NPSL SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE HEATS UP WITH WEEK TWO RESULTS
The second week of fixtures in the Southeast Conference of the National Premier Soccer League saw a Saturday night of equality, as two matches ended as draws, two clubs kicked off their 2014 campaign, and two teams that lost last week won.
The first match of the week saw the New Orleans Jesters (0-0-1) start their season (after being rained out during midweek in Pensacola) at home. The Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves (1-0-1) found themselves in good shape after a 3-0 win at home against Rocket City United the previous weekend.
Despite that edge for Atlanta, they were just unable to find the edge in the tight match. Tornubari Nyonebue gave the Reserves the lead just before the half an hour mark. But as soon as Silverbacks struck, the Jesters found their equalizer from Luke Sheekey. That was the first goal of the year for both.
The mouthwatering fixture between Chattanooga FC (1-0-1) hosting Nashville FC (1-0-1) was a bit of a letdown, as both clubs settled with a scoreless draw, after combining for six goals for and only one against in last week’s opening fixtures.
The Tennessee derby ended a point for each, but it was a breath for Chattanooga, as they completed their third match in eight days, collecting four NPSL points and an U.S. Open Cup win over the Wilmington Hammerheads in that span.
The second club opening their 2014 NPSL campaign, Pensacola City FC (0-1-0), found themselves in Alabama to take on Rocket City United (1-1-0), a club, that previously mentioned, lost to Atlanta the week before.
A Ricky Davey goal minutes before halftime and Andrew Nkurunungi’s 83rd minute goal was enough for RCU to get their first three points of the year. Ada Adedapo opened his scoring campaign in 2014 for Pensacola City FC just minutes before the final whistle, but United assured themselves of moving up the table.
Another team that lost last week, but rectified themselves was the Georgia Revolution (1-1-0). Their 3-2 win over the Knoxville Force (0-2-0) at home assured them of their first three points.
Ibrahima Sissoko started the goal fest just 14 minutes in for the Revs, but Mogamat Ackers equalized for the Force five minutes later. That scoreline would hold until the first minute of the second half, as Iain Smith again put Georgia into the lead.
Smith would double his account on the night and the Revs looked to finally have their first win of 2014. Sissoko found Smith on the far post and the forward put it away. 15 minutes from time, Ryan Ejezie brought Knoxville a goal closer, but they could not get their third and Georgia gets in their winning ways.
In all, three teams now are equal on points in the Conference, as Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves, Chattanooga FC, and Nashville FC all have a win and a draw. Rocket City United and Georgia Revolution added their first wins, New Orleans Jesters have a point after a match and Pensacola City FC and Knoxville Force still have yet to get a point.
