley forced a good save from goalkeeper Tyler Elliot.

Smalley then turned creator as he sprung Weaver, who almost scored his second, but had his shot deflect onto the crossbar and out for a corner.  Golding received the following corner on the opposite end the 18-yard box and played the ball back into the mix.  Weaver was there and this time got his second goal.

“Steve [Golding] had it out wide and crossed it in,” Weaver recounted. “It touched a couple players and it kind of just fell for me. I took the shot and just lucky it went in.”

The Thunder pushed to find another equalizing goal, but Brandon Smalley finally got his goal to put the game out of reach in the 86th, when Xavi Gladiador found him streaking up the wing. Smalley cut inside and finished cleanly past Elliot the give Electric City the 3-1 victory.

Head Coach Andy Loughnane was happy to pick up the first win of the season.

“It’s a fantastic result, a great team performance from everybody that was on the field as well as our bench. The guys did a really nice job of buying into what we asked them to do and defensively hanging in there.”

Electric City now sit second in the Keystone Conference with four points, while GBFC sit at the foot of the table.  The Shock next make their first-ever trip to play West Chester United, who currently lead the conference.