Photo: Hickling Images
by Alex Beilman, contributor
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FC Buffalo midfielder Ian McGrath scored the Blitzers’ lone goal on Sunday afternoon at Robert E. Rich All-High Stadium to lift his team over FC Indiana (Read the match recap here). The 55th minute goal was a result of a Jack Donaldson corner kick, and McGrath rose high to nod the effort home.
“We’ve kind been on a little slump. We wanted to come out fast in the 2nd half and try to get a goal quick,” McGrath said. “I always try to be a threat on corner kicks and [Donaldson] happened to play a good ball to the back post and I got good connection.”
It was a match that saw the Blitzers dominate possession for large portions of both halves. The first half had a number of chances for the home side, but the closest they came to scoring was an effort by Romario Guscott, who rang a shot off the cross bar.
McGrath was happy with the team’s whole-game effort and the quality of their play on the attack.
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“I think after we came out in the 2nd half, we wanted to calm things down a little bit and try to play through the midfield more,” McGrath observed.
“What was really effective, we calmed the ball down and got it through the midfield and switched it out and got down the line and got crosses in. That was definitely our tactic for the 2nd half and it paid off.”
McGrath’s goal earned him Man of the Match honors. He was sure to give a nod to the team’s effort in training this week that allowed them to generate a successful attack.
“We’ve been working on finishing all week. We’ve been a little unlucky, but we’ve pounding it and working, and trying to hit the target as much as possible, and we did an alright job with that today.”
The Blitzers hit the road next week for a rematch against FC Indiana on Friday night, and will face Indy Eleven NPSL on Sunday afternoon.
McGrath recognized that bringing the same effort will be the key to a successful road trip.
“Working really hard is the main thing. We need to create as many chances as we can and finish as many chances as we can.”