Marblehead gets win over English

LYNN – Both Marblehead and English were in desperate need of a win when they locked horns on Tuesday afternoon at Manning Field in a Northeastern Conference inter-divisional boys soccer battle.Unfortunately for the youth-laden Bulldogs, it was the Magicians who got themselves back to 4-4 on the season as they took control of the game in the second half and thanks to two Chris Brady goals, took a 3-0 victory.?It was ugly but we will take the result,” Marblehead coach Scott Laramie said. “Some games you just don?t have it but the kids were able to find a way to fight through it. That was nice to see.”On the other sideline, it was a case of missed opportunities for the Bulldogs (0-7) as English generated plenty of scoring chances in front of Nate Witherell?s goal but just couldn?t put one home.?We are playing very hard but our inexperience at some positions is hurting us,” English coach Kerry King said. “We had chances but didn?t put them in.”Most of the opening minutes was played in the midfield before the Magicians began to take a slight edge in play. They would eventually tip the field towards the English goal but the Bulldogs held tough and the game remained scoreless until the final minutes of the half.That?s when a defensive breakdown cost English dearly.Jakeb Wikar lofted a corner kick into the box that Jamie Marden was able to knock down and fire past Kyle Arsenault to stake the Magicians to a 1-0 lead at halftime.?We made that one mistake in the first half. We gave them a restart and our kid didn?t pick up his man,” King said.The Bulldogs would put on a little pressure to open the second 40 minutes but couldn?t get anything to show for it. Their best chance came midway through the second when Omar Manadiega had a chance inside the penalty area but sent his shot just wide of the net.Moments later, English got a corner kick, which turned into the decisive play of the game.The corner sailed wide of the mark and was picked up by Brady, who took off on the fly up the right wing. He dribbled all the way into the box before ripping a shot past Arsenault to make it 2-0, Marblehead, with 17:06 left.?That was a great play by Chris to come from the back and have the foresight to take it all the way,” Laramie said.The Bulldogs tried desperately to get back in the game and nearly cut the lead to one but Kingsley Agebun?s shot from 15 yards out went over a wide-open net. Brady then put the game out of reach with just under five minutes remaining when he finished off an Ignacio Moreno free kick.?The second half was much better,” Laramie said. “We came out a little slow in the first half and weren?t moving our feet.”