Dante Leverock and his Harrisburg City Islanders teammates got a 1-0 win against the Wilmington Hammerheads on a late Cardel Benbow goal, which gave the Islanders their first victory in almost two months.
Benbow’s speed and skill had been frustrating the Wilmington defense but he had just enough left to blow passed the defender after he received a ball from Jason Plumhoff on a breakout. He was in on the goalkeeper alone and rifled a shot over the shoulder to put the Islanders up for good.
After controlling the pace of play for the majority of the game the Islanders were finally rewarded with a goal that keeps them undefeated at home and puts them right back into the playoff hunt.
The game started and it looked like the Islanders had the ball on a rope at times. They controlled the pace of play and very rarely surrendered possession. The defense held up against a Wilmington offense that has only scored 11 goals all season.
Benbow kept the pressure on early and often. His speed up the side kept giving the Hammerheads trouble. Benbow was swinging passes into the box and often finding Jankouskas or Plumhoff.
The best chance for the Islanders came off of great Jankouskas header that was volleyed away by Andre Rawls. City kept the pressure on with two corners kicks that just missed the net.
Wilmington kept fouling the Islanders hard, which almost cost them late in the first half. Jankouskas was again making playing in the offensive end when he was fouled hard just a foot outside of the box. Plumhoff took the set piece but pushed it just wide or it would have been the opening score of the game.
In the second half both teams had trouble stringing together quality play to result in any real threats on goal.
Harrisburg took their one chance on goal and converted. Plumhoff sprung out of his own end with two Hammerheads and Benbow streaking with him. He pulled up to play a perfect ball to Benbow that pushed him out wide and gave him options.
City has had made a habit out of letting in late goals and this game was almost no different. Wilmington’s best chance happened right after the Islanders goal. They made a play, which brought Nick Noble off his line. Luckily, Leverock was able to get behind Noble to blast the ball off the line and save the win.
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