Royals Maintain Undefeated Home Record with Route of Liberty FC

Chandler Givler buries a cross from Navid Istanbullu into the back of the net.

On an overcast day in Shawnee Kansas, Woodland FC welcomed 4th-place Liberty FC to Stump Memorial Park for their final home match of the season. Woodland was seeking to end the season unbeaten at home, winning 7 while drawing 2 (Olathe United, Leawood Forest). Woodland, who are still alive in the title race until Olathe United claims a single point from their remaining 3 games, wanted to make sure that if the title would be won by another team in The Select League, then it would be because of a Woodland loss. The players were determined to give the Woodland faithful a good show, and to close out their year at Stump on a high note. And that they did, with a clinical performance from all starters and subs. Here's how the action happened.

Woodland struggled in the opening phase of play to maintain meaningful possession of the ball as Liberty pressed well. Their resurgence under owner Phil Birkey, and head coach Josh Benigar, is one the season's great storylines. Liberty harassed Woodland into some uncharacteristic errors near the back, forcing some heart-in-mouth moments from the Woodland fans. Woodland, normally a great team early in matches, found themselves unable to connect meaningfully through their normally sound midfield. But that wouldn't last all that long.

Jake Ashford pressured well, dropping back into midfield, and turned his man. He drove through the attacking third, and found Sean Thomson racing past the centre-back. Ashford curled the ball into Thomson's path, Thomson settled, and slotted it past the onrushing Alex Drambour for the 1-0 lead just at 15 minutes played.

1-0

Sixteen minutes later, Thomson would return the favor to Ashford. After clearing the ball from the backline, Navid Istanbullu played a quality short pass that split two defenders to a wide open Thomson, who turned upfield, and charged ahead. He dribbled, unopposed, for close to 45 yards before finding the run of Jake Ashford. Ashford sprinted past his man, latched onto the ball, rounded the keeper, and tapped it home. The Liberty bench called for offside, and they had a case to be made. It did appear that Ashford had gone just before the pass had been made, but no call was given, and the score remained.

2-0

Liberty came close on a few occasions after the 2nd goal. Goalkeeper, Luke Heaton, misjudged the flight of a long shot, and he had to sprint back into position to parry the ball away from the goal just in time. There was an miscommunication between Tate Lancaster and Heaton as well, and a ball that should have been claimed, was kicked around, and pushed wide by Liberty. Their wasted chances would come back to haunt them, as just on the stroke of halftime, Chandler Givler would add a third to Woodland's tally. Thomson found himself in space on the right after being released by a great through ball by Federico Verlicchi. Thomson took his man on, dribbled across the top of the penalty box, and curled a shot that the keeper managed to parry, but was unable to push it away. It rolled precariously across the goal line, and Givler was first to react. He outraced his defender, and slid the ball into the goal.

3-0

Halftime

Woodland came out of the half with some tactical changes. Derrick Carson, TJ Mikkelson, and Joseph Caughron all were subbed in to keep all 3 levels of field players freshened up. Liberty came out of the half eager to flip the script and finish their chances. Their hopes would be dashed rather quickly after a promising attack of their own turned into heartbreak in mere seconds. Liberty managed to work the ball upfield into the Woodland penalty box, and were preparing a good cross into the box, when Johnathan Young stepped in to claim the ball, and cleared it upfield, just over the Liberty right back's head. Jake Ashford sprinted after the ball, and beat the centre-back to the ball, but only just, and not before receiving a knock from a sliding challenge. Instead of going down, Ashford continued into the box, and took the keeper on. He rounded him again, and tapped home once again.

4-0

In the 60', Derrick Carson would get on the board for Woodland after heading home a corner kick from Givler right at the top of the 6-yard box. It was his 2nd goal of the campaign, and one that all but put the game to bed for the home team.

5-0

Woodland would complete their offensive performance after bringing on Jordan Flores, Alex Tate, and Maguire Hardin. Thomson collected the ball in midfield and managed to beat his defenders yet again. He found the industrious Joseph Caughron down the right side. Caughron, not known for his dribbling, took his man on and beat him to the penalty box, and fired a low rasper of an effort into the bottom corner that Drambour couldn't react to in time. An impressive development for the young forward, and a well taken goal.

6-0

Liberty would score the final goal of the match on an excellently taken effort by Marcus Wolfenbarger, an up and coming midfield star in the Select League for this Liberty team. His shot ricocheted in off the post to give the traveling Liberty fans something to celebrate.

6-1.

This win leaves Woodland at 40 points on the season. They need help from Northland FC, Southside FC, and Antioch Rangers FC. Woodland needs all 3 of these teams to beat Olathe United in Olathe's final fixtures for Woodland to retain the title. Regardless of what happens this weekend, Woodland's final match of the season is August 2nd, Saturday, at Leawood Forest. The match will be played at Barstow School on State Line rd.

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