Perhaps the Western Mass Pioneers bring out the best in the Richmond Kickers. Or perhaps the Kickers are at last bringing out the best in themselves.
Richmond applied consistent offensive pressure and scored a pair of authoritative goals last night to capture a 2-0 victory over the Pioneers. The home-field triumph, the Kickers' first of the season in five tries, severed a streak of four exasperating ties.
"What you saw tonight is what we've been working on in practice," said Kickers forward Matthew Delicate, who delivered his fourth goal of the season, a deft header off a cross from Joey Worthen, in the first half. "We're trying to be more direct. We're trying to play with more of a killer instinct. I think that's what we've been lacking a bit - a killer instinct."
The Kickers (2-1-4) lacked only a finishing touch last night. They swirled around the Western Mass goal like rough surf on a beach, creating one promising opportunity after another and forcing Pioneers goalkeeper James Thorpe to make nine saves - several of them breathtaking.
Superiority notwithstanding, the Kickers didn't seize this match by the throat until forward David Bulow hammered a loose ball past Thorpe in the 67th minute.
"It was great to finally get that second one," Delicate said. "But now we need to build on it. We're creating chances. Now we need to put them away." Instead of breathing a sigh of relief after scoring a second goal, he said, "we need to think about scoring three or four or five."
They displayed that mindset for much of last night. Thorpe's brilliance enabled Western Mass (1-5-1) to stay close until Bulow, cruising in the six-yard box, pounced on a free ball created by midfielder John DiRaimondo's hard delivery from the right wing. DiRaimondo's shot caromed off a Western Mass defender and bounced directly to Bulow.
Thorpe made acrobatic saves against Richmond midfielders Mike Burke and Adrian Bumbut before the second half was 10 minutes old. Burke banged a 20-yard free kick off the crossbar in the 59th minute.
Richmond scored but seven goals in its first six matches. Two of those came in the Kickers' only other victory: a 2-0 road win over the Pioneers. Kickers coach Leigh Cowlishaw said last night's flurry was "a step - a good step - in the right direction." And while "it would have been nice to get a few more," he said, he willingly saluted Thorpe's effort. "He was superb. What else can you say?"
DiRaimondo joined the Kickers on loan from D.C. United for last night's contest. He filled the roster spot left vacant when Gerson dos Santos was unable to participate because of the head injury sustained last week against Crystal Palace Baltimore. DiRaimondo played 90 high-energy minutes. Said Cowlishaw: "A very fine professional player."
Richmond will conclude its four-game homestand next Saturday with a date with USL-2's top team, the Harrisburg City Islanders.
Western Mass ------------------------- 0
0 - 0
Richmond ------------------------- 1
1 - 2
Scoring - 1, Richmond, Delicate 4 (Worthen), 22nd minute; 2, Richmond, Bulow 3, 67th
Shots: Richmond 16-4
Saves: Western Mass, Thorpe 9; Richmond, Pascale 3
Corner kicks: Richmond 11-6
Offsides: Western Mass 4-1
Fouls: Western Mass 16-6
Yellow cards: McGarry, WM, 23rd; Tyrie, WM, 44th; Lima, WM, 87th
Referee: Kai Goodrich
Attendance: 2,223
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