Picture by Nick Trail of the Manchester Times
Story by: Coach Andy Escue
Coffee Co defeated Cumberland Co last night 4-3 at home in District 6 Semi-Final.
Cumberland Co was awarded a penalty kick in the 17th minute. Goalkeeper David Morgan was able to get a hand on the shot, but the kick put Cumberland Co ahead 1-0. A few minutes later, Coffee Co was
awarded a free kick of their own, and Will Duke calmly slid the ball past the Cumberland Co keeper (21st minute). Coffee Co scored their second goal after a Ricardo Mello corner kick into the area wasn’t cleared, and Ricky Ramirez and Cole Hawkins finished the play from point blank to put the home team ahead 2-1. But Cumberland was able to counter back in the 37th minute, after a long shot deflected off a
defender and found the corner of the net to knot the game up at 2 goals each. Coffee Co wasn’t done in the 1st half, as Ramirez won a goal kick in the air with his head to Mello, who was fouled inside the
Cumberland Co box, and Will Duke again buried the penalty kick for his second of the game in the 41st minute sending the game to half with Coffee Co winning 3-2. Cumberland Co was able tie the game very early in the 2nd half after a ball was played through the defense and kicked past Morgan to again tie the game, this time at 3-3. Coffee County had several good opportunities to score in the 2nd half, but wasn’t able to convert until defender Hawkins headed in another Mello corner kick with 14 min remaining in the contest. The goal proved to be the game winner.
The Raiders will play in Cookeville Thursday night at 7:00 for Championship, and will advance into Region play next week.
