COLTS COME AWAY WITH A ROAD POINT AGAINST NEW YORK

Colonie, N.Y. – In their first road match of the 2024 NPSL season, Hartford City FC (1-0-1, 4 points) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead inside of 25 minutes on Saturday night. But it wasn’t enough to see off the New York Shockers (1-0-1, 4 points) as the hosts climbed out of the early hole to scratch out a 2-2 draw at the Afrim’s Sports Park.

After the hosts sustained much of the early possession in the first few minutes, Hartford City’s Jake Williams unleashed a ferocious volley from 30 yards out against the run of play that nearly snuck past NY Shockers goalie Ryan Henning. A couple of quick corners from the Colts ensued, with Patrick Osiecki nearly connecting on a back post header.

But eventually the visitors would find the opener in the 17^th minute when Tano Desseno stepped in front of a clearance from Shockers defender Antonio Linge and blocked it in the direction of Tomás Duben. The striker was able to run it down, square Linge up on the edge of the box before curling a left-footed effort over Henning into the top-corner to give Hartford City the lead.

A one-goal lead became a two-goal advantage for the Colts just six minutes later when Desseno unlocked Evan Southern with an inch-perfect through ball from inside his own half. Southern, who garnered All-Conference and All-Region accolades last year, raced around Henning and a last-ditch challenge from Conor DeFilippis and deposited the ball into the open net to double the Colts’ advantage.

The hosts pulled a goal back during a fortuitous sequence the 34^th minute as after New York’s Filippo Bellu was dispossessed of the ball inside HCFC’s penalty area, a clearance from Larson Richards inadvertently hit a player just inside the endline and bounced back to Bellu. The striker held his nerve after collecting the ball back, found the onrushing Mohamed Soumah who slotted it past HCFC goalie Jamis Fite.

HCFC nearly regained their two-goal lead less than two minutes after conceding as from a set piece routine that caught the Shockers defense off guard, Southern got himself to the end line and ripped a shot that stung the palms of Henning but did enough to keep the shot and the scramble that came from rebound out of the net.

Not to be outdone by his counterpart, Jamis Fite came up with a brilliant reaction save shortly before halftime as a Shockers’ in-swinging corner was helped on goal by Seth Scarano, but Fite flung himself at the ball and was able to tip it onto the post before Richards’ cleared it off the line, preserving Hartford City’s 2-1 advantage into halftime.

After the first 20 minutes of the second half went by without either team generating many clear-cut chances, the Shockers tied it at 2 on a lovely passing sequence. Second half substitute Wisdom Ishaya collected a loose ball in the attacking third, linked up with another substitute Yusif Okine, who then found Soumah on the edge of the box in a dangerous position. But the first half goal scorer turned into facilitator as he picked out the late-arriving Jackson Leon, and the veteran slotted his effort past Fite to level proceedings.

Throughout the next twenty minute, the Colts couldn’t gain access into the Shockers’ penalty area as they had to resort to long range efforts that didn’t trouble Henning. But, in the 88^th minute, Jake Williams lined a left footed cross into the corridor of uncertainty that Henning could only parry to the feet of Mark Grant. The second half substitute pounced on the loose ball quickly, but Henning denied his point-blank chance, before Christian Dionne lasered the rebound towards goal but was blocked off the line by Kyle Macfarlane.

New York had one late chance in stoppage time to complete the comeback as from a free kick outside the box, Linge headed one over the bar from close range and the final whistle blew shortly after to see the teams share the points.

Hartford City return home on Saturday, May 18^th as they host Kingston Stockade FC at Trinity Health Stadium in a rematch of the 2023 North Atlantic Conference Playoff Final. Kickoff that evening is scheduled for 7pm and fans can stay in touch with HCFC’s social media channels for ticket information and live stream information for that match.

May 12 at 2:07 pm