Tag: non league soccer

(Photo: Michael Shartava/AFC Mobile)

AFC Mobile’s Man of the Match: Biloxi City FC’s Fred Riley

Biloxi City FC’s Fred Riley (24) after stopping a first half challenge by AFC Mobile’s Chisom Ogbonna (4). (Photo: Carissa Harrison/Facebook)

We’re doing something a little different for this week’s Man of the Match award. Instead of letting the fans decide which one of our players had the best game on Saturday, we’re giving the award to Biloxi City’s Fred Riley.

Riley suffered a broken leg after a nasty collision with his own goalkeeper.  He underwent surgery in Mobile Monday morning and is doing well.

Riley was born in Gulfport. He comes from a military family and spent much of his childhood traveling. He joined the Marine Corps and played soccer for the All-Marine team while enlisted. After leaving the Marines, Riley moved to Biloxi. Riley said Biloxi has a fantastic soccer scene with great youth clubs and a feisty adult league.

Despite the injury, Riley praised the Mobile fans for the support they have shown him and the atmosphere they created.

“Mobile was complete pandemonium,” Riley said. “Your fans make it impossible to hear yourself think! Great soccer atmosphere. I’ll make it a point to be at the return fixture!”

Riley also wanted to give a special shout-out to Roman Carnley, the Mobile United player he walked out onto the pitch with before the match. Thanks for being a fan!

AFC Mobile will take on Biloxi City FC on July 15th, the last match day of the regular season. We can’t wait to see you there, Fred!

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AFC Mobile will travel to Pensacola to take on the Gulf Coast Texans next Saturday, June 17th. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Ashton Brosnaham Park. AFC Mobile fans are encouraged to make the short journey to the Pelican City to support the visiting team.  AFC Mobile will return home to the Lip for three consecutive weekends beginning Saturday, June 24th, against the Louisiana Fire. Tickets are only $5 and kids 12 and under are admitted free of charge. Follow us on Facebook for more information.

AFC Mobile’s Brian Singler: Sergeant, Sheriff, Soccer Player

Forward Brian Singler was wearing a uniform long before he suited up to play for AFC Mobile.

Not only is Singler a deputy sheriff in Baldwin County, he is also a sergeant in the Army National Guard, a veteran of the War on Terror, and a military police officer.

This military has always been a part of Singler’s life. His father was a career Navy man and provided the inspiration for Singler to join the the armed forces, though he didn’t join the National Guard until he was 33.

“I’ve always had that desire,” Singler said. “It’s always been back there, a feeling of wanting to do it.”

Singler said that the most rewarding thing about being a part of the National Guard is being able to do something to serve more than just the Mobile Bay area and Alabama.

“I love this nation,” Singler said. “I went overseas in 2015 to 2016 and now I feel when people say ‘thank you for your service’ I can say ‘no problem’ or I can have something for them to be thankful for. Just to be able to serve this country is the most fulfilling to me.”

Soccer has been a part of Singler’s life as long as the military has. Both of his parents played, and he’s been playing since he was four years old. He moved to Baldwin County 20 years ago and takes pride in representing the Mobile area on the pitch.

“To represent this city, there’s no words that can express that. The team that we have, the brothers; we have a good bond. It’s almost like Christmas morning every time you put that jersey on.”

Balancing his day job as a deputy sheriff, his military duties, and his commitments to AFC Mobile has been a challenge, but Singler said he’s found the secret.

“Well, I have understanding bosses and an understanding wife as well,” he said. “They know how much I love this sport and how much of a part of my life it is and the passion I have for the sport.”

This Saturday, June 10th, AFC Mobile will be honoring the men and women in the armed forces by holding its first ever Military Appreciation Night. Kickoff against Biloxi City FC at the Archbishop Lipscomb Athletic Complex is at 7 p.m. All veterans and active duty personnel are admitted free with their military ID. As always, kids 12 and under are also admitted free. All other tickets are just $5.

AFC Mobile Earns First Point Against Reigning Champions

NEW ORLEANS—AFC Mobile earned its first point of the season after a 2-2 draw with reigning Gulf Coast Premier League champions CD Motagua of New Orleans. The Azaleas nearly ended their three-game road trip with a win, but Motagua headed in an equalizer deep into six minutes of stoppage time.

“We’ve got to do a better job clearing the ball, just winning headers and getting it out. It literally was the last second they scored a goal,” said AFC Mobile head coach Nate Nicholas. “I think we were playing into overtime even though we were winning. But, you’ve got to play as long as the referees are telling them to play on.”

 

 

It was a bright start for Mobile and for Chisom Ogbonna in particular. The forward had a chance early in the match after some fancy footwork in the box, but couldn’t get a shot off. Minutes later, Clairy Kengeye chipped the ball into the box to find Ogbonna, but his shot dragged just wide. In the 19th minute, Ogbonna was able to to find the back of the net after picking up a loose ball in the box and smashing it home to give AFC Mobile a 1-0 lead.

Motagua equalized just minutes before halftime. A Motagua player sent a floating header into the back of the net after a wild scramble in front of the goal to level the match 1-1.

The equalizer appeared to give Motagua a renewed sense of energy in the second half. AFC Mobile goalkeeper Brent Grube opened the second half with two big saves to keep the score tied 1-1. Motagua continued attacking, having the better of the run of play through most of the final half. The home team had another chance to take the lead, but AFC Mobile defender Markos Mallis cleared the ball off the line.

Despite a sustained attack from Motagua, Ogbonna artfully settled a 45 yard bomb sent by defender Dawson Jellenc and buried his second goal of the night, giving Mobile a 2-1 lead in the 57th minute. Ogbonna’s brace marked his third goal in two games, making him AFC Mobile’s leading scorer on the 2017 Summer campaign.

“Chisom Ogbonna scored two great goals… had another great game. He’s built two games in a row playing really really well,” Nicholas said.

Late in the match, Ogbonna attempted to get behind the Motagua defense but was taken down by Motagua’s Anthony Peters. The traveling fans urged the official to show Peters red, but he was only received a yellow card. The center referee also showed Ogbonna his second yellow card of the season, citing embellishment.

As time elapsed, Motagua continued to push for a second equalizer. The referee allowed over six minutes of added time to the dismay of the traveling fans from Mobile. In a last-ditch effort to equalize, Motagua sent its entire squad, including its goalkeeper, into the box for a throw-in near the corner.  Motagua was able to convert on what would become the very last touch of the game, bringing the final score to 2-2.

AFC Mobile will look to build on its first ever point in the GCPL Eastern Conference table on Saturday, June 10th with a return home to the Archbishop Lipscomb Athletic Complex where AFC Mobile will take on Biloxi City FC.

“We’re excited about coming home playing at the Lip. It feels like it’s been a year since we played our first home game.” Nicholas said. “We need everybody to come out ’cause, I tell you what, it’s gonna be a show. We’re gonna get a win that night and it’s gonna be because the fans have got our back.”

Kickoff against Biloxi City FC is set for 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 10th at the Archbishop Lipscomb Athletic Complex off Michael Boulevard. It is also Military Appreciation Night. All veterans and active duty military personnel will be admitted free of charge with their military ID. As always, kids 12 and under get in free, and all other tickets are only $5. Click here to purchase your tickets today!

 

 

 

Man of the Match vs. LAFSC

AFC Mobile Man of the Match vs. Louisiana Fire

AFC Mobile’s supporters traveled strong to Kenner, Louisiana, where the visiting fans may have outnumbered the home crowd. Despite some tough tackles, and late game disappointments, these four men stood out among the crowd.  Who would you choose as the Week 2 AFC Mobile Man of the Match?

1 – Brent Grube, GK 

Grube held the Fire scoreless for 88 minutes, including a saved penalty. He kept the AFC Mobile back line well-organized throughout the match.

Goalkeeper Brent Grube came off his line often to stop many Fire attacks in his first game in goal. (Photo credit – John Clark)

9 – Moses Muhubao, FW

Muhubao converted on a beautiful strike in the 76th minute to give AFC Mobile its first lead of the season.

14 – Sherman Winchester, RB/RMF

Winchester completely closed down the right side of the field in the first half. In the second half, Coach Nicholas moved him into the midfield where he was able to head on the assist for Muhubao’s strike.

Winchester was non-stop over 90 minutes of play in both the attacking, middle, and defensive third of the pitch. (Photo credit – John Clark)

19 – Dawson Jellenc, CB

Added to the roster just this week, the Bayside Academy product played 90 minutes without a mistake. Hard tackling, smart positioning, and a goal-saving clearance off the line are proof that this young man belongs.

Vote for the player of your choice below!  Think another player should be considered? Tweet us @AFCMobile!

AFC Mobile Loses 2-1 to Louisiana Fire

AFC Mobile gave up a one goal lead late in the game after the Louisiana Fire’s Dante Oliver scored two goals in the final minutes to seal a comeback victory.

“We just didn’t have enough moxie to see it through. Gave up two questionable goals, might have been offsides, but regardless we’ve got to to do a little bit better job defending those,” AFC Mobile coach Nate Nicholas said. “I think from the top by me as a coach to the players we’ve gotta find a better way to finish it out and come out with a victory. But the boys fought hard, it was a well fought game for us, we just didn’t capitalize on the chances we were given.”

Mobile started the match strong. In the opening minutes of the match, Matt Merrill sent a free kick over the crossbar. Minutes later, Chisom Ogbonna cut in from the left hand side of the pitch to test the Fire keeper, Pepe Serrano.

Nine minutes into a frantic first half, AFC Mobile goalkeeper Brent Grube saved a penalty from the Fire’s Igor Siscov to keep the score level.

Minutes after, Ogbonna was taken down in the box, but neither a yellow card nor a penalty was awarded.

Ogbonna left the field, but returned shortly thereafter. In the 26th minute, Ogbanna gave Mobile its best chance of the match when he bicycle-kicked a shot from the middle of the box that sailed just wide of the far post.

The game was deadlocked at zero to start the second half. Mobile was tested early when a shot from the Fire bounced out of Grube’s hands. The ball fell to a Fire player whose shot at the open goal was cleared off the line by newcomer Dawson Jellenc.

“Dawson played centerback the whole 90 minutes, and we needed him out there—especially with Memo [Lumbreras] taking a knock there at the end of the game.” Nicholas said. “Overall he did pretty well, but you could also see he’s a young kid who’s still learning some stuff. But for a debut with a semi-pro team, being with the guys for only two practices, I thought he played really, really well.”

In the 67th minute,  Ogbonna played a ball across the face of the goal to Amos Ndikumana, whose shot went just over the crossbar.

Minutes later, Sherman Winchester headed the ball to Moses Muhubao, who slotted it home to break the deadlock and give AFC Mobile the lead. The go-ahead goal was Muhubao’s second of the season.

In the 77th minute, AFC Mobile nearly doubled its lead when Batevya Mediateur found Ogbonna on the right hand side, but he couldn’t convert.

The Fire’s Dante Oliver managed to get past the Mobile back line in the 89th minute to equalize. Minutes later in stoppage time, Oliver scored the game winner for the Fire, in spite of impassioned cries from the crowd that he was offside.

The loss gives AFC Mobile an 0-0-2 record on the season. The Fire move to 1-0-1 after falling to Jackson, Mississippi’s Gaffa FC last week. Next Saturday, AFC Mobile will head to Jackson to take on Gaffa FC, who beat the reigning GCPL champions, CD Motagua of New Orleans, 4-2 on Saturday night.

AFC Mobile will play its next home game on June 10th at the Archbishop Lipscomb Athletic Complex against Biloxi City FC. Tickets are only $5.00, and kids 12 and under will be admitted free of charge. RSVP today and invite your friends!  Be sure to follow AFC Mobile on all your favorite social media platforms: Facebook: AFC Mobile; Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat: @AFCMobile.