6/19/2009 5:55:00 PM It's great to be back home for four games
Paul Scope Sun columnist
We always knew it would be difficult on a four-game stretch on the road to play teams as strong as Charlotte, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Wilmington, all of whom have great home records.
But we didn't think we would come back completely empty handed with no points and not even a goal to comfort us.
To add insult to injury, we missed yet another penalty kick, again at a crucial time in our latest defeat at Harrisburg.
This time it was our normally rock-steady captain Omar Shakir who missed the target from the spot, when the game was delicately poised at 0-0.
The other missed spot kicks were in the 0-1 and 2-3 losses to Wilmington (at home) and Real Maryland (away).
The Wilmington home reversal is our only loss at home so far, so we are optimistic about getting back on track with a welcome stretch of four home games.
They are all games, we would like to think, we could win, starting with Crystal Palace Baltimore tonight at 8pm. Palace have faded somewhat after a good early start to the season, including a comfortable 2-0 win over us in April.
They collected the majority of their points in the first month, with last week's home win over Wilmington terminating a very poor run of results.
These included being eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup by an amateur side, Ocean City Barons.
Their main problem has been scoring goals with only 10 in 12 matches to date.
Still, it's better than our meager return of six from 11 games.
Opponents
Despite our travails on the road, with a decent return from our upcoming home games, we will be back in play off contention.
A win tonight gets us two points behind Baltimore with a game in hand and level on points with Western Mass Pioneers, who are our next opponents on June 27.
The first weekend in July brings us two home games against Pittsburgh Riverhounds, who are only one point ahead of us in the standings.
Interestingly enough, Western Mass host Pittsburgh tomorrow night, so points will be dropped there too. Simply put, the league is still wide open with nine points separating the entire nine teams in the league with just about half the season gone.
With five teams making the play offs this year, the season is almost guaranteed to go down to the wire, which should keep fans interested and entertained.
We welcome back Antwon Russell to the squad and we feel he is ready to break out and become an impact player in this league.
Antwon is one of our youngest players - only a few months separate him from our baby, Seion Darrell, who impressed in midfield in our recent setbacks in Pennsylvania. I wouldn't be surprised if Seion doesn't keep his spot in the starting line up - he deserves his success having been with us from day one and being very patient to wait for his chance.
We are hoping for a good crowd with my friends from the Robin Hood now responsible for the bar at The National Stadium and ensuring a steady supply of beer for the faithful who come to our games from Friday happy hour.
We also have our new replica shirts on sale at the game at the great price of $75. See you all at the match. Come on you Hogges!
