TRUMBULL - The Ancient Warriors traveled to Trumbull hoping to continue their unbeaten run.  Trumbull have been mainstays in the Masters 1st Division for years, and there is a solid rivalry between the teams as many of them know each other from various recreational soccer groups.  The Ancients had the benefit of numbers as they traveled with 16 field players, albeit 2 of them carrying niggling strains.  The realities of being (sometimes well) Over-40 has shown that there is strength in numbers --- Trumbull only had 1 substitute for their own home match.

The match started with Wilton immediately seizing control of the flow of the game, making several incisive runs into the opposition's penalty area.  Shots were saved or flashed wide, and Michael Freliech was sprung on a wide breakaway, but Trumbull's Goalkeeper was quick to come out and collect.  On another breakaway, Andrew Allers was taken down just outside of the penalty area giving the Warriors a free kick from close range, but they were unable to convert.  After 15 minutes, Nicholas Slater put through a perfect ball to Robert Sztachelski, who successfully beat the opposition's offside trap, casually lofting the ball over the head of the on-rushing keeper to take Wilton on top.  For the first 25 minutes the Ancients were dominant, when suddenly a Trumbull players collected the ball, pivoted and launched a rocket from 35 yards out.  From this seemingly innocuous position, the ball dipped and swerved unstoppably into the Wilton net and the Warriors side suddenly found themselves level.  The half closed out remaining at 1-1, though the opposition looked to be feeling the effects of the hot weather and few substitutes.

As the second half started, Wilton again took control of possession and continued to make forays into the opponent's space.  Sztachelski hit the post once, and had another low drive saved by Trumbull's Goalkeeper, and a number of other attempts were made, but the prospect of yet another draw loomed.  Suddenly, Sztachelski collected the ball just over the half-line on the left side and, seeing an opportunity, threaded the ball 40 yards, between the opposition's defensive line and Goalkeeper.  As the Trumbull players hesitated slightly, Allers was able to come in from wide right to meet the ball first and pass the ball over the on-rushing Keeper and into the net to take Wilton back on top.  Throughout the remainder of the game, the Ancients calmly possessed the ball, taking full advantage of their numbers and fitness.  The center spine of Piotr Bierezowiec, Thomas Parsons and William O'Herron remained stoic as they had throughout the match, giving the opposition few chances to create as the end game drew near.  Moments from the end, Trumbull launched a ball from wide right to their target player on the left of the goal mouth, who headed it back across the face of the goal.  Their Striker latched onto it, and in a collision with Wilton's Keeper Andrea Galimi, put the ball into the back of the net.  However the Assistant Referee immediately signaled as their Striker was in an offside position at the time his teammate headed him the ball.  Most of the protestation by the opponents was curtailed as both Galimi and their Striker took a few minutes to recover themselves so that the game could be restarted.  Shortly after that the final whistle blew, and the Warriors retained their unbeaten First Division run with 3 wins and 3 draws.

Next Sunday sees Wilton traveling to Weston to play the 1st place (also undefeated) team from Cheshire.  Wilton is playing their home match in Weston due to the Nutmeg tournament in Wilton this week.