DEA may have blown their chances at promotion by levelling with Groton and going over the yellow-card point marker in the process.  DEA came into the game with 15 points through 7 games.  By game's end, after accumulating three more cards in the disapointing tie, they now sit at 14 points.  Irish Village beat NS Internationals, 5-3, giving them 14 points on the year.  DEA loses the tie-breaker to Irish, as they lost both of their matches.  For DEA to be promoted now, they must hope for an Irish slip-up either next week when they travel to cellar-dwellers Peabody or in their finale against two-win Westford.  Unlikely as it seems, DEA does hold a glimmer of hope as Irish has only levelled with these two squads earlier in the year.  Oh, and it would be beneficial for DEA to win their last two games and to behave in the process.

With a full, 100% attendance for today's game, DEA had problems getting into the flow and creating any continuity in the action.  To make matters worse, DEA found themselves down a goal ten minutes into the match.

When Groton crossed a couple of players, an outside midfielder was left open to latch onto a long through-ball.  DEA keeper Doug Henion hesitated to come out, before committing too late.  He was caught between mindsets and Groton was staked to an early 1-0 lead.

The subsitutions started flowing, and the match dissolved into a series of giveaways.  Good tackles were whistled dead.   Dissent was running rampid.  DEA was lacking the link-up in the final third.  They did secure a good opportunity at the mid-way point of the half when Jeff Bailey's corner kick whistled toward the front post.  Steve Bicknell's toe-poke from close range clanged off the post before being cleared.

The dissent then gave DEA a break.  After two fouls within ten minutes of each other, Groton's Simon Ditchman threw temper tantrums after each.  First shown a yellow, he was sent off with five minutes left in the half with his second yellow.  DEA could now hope to get on track in the second half against a ten-man Groton squad.

They did break through in the 60th minute when Scott Sharby's long throw-in to the short post was flicked on by Jeff Bailey.  Jim Walker was on the receiving end where he volleyed home from close range and DEA was finally level.

In the 73rd minute, Walker dug a ball out of the corner before laying off to Ed Ivanez, parked 14 yards from goal.  Eddie hammered a one-time drive toward goal, but Groton keeper Jeremy Mordkoff punched it over the bar in a fine save.

Three minutes later,  Bic's through ball sprung sprung Bailey.  His defender pushed him outside a bit, where he pushed his shot just wide of the post.

As the cards accumulated for DEA, they knew that at this point a tie was not much better than a loss, so they threw caution to the wind and left the backs out to dry.  Jim Eilenberger, coming on as a second-half substitute, then made a beautiful save to parry a shot wide that was destined for the upper corner. 

Time ran down, and DEA knew they dug themselves a hole.  They actually lost points on the day.  No longer having their destiny in their own hands, DEA must now get back on track and keep an eye on the scoreboard as well.  If a tie is like kissing your sister, that must be one ugly sister.

DEA travels to current 3rd place team NS Internationals next week.  DEA must win this game to keep their title hopes alive.

DEA weathered the hiccup last week and came out flying against Westford.  DEA started early and never let up while pasting Westford 4-0 to keep their hold on 1st place.  The afternoon results showed Groton beating the Irish, meaning DEA is back in front of NS Internationals by two-points; the Irish by four.

DEA dominated possession nearly the entire match.  Sportsman's Field was well cared for, with a proper mow before the match and the field lined for a wide pitch.  This fell right into DEA's hands.

At the 15-minute mark, industrious efforts by Jeff Guild and Jim Walker on the right flank allowed Walker to skate along the touchline unemcumbered.  Walker selfishlessly fed Jim McCall, who was alone four yards from goal.  McCall easily touched home from close range and DEA was off to an early 1-0 lead.

Controversy errupted on DEA's second goal.  When team patriarch Dale Dubois launched a left-footed cannon from 40 yards out,  Westford's keeper became pre-occupied with Scott Sharby inside the area.  Initially, the goal was given to Dubois as it appeared Sharby didn't get a foot to it.  However, the Dubious Goal Review confirmed that Sharby did get a touch to it and was awarded the goal.  Either way, it launched DEA into a 2-0 halftime lead.

Early in the second half, another pretty passing display saw McCall loft a cross into the box where Walker rose to meet it.  He flicked past his defender where Steve Bicknell was waiting to head home from close range to give DEA a commanding lead.

McCall would close out the scoring, and take over the goal-scoring lead from Walker at the same time, when he finished late for the 4-0 final.

DEA plays host to Groton next week.  With the current standings showing DEA with a close, two-point lead over NS Internationals, DEA must avoid a 'trap game' next week ast it travels to NS the following week.  NS travels to the Irish next week.  With DEA in front of NS by two, and NS in front of the Irish by two, whoever loses that game next week will see their title chances dealt a death blow.  The only remaining X-factor is that both NS & DEA are in card-point trouble, with each team sporting 8 points with three matches left.

DEA beat the roosters' calls and saddled up the ponies for an 8:00 match against Irish Village.  The Irish were the only team to blemish DEA's record this year when they laid a 2-1 "L" on DEA to start the season.  Since then, DEA won four straight games while the Irish stumbled, allowing for DEA to head into today's showdown with a four-point advantage.  They would leave West Roxbury with a one-point advantage as Irish again topped DEA, 4-2.

The refereeing, while not the cause of the defeat, certainly didn't help DEA as the ref stood tethered to the center-circle and waited for players to yell loudly before making a call.  Since yelling on the pitch is one of the Irish' strong points, this tactic would prove fruitful. 

The first half saw very few chances on either side cause much worry.  The whistle would blow with the score 0-0, and DEA feeling good since they had weathered the high winds in their face and would be playing with it at their backs for the second half.

Five minutes into the half, Jim Walker tracked down a loose ball in the corner and after a scrum in the middle, vaulted home from close range to give DEA a lead and the momentum.

The Irish, however, came right back with a scorching drive two minutes later to level.  Even more disheartening for DEA, a midfield turnover allowed for a fast break down the right wing.  The Irish fired from 25 yards out, and it somehow sneaked by DEA Keeper Doug Henion to the short post and DEA was suddenly down a goal.

Just after the clock recorded it's 80th minute, Walker again tallied for DEA when he beat the keeper to a head-ball and touched home from close range to level for DEA.

Incredibly, DEA allowed Irish right back into it with another turnover, and another short side shot and DEA was back down.  

Irish would again intimidate the referee and slotted home from close range in the waning moments to close out the scoring.

A disapointing effort for DEA.  Having allowed a six goals in the first five games, they allowed the Irish to put up a four-spot and close the gap to a single point.

DEA now looks to run the table in their last four games.  With the Irish close on their heels and holding the tiebreaker advantage, it would behoove DEA to not drop any points to maintain their slim lead.  Fortunately, DEA is home for 3 of the last 4 games.  However, if they don't get better midfield play, goaltending, defensive marking, and improved offensive finishing, their chances of taking the title looks dim.

On a more positive note, after being shooed away from the pitch after the game, DEA sauntered over to another pitch for the 3rd half festivities.  The final quartet of Dale, Bic, Chris, and 'Berg decided to call it a day around 3:00 pm.   The may play sloppy on the pitch at times, but there isn't a team in the state that can touch them in the 3rd half.

DEA shook off a slow start to pull away from Peabody SC in a 4-1 win today at the elusive Connelly Park Field in Peabody.  After opening the season with a 2-1 loss to Irish Village, DEA has run off four straight victories while tallying 14 goals and giving up just four.

After everyone rode the merry-go-round trying to find the parking for the field, DEA was ready to go with nine players as three more were still circling for a parking spot.  You could see the field...you just couldn't get to it.

Before the match got under way, however, DEA had a more-important task at hand.  DEA called for a moment of silence before the start, as news was beginning to filter in that Jeff Guild's son, Evan, had passed away the day before.  A truly tragic event, many DEA players were visibly shaken by the news and wanted to recognize the Guild family in some way.  The entire DEA organization wishes the entire Guild family well in this time of need.

Playing down a couple of players, DEA decided to box it in while the reinforcements made their way.  They held Peabody to only one shot at goal before they got to full force.  Unfortunately, moments after getting everyone on board the Peabody striker got one of his only clean looks at goal and fired from just outside the area.  Sweeper Rob Easton had channeled him to the right side smartly, but the shot took a deflection and just change of direction gave keeper Doug Henion no chance.  For just the second time all season, and the first time in the first half of any game, DEA was behind.

After about five more minutes of getting their feet under them, DEA became accustomed to the small field and started attacking at goal.  The forward combo of Jim Walker and Steve Bicknell were dangerous inside the area.  DEA thought they had sprung  Walker free off Dale Dubois' long pass, but the ref -not accustomed to seeing the pace of a player like Walker- assumed he was offside based on the separation he had created.  The whistle blew and DEA could only rant on the injustice.

Walker thewas then sprung free, this time off Easton's great through ball.  After dribbling the keeper, he woefully touched wide from close range and DEA remained snakebit.  That would only last for a few more minutes, however.

Mike Robichaud, who had another quality game, this time from the left midfield position, latched onto Jim McCall's lofted pass.  After the keeper was caught out in no-man's-land, Robichaud only had to dribble freely into the vacated goal to level it for DEA.

As the first half matured, it became all DEA.  The pace of their outside players were giving Peabody fits.  They began each foray with a touch in the middle, pushed outside, and a dangerous cross into the box.  Halftime came with the score 1-1, but DEA feeling confident they had played into the wind, short numbers, and were level.  Second half started with a bang and never let up.

Not five minutes into the second half, DEA broke the spirit of division-dwellers Peabody with a clinical finish.  DEA strung together five straight passes before Walker volleyed home McCall's cross and DEA had a lead they would never relinquish.  Peabody's defenders had their heads on a swivel as DEA picked them apart in impressive fashion.

Not to be outdone, Jim Eilenberger, making his debut wearing the DEA colors, then stormed down the right side and received a long goal-kick by Henion.  'Berg beat his man and cut inside.  With defenders laying off and looking at a cross, 'Berg pulled out a toe-poke from his deadly arsenal and snuck it by short side to give DEA some insurance.

DEA now was looking to run up some away goals, as Peabody was looking for some shade and began to argue amongst themselves.  The defensive quartest of Woody Harper, Dubois, Easton, and Joe Masci were outstanding all day.  After the initial warming up period, they locked down everything in the box and gave Henion his easiest effort of the season.

DEA would get one more late.  When Bicknell fed McCall about 20 yards from goal, he made a run (or, in Bic's case, a walk, but you get the point) to the right side and drew two defenders attention.  McCall then dribbled through another and lashed a drive to the far side to close out the scoring at 4-1.

DEA absolutely dominated the third half.  With some quality pickups in the offseason, DEA's third half team just might be the best in the business.  With Giselle McCall's cookies on hand, the combo of Woody, Bic, Dale, 'Berg, Chris Cloutier, and Rick Plichta sunned themselves for a few hours and enjoyed their status as division leaders.

In a suprising result, Irish Village was levelled by Westford, 1-1.  Since starting the season at 2-0, the Irish have only taken two points in their last three games.  The other interesting tidbit was Groton topping NS Internationals, 3-1.  These favorable results give DEA a four-point advantage heading into next weekends rematch at the Irish.  DEA is in danger of losing points due to yellow-card accumulation, so three-points next weekend give DEA a much-needed 7-point advantage.  After that, DEA finish with 3 of 4 matches at  home, and are already holding a huge advantage in goal differential and 'away-goals'. 

The surest way to ensure promotion?  Keep winning.

DEA took to the pitch with a revamped roster, but it was their albatross, Irish Village, who spoiled Opening Day with a 2-1 victory at Sportsman's Field.

With Sportsman's Field all painted and with the celebatory buntings on the fences, the crowd was anticipating quite a show.  After the pre-game festivities wound down that saw Johann Cruyff kick out the first ball along with the National Anthem sung by Alicia Keys, the match was under way under intense media presence.

With interest in the DEA franchise at an all-time high, our Fearless Leader Dale Dubois put another squad in Division 6.  Since the original Master franchise was in Division 3, and hoping to continue their climb, the idea was that the cream of the crop was fit and ready to play.

Irish Village, however, were content to play the part of spoilers after their long ride from Roxbury.  A slick passing team, the Irish held a majority of possesion throughout the game as they patiently picked through the DEA squadron.  However, the DEA backfield tandem of Dubois and Rob Easton held strong to thwart any forays deep into DEA territory in the early going.

Offensively, DEA was beginning to get a feel for each other's talents as they only streamed through on occasion.  The first chance came at the 15 minute mark when Jim McCall fed Scott Sharby on the left side.  Sharby scorched a left-footed drive well wide in the best chance for either side in the early going.

One mix-up in the back allowed for Irish's talisman, a bald-headed stopper wearing #5 who oozes class on the pitch, to slip free.  With DEA keeper Chris Cloutier, recently "promoted" from the Over-30's squad late to close in, the Irish fired a shot off the post before the rebound was pushed woefully wide.

DEA came right back to take the lead with some impressive passing.  First, Cloutier came off his line to snare a corner and fed McCall into space.  McCall rifled a long pass to Johnnie Guild on the right side.  Guild weaved his way to the corner before sending a dangerous cross into the area.  With Ed Ibanez late to arrive, McCall came back into the play and slammed home from close range to give DEA a 1-0 lead.

Jeff Bailey then made his appearance for DEA, another recent addition from the Over-30's, and his skill was quickly evident.  Roaming throughout the pitch, Bailey found himself free and nodded home from close range to seemingly give DEA a 2-0 lead at the mid-way point of the 1st half.  However, Bailey's slick move was too quick for the ref and he missed the call completely and called him off-sides.  The call would prove big by game's end.

Not five minutes later, the Irish sent a cross into the box where a player was leaning on Woody Harper.  As his feet went out from underneath him, Harper stepped aside and the Irish fell to the pitch.  The ref hesitated, then pointed to the spot.  The Irish made no doubt on the PK and Cloutier had no chance as it found side webbing to make it 1-1.

While possession was generally held by the Irish, overall play had been pretty even as DEA was countering and creating the better of the opportunities to that point.  Up to that point, indeed.  The last ten minutes saw DEA scrambling to go into the half level.  First, Cloutier slid out to force a corner.  On the resulting corner, a dangerous ball filtered through the box where Mike Robichaud came off his line to head away.  The rebound was hammered back at him, where  Robichaud again cleared off the line impressively as DEA was thankful for the halftime whistle.

Second half saw a rough first five minutes, and Irish take the lead for good.  With a goalie change, another newcomer Doug Henion manned the pipes and his first opportunity to impress didn't work as planned.  When a spin-and-dip floater was crossed into the box, Doug's hesitated only briefly before heading to the backpost.  Unfortunately, it was enough as it softly fell into the webbing.

DEA was now down, but not out.  Again, the Irish held possession, but DEA created the chances.  With Bailey schooling defenders down the right side, he crossed into the box where Ibanez misplayed a bad hop and shot wide.  Five minutes later, another cross into the box saw Ibanez looking to head home from close range.  However, a high-boot up around his eyebrows saw it go clear and the ref pulled an "ostrich" and waved the play on.

Henion was called upon to make two saves to keep it a one-goal margin.  As the match wore on, the feeling of doom began to take over the squad.  DEA could not break down the Irish defense and their searching for the leveller went unheeded.

With 9 new players on the squad, DEA Management can afford to give a mulligan on this game as there was a lack of familiarity on the pitch.  That excuse can be used only once, and DEA will have to improve next week when they travel to Westford to take on the Grey Goats.

The DEA Masters 2 team had a rough start for their debut game.  They fell to the North Shore Wanderers 3-2 down in Amesbury on Sunday. 

Tim Cormay pinged one off the crossbar and was hammered home by Herman Dotti for one of DEA's gaols.  The cookie monster, Jim Pellerin, collected the second tally for DEA.  Herman Dotti had the assist on this one also.   The word was that there were plenty of scoring opporutnities once DEA started letting the shots fly.   Bassem Alnahas had some good looks and rang a couple off the crossbar. 

Next game should be much better now that we have all played together a bit.  The Masters 2 team is at home this Sunday as they take on  Andover Gold at Sportsmans Field at 9:00 AM.

DEA Masters travelled to Westford, home of a 5-1 thumping last year, and turned the tables in impressive fashion with a 3-0 thrashing on the Grey Goats.

Still getting used to some new faces, and with a few key cogs missing, DEA played a few players out of position but they performed admirably in recording DEA's first victory of the year.

Westford got the first opportunity when a throw-in was received about 30 yards from goal.  The Westford player flipped it up, and volleyed a hard drive at goal.  DEA keeper Doug Henion leaped to parry it over the bar to give DEA confidence boost in the early going.  Henion was a rock all game, solidly filling the cage and swallowing anything in his area.

The central defensive duo of Rob Easton and Joe Masci were solid as well.  Both teamed to thwart any offensive forays into the DEA area.  Masci pushed up frequently to get into the play.  The wing defenders were equally solid, with John Demeritt, Woody Harper, and Mike Robichaud (who also played in the midfield) tracking well and forcing the action to the perimeter.

In a contrast to last week, DEA held possession much better and were patient with their opportunities.  They broke through in the last ten minutes of the half.  After Robichaud's great defensive stand, he drove a long pass that was brought down by Steve Bicknell, who turned into space and filtered a short pass to Scott Vaughn, camped out 25 yards from goal.  With the keeper sneaking off his line, Vaughn rifled a drive that as soon as it left his foot you knew it was trouble.  The keeper leaped, but only got air as it just tucked under the bar to give DEA a 1-0 lead.

The action to that point had been equal, but after the goal  DEA took to dominating the rest of the match.

After the halftime whistle, they continued to send swarms of attackers down the wings.  The Brothers Guild, John and Jeff, were swarming on the outside.  DEA were rotating Jim McCall, Chris Cloutier, Scott Sharby, and Bicknell in the middle.  Jim Walker had a tremendous second half playing forward.  His speed on was creating problems in Westford's zone.  They were struggling with a plan to contain him.

DEA made it 2-0, and broke Westford's back in the process.  McCall sent a long pass into the zone and Sharby was running onto it.  When Westford's sweeper got caught, he realized that he was out of position and handled the pass to keep Sharby from a clean break.  The ref awarded a yellow card, and when Westford was slow to regroup Bicknell noticed the keeper was way off his line and slow to get back.  Bicknell launched a 40-yard bomb that had the keeper scrambling to get back into the goal.  He didn't, and Bicknell's shot was all webbing and DEA had their insurance.

Ten minutes later, another impressive DEA goal turned this one into a rout.  Again, it was started with a defensive stand.  Cloutier stepped in front of a clearing pass and fed Walker on the wing.  He crossed to the back post, where Sharby volleyed it back into the area.  McCall was waiting, and headed it back across the goal for a 3-0 advantage.

DEA salted away the clock to finish it out.  An all-around impressive display from goalkeeping to the forwards saw DEA launch themselves back into the title race.

DEA gos to Groton next week.  Look for updates in your e-mail this week.

DEA, coming off a three-goal away victory last week against Westford, was looking to stay on track on the road against Groton United. Impressively, they did just that with a 4-1 victory in running their record to 2-1. DEA is now +6 on the road, scoring seven away goals which could become crucial by season’s end.

DEA came out flying, getting a two-goal lead ten minutes into the match. As the OTHSL is quickly finding out, DEA’s Jim Walker is difficult to impossible to contain. His pace is unmatched in the league, and the Groton backfield had their hands full all match.

DEA won their third straight, leapfrogging over NS Internationals and now find themselves at the top of the table after yesterday's pulsating 3-2 victory at Bedford's Sportsman's Field.

It was a cold, rainy Sunday morning.  It was the type of day where nipples get rubbed raw, and where the washing machine works double-time.  It was DEA weather.

After an early morning debate by DEA Management if the game should go on, it was decided that Sportsman's was holding the deluge well and the field looked to be in fine shape.  DEA then started quickly.

The opening minute saw a cross into the box met with Steve Bicknell's audacious overhead volley attempt.  The mere fact he got his foot that high was a physics-defying attempt; the result didn't match the effort, however.

By five minutes, DEA was in the lead.  After Scott Sharby tracked down a ball in the lower left corner, Chris Cloutier came over to help.  Sharby laid off to Cloutier, tucked inside the box to the left of goal.  Cloutier, unaccustomed to playing with his back to the goal, looked to feed an open Jim McCall who was camped out at the 18-yard marker.  Instead, Cloutier, suprised to hear the calls of "TIME!" from around him, calmly whipped out his Blackberry, read through his e-mail, got an update on the stock-ticker, and scanned the baseball scores from yesterday.  Still with nobody on him, he then made himself a rather fetching peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  After finishing his sandwich and topping it off with a glass of milk, he turned to goal chipped into the side webbing to give DEA an early lead they would never relinquish.

Five minutes later, DEA doubled the lead when Jeff Bailey's cross into the box was lasered home by Sharby on a half-volley.  Not taking the time to see his options, Sharby just ripped a drive short-side and DEA looked to be off and running.

Instead, NS sent a few sorties into the area and looked to get on the board.  A mis-hit cross seemed destined to sneak past DEA keeper Doug Henion low to his short side.  Instead, Henion scrambled back and just palmed aside the low drive.  Some debate ensued as to whether the ball completely crossed the line or not.  It was close, but television replays seemed to back up the call.

It wasn't long after, though, that NS did break through after a scramble in the area allowed for an open look and the lead was halved.

NS thought they had levelled with ten minutes left, but a player was offsides and they were not happy campers to see the goal called back.  They were even more furious when the ensuing restart sent Jim Walker in clean.  He took one touch before calmly depositing to restore DEA's 3-1 advantage.

In the waning moments of the first half, Henion again came up big.  After a corner saw the clearance attempt by DEA go awry, NS biggest crybaby (apparently recovered his debilitating injury that seemed to cause him so much consternation) fired from close range but Henion palmed it aside with a great reaction save.

NS threw everything at DEA in the opening moments of the second half.  Henion came up huge twice within five minutes on clean breaks.  He punched aside the first; then, in a mirror image, another opportunity was kicked aside as NS would rue their misses.  Audible groans were heard from their bench.

NS did pull one back midway through to make it a hairy one-goal lead again.  The save of the match was then waiting for Henion in the final 15 minutes.  After a corner was flicked to far side, their left back -channeling his best Roberto Carlos impersonation, ripped a fully volley that elicited "oohs" from the crowd as it streamed toward the upper-ninety.  Henion laid out horizontal and punched aside with another outstanding save.  As the crowd stood to applaud, even some of the better mannered NS players had to comment on the save's quality.

DEA had put 8 defenders behind the ball, and were content to try to play for the break.  However positive their chances started, they weren't linking up and succeeded in only turning the ball over in the final third.  The DEA backfield of Rob Easton, Bailey, Dubois, JD, Woody Harper, Paul Cote, and Joe Masci weren't going to allow anymore chances as the clock ran down.

An NS player then completely lost it in comical fashion.  After beating a player to a loose ball, he brushed aside a knock before screaming expletives at the player and the ref with nobody around him and foraging for a chance.  In what is possibly unheard of, he managed to get a red card, with possession, while looking for a levelling strike.  I have never seen such mayhem.

With the late news that Irish Village had drawn, 0-0, with Peabody SC, DEA climbed to the top of the table with a two-point advantage.  They travel to the same Peabody SC next Sunday.  This is Mother's Day, so the recommendation is to get up early, make breakfast, wake up the wife, shovel the meal down her throat, and then get out of her hair on this special day.  While you are out of her hair, you can drive to scenic Peabody for the contest. 

GREAT WIN, DEA!!!!!