Woodland sputter to draw against revamped Leawood Forest

Woodland FC took a hit to their title defense hopes after failing to register a goal against a brand new Leawood Forest side that took full advantage of the midseason transfer window to reset a roster that had yet to register a single point all season. Leawood came into the match intent to play low against their goal, putting 10 players behind the halfway line for most of the game. The match was one-way traffic with Woodland possessing the ball for most of the match.

The first half had chances on goal at a premium. Sean Thomson came close on a sliding effort inside the box off a corner kick. Gage Pemberton almost steered a bouncing ball toward goal off another corner. Leawood had a low cross that was cut out by Steeve Pouna and steered away from danger. Chandler Givler tried an overhead shot that was put over the bar. An ugly stalemate at the half.

0-0 halftime

Woodland made two changes at the start of the 2nd half. New team additions, Jake Ashford, and Elluan Martins Gomes joined the battle to try and get Woodland a spark offensively. Leawood sat back in their defensive shell again. About 10 minutes into the 2nd half, Woodland was able to find a space in the Forest backline when Johnathan Young broke free, beat his man to the endline, crossed it at middle height, only to barely be deflected straight to Federico Verlicchi's foot. He fired toward goal, and it was cleared just wide for a corner. From the ensuing corner, Givler played it to a wide open Young on the top of the penalty box. He curled it, beat the keeper, only for the ball to crash off the crossbar.

After a long throw in deep in Leawood territory, Givler flicked it on to Gomes who controlled, and shot, only for a sliding challenge to deny him a goal. Joseph Caughron almost found Gomes on a nice 1-2 at the top of the box, where a sliding challenge again denied them. Ashford fired a low shot off a deflected pass, only for the feet of Leawood's keeper to deny him. Caughron was able to send a cross into the box that Verlicchi caught on an incredible side-volley that again beat the keeper, but hit the crossbar.

It became apparent that it was simply not going to be Woodland's day. Ashford broke through into the penalty box and crossed across the six-yard box, only for a Leawood defender to poke it away from the foot of the waiting Caughron. Verlicchi fired a low shot from the right side of the box that missed the far post by a whisker.

On the last action of the match, Woodland had a direct free-kick taken by Givler that was handled by an outstretched Leawood arm in the box. Referee waved play-on, and the match came to a conclusion.

Woodland remain in 2nd place with 20 pts, 7 behind league leaders Olathe United. Woodland host Crown Villa in a 2nd place/3rd place matchup on Friday, May 30th, at 6:30pm at Charles J. Stump Memorial Park. Be sure to be there to cheer on the Royals!

You can watch the match replay on our club youtube channel!!

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