RailHawks win 3-2 over Duke today at Middle Creek Park. Full match report to follow, in the meantime, here's a video for you... [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQba_ZwV1rg"]YouTube- Joseph Ngwenya scores for RailHawks vs. Duke[/ame]
About 150 fans took advantage of the first nice afternoon in weeks, sitting along the touch line at Middle Creek Park on Saturday and enjoying a first look at the 2010 RailHawks. The fans were treated to a RailHawks’ come from behind 3-2 victory over the Duke Blue Devils in their first pre-season scrimmage of the year. Coach Rennie started 8 unfamiliar faces in the first half anchored by Eric Reed in goal, Kupono Low controlling the midfield, and Sallieu Bundu leading the attack. The initial stanza was a chance for the 8 trialists to prove that they belonged in the 2010 edition of the RailHawks, but it was obvious that it was still early days of training camp as the Blue Devils took advantage of this squad’s unfamilarity with each other to jump out to a quick 2-0 lead within 20 minutes. Carolina finally started to organize their play as the period wore on and eventually got on the board when Sallieu Bundu turned the Duke centerback and gave up what was a sure goal for himself to assist a chip in by his strike partner (an unidentified trialist). Rennie made wholesale changes at halftime, bringing on new signing Floyd Franks along with familiar faces McKenney, Gilkerson, Gardner, Palidini, Kabwe, and Budnyy. Reed continued in goal and former MLS and Coastal Carolina standout Joseph Ngwenya made his case up top. Alongside Mark Schulte in the back was trialist Shintaro Harada playing the position likely to be filled by Greg Shields upon his return from his loan at Partick Thistle or new signing Matt Bobo, who was not playing today. Trailing 2-1, the old guard took it straight at the Blue Devils defense picking up the tempo from the opening whistle. Only two great saves from the Duke keeper denied Budnyy a brace inside 10 minutes. On about 60 minutes, Frank Floyd suffered a knock in a crushing tackle in midfield that saw him have to leave the game and the RailHawks players vocally incensed about the nature of the tackle in the context of an early pre-season scrimmage. Kupono Low would replace Floyd who could not return, a substitution which would pay dividend later in the half. Josh Gardner and Joseph Ngwenya combined well down the left side repeatedly stretching the Duke defense which bent, but did not break until about the 70th minute when they conceded a throw-in deep in their defensive third. Mark Schulte strutted forwarded and unleashed his potent long throw which would fall to Ngwenya in the box. The former Turkish Supr Lig striker whipped a right footed volley past the helpless keeper to level the score. With the comeback complete the RailHawks continued to deflect the Blue Devils late attempts to steal the game on the counter attack and in the dying moments pushed the ball deep down the right side. With a cross finding Daniel Palidini at the penalty spot with his back to goal, he laid it off for the onrushing Kupono Low who finished easily as the referee’s watch could be heard to alarm the the 90 minutes expiring. Before Duke could muster a kickoff, the ref blew for full time sealing the RailHawks 3-2 victory over the Blue Devils.
I finally got around to posting pictures from this scrimmage: [ame="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wjarrettc/sets/72157623522959030/show/"]Carolina RailHawks vs. Duke 02/20/2010[/ame]