Middlesex United Strikers were coming into this game with a Division leading 37 goals scored (in only 13 games) and a +/- rating of +25.  Petrolia meanwhile sat 7th in the rankings with a +/- ratio of -5.  Both teams were coming off losses however, which would quite possibly indicate that the game was very much up for grabs.  The question of course would be how Petrolia could respond to the potent Middlesex offense and their tight "D."    It didn't take long for the team in yellow to demonstrate how they would approach the situation.  With Middlesex coming off the bench perhaps a little cool, it was Petrolia that almost immediately worked to exploit this weakness with a flurry of quick passes up the middle to their awaiting strikers, who did not hesitate to formulate fairly intense drives past the Middlesex defense and towards the opposing goal.  Many one-on-one contests in the opening half were won by Petrolia as Middlesex struggled to set up their defensive system in the midfield.  Middlesex appeared to possess a slight advantage in size and perhaps overall strength, yet Petrolia had apparent advantages in speed.   Both of these opposing qualities likely cancelled each other out, resulting in a state of affairs where the team with the best organizational cohesion, or simply greater teamwork, would win the day.  It was as early as 21 minutes however, when Petrolia's # 21 Kyle Stratmen would score from fairly close range on a shot along the ground that fooled the Middlesex keeper.  Middlesex appeared slightly taken aback by being down even one goal, but slowly began to put up more and more of a fight against Petolia's rapid advances.  The half continued with much the same type of play, however Middlesex earned several free kicks inside the Petrolia zone that would indicate that their fortunes might be about to change, and indeed they did.  At 43 minutes it was Middlesex's # 9 Ricardo Pato scoring on an accurate header made directly into the top right corner of the net.  He received the ball from the right side near the goal line that put him in a perfect position to score.  Just moments before halftime the game was now tied, and Middlesex was noticeably relieved.
The second half began with renewed intensity and vigor on both sides, with both teams embracing the realization that it was now only a matter of a rapidly expiring 45-minute affair.  Both teams overall strategies and game plans appeared to remain the same however, and it was now only a question of effectiveness, motivation, perseverance, and drive.  Petolia kept feeding their very quick strikers the ball in order that they would torment the Middlesex defense, and Middlesex in turn fortified their formidable midfield corps, and marched the ball steadily into their opponents zone on every available occasion.  It could be seen that Middlesex was strengthening as a team fairly early in the half, forcing much of the play closer and closer to the Petrolia goal.    At only 58 minutes it was Middlesex's # 4 Darcy Heenan finding the mesh with a very hard shot from nearly right out front that gave the keeper little chance.  With the home crowd in the stands now very much behind them, Middlesex now began to take their what could be considered their characteristic control on their home turf.  Petrolia formulated and executed all manner of attacks against the Middlesex defense, and utilized every ounce of strength and speed at their disposal.  Middlesex likely began to more carefully understand this strategy, make adjustments, and counter with attacks of their own.  Very spirited play was the case for the remainder of the half, that the official did a very good job in keeping within prescribed limits, but indeed the majority of the action took place within Petolia's half of the field.  Both teams commanded a fair physical presence, and no side backed down regardless of the situation, yet in the end it appeared to be a matter of conditioning and indeed endurance, and on this particular evening it was Middlesex who held the advantage.    Middlesex made several attempts on net late in the half, and Petrolia's speedy advances continued, yet there was to be no further scoring, and albeit by only a goal, the team in red chalked up another win.  JHS