CHESHIRE --- I haven't participated in one in a long time.  But this Sunday, in Cheshire against the Azzurri, as the Ancient Warriors came from two goals behind to tie the game in the last moment of the game, the Warriors celebrated with a good old-fashioned dog-pile.

Cheshire's Parks & Recreation Department does not close fields as a rule, rather they leave it to the referee crew to decide whether the field is playable.  At 11am in Cheshire, the field was borderline, so the game was on.  38 degress and a driving rain shows one that, like the US Postal Service, it takes more than weather to keep the old men of WIlton from their weekend soccer.

Cheshire has finished in the top 3 for five seasons running, so this was never going to be an easy task, and the wet, sloppy conditions did not bring excitement to the turf-spoiled Warriors.  But as the game started, Wilton immediately set about their task of relentless attack, enjoying the majority of possession from the start, and on the 20 minutes mark, their work was rewarded.  Paul DeFelice stole the ball deep, passed up to Kevan Quantock near the right touchline, who immediately played a one-touch ball to Andrew Hoffmann.  Steaming ahead, Hoffmann reached the ball just before the opposition player, touched it one way and ran himself around the other side, meeting the ball and bearing down on goal.  Reaching the penalty area, he cut right and blasted a low drive near-post past the keeper into the net for a quick Wilton lead.  Hoffmann nearly doubled the lead 5 minutes later on a mirror image run, this time cleverly chipping the Keeper, who was just equal to the task and tipped over the crossbar for the save  For the rest of the half, Cheshire took control of the match enjoying the majority of possession and chances, although most of their attacking  was without real sting.  On 38 minutes however, the home team got through and completed a nice exchange with their Striker connecting on a cross from their left side to level the score and take the game into half-time tied at 1-1.

Thankfully a short half-time break ensued, with no players wanting to hang out in the brutally cold weather, and the game was quickly back underway.  The field had gotten progressively worse and there was standing water on both halfs, but noone present was prepared to call the game.  Only 5 minutes after the restart, Cheshire struck again with a second goal to take the lead, and control of the match.  Digging deep, the Warriors just could not mount any serious challenges, and after 70 minutes, the Azurri struck again, taking a commanding lead at 3-1 with only 20 minutes left to play.

Here is where the true soul of a team shows itself.  Do the Warriors crumble and disintegrate into sniping, complaining curmudgeons, or do they rise to the occasion, and work as a team to mount a challenge.  I think you already know where this is headed.  For the next 12 minutes Wilton was all attack but just could not make the net bulge.  Andrew Allers was hauled down by his shirt, having beaten the offside trap, but the free-kick was wasted.  Robert Sztachelski was through on the left-hand side, but his shot was blocked.  A corner kick was turned on target, only to be denied by the Cheshire defender standing as the last line of defense.   Was it not to be?  The Warriors have only lost once in the last 2 years, and after traveling so far and enduring the weather, it just didn't seem right to lose here again today.

Finally 82 minutes into the match, Sztachelski laid a ball down the left-hand side to an on-rushing Romuald Szostek.  Just out-sprinting the opposing Sweeper to the ball, Szostek crossed at an impossible angle into the box.  Allers was able to duck inside his marker and meet the ball mid-air, side-footing it into the goal --- 3-2 down with 8 minutes to play, and the fire was lit.  Cheshire was now on the back foot, trying desparately to wind down the clock, with Wilton again attacking relentlessly.  As the dying seconds came the Ancient threw everyone forward.  An insufficient Azzurri clearance was met by left-back Michael Schneidman who, sensing the imminent final whistle, correctly lofted the ball back into the penalty area.  A mis-communication with the opposition defense was taken advantage of by Szostek who deftly controlled the ball with one touch, and calmly poked it by the Keeper to bring the scoreline level.  With the referee blowing the whistle for full-time, Wilton took advantage of the wet conditions, as Szostek slid on his knees to celebrate the win.  Warrior after Warrior came sliding in after, with a good old-fashioned dog-pile ensuing, giving the old men of Wilton yet another chance to act like children.  Just a draw, but coming from 2 goals down in 8 minutes, it felt like a win, and should serve as a strong emotional boost to the team as they round out the end of the Fall season.

Currently at the top of the table, Wilton faces Danbury United next Sunday, Oct 25th with an 11am kick-off at the Portuguese Cultural Center.