DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
DECATUR – Things went from bad to worse Tuesday night as the Bellmont Braves, already trailing 3-0, picked up a red card and played the final 30 minutes of the game against the Huntington North Vikings a man down, falling in a 5-0 final.
The Braves struggled to settle into either half as they searched for their first win of the season. Jacob Landrigan banged in a shot when the home side could not clear the ball on a corner for a 1-0 lead on 5′ for the Vikes.
Two minutes later it was Brandt Kline beating two defenders from the end line and laying it on a platter for Liam Tinkle for a simple finish and a 2-0 lead.
The Braves then finally grew into the game, welcoming back senior Carsten Hudson, who was ill last week and missed the loss at Wayne. Hudson made two outstanding goal line clearances to save the Braves from embarrassment in the opening ten minutes.
Aaron Foster found a ball in transition for the away side and blasted it low in the 22nd minute, but it was just off the near post for the best scoring chance for Huntington after the two goals in the second half.
At 32′, Bellmont keeper Grayson Riehm made an excellent save on a power shot from Tinkle. It was one of 15 saves on the night for the junior goalie.
Malachi Lavine played especially well in the back line in the first half to hold Huntington North off the scoreboard over the final 32 minutes of the first half.
The second half, though, was a mess. Landrigan scored again in the first minute on a header and the Braves soon were down to ten men with the red card, which also means that Bellmont will be without senior captain Taahir Ally for Thursday’s match against winless Eastside.
A controversial decision went the way of Huntington North on a tackle by Riehm in the box, but the subsequent penalty was missed wide by Tinkle.
Austin Penrod scored on a shot to the far post on 63′ to make it 4-0 and Landrigan scored again on 78′ to give the match its final score line.
The Braves will hope to end their goal drought Thursday at home against Eastside. The team has not scored since a 3-2 win at DeKalb last September.
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