Goal from Stephen Payne seals the three points for the Flamingos
Forward Madison FC hit the road to face the 3rd ranked team in USL League One, Richmond Kickers, on Saturday, June 17th at City Stadium in Richmond, VA. After coming off a high from last weekend’s victory against North Carolina FC. Flamingo fans flocked over to the Forward Club to watch their team as the Featherstone Flamingos made their Irruption Tour trip down to Virginia for the annual Henny Derby and celebration of Black soccer fandom ahead of Juneteenth.
When the opening whistle sounded, both teams played conservative and safe to open the match. Each club attempted to build up possession and a strong attack, but final passes were missed in the box. It wasn’t until the 14th minute that Forward Madison had their first real look on goal. Nazeem Bartman dribbled around Richmond defenders in the box and had a golden opportunity to put the ball in the back left of the net, but missed it wide. The match continued uneventfully, as both sides looked to tally first. FMFC Goalkeeper Bernd Schipmann made a few major saves to keep the clean sheet alive, while FMFC and Richmond had wide-open chances in stoppage time that were both denied by the post. The half concluded in a 0-0 draw.
The second half for the ‘Mingos started with determined energy. FMFC Striker Christian Chaney was subbed in for fresh legs and added pressure on the Richmond backline. Within the first five minutes of the half, FMFC had a couple dangerous looks on goal, but were unable to capitalize. However, Richmond was able to gain composure and controlled the tempo of the second half, keeping the Forward defense on their toes. In the 78th minute, a ball was sent into the box against the run of play, and FMFC’s Stephen Payne hit a one-timer into the back of the net. This goal carried Forward to three points and a 1-0 Henny Derby victory over the Richmond Kickers on the road.
Next up, Forward Madison will return home for a midweek game on Thursday, June 22nd to face Lexington SC at Breese Stevens field at 7pm CT. Tickets for the match can be purchased here.
“We talked about how important it is that we’re tough and fighting through the difficult moments,” FMFC Head Coach Matt Glaeser said. “I think the first half, we didn’t have a great one, but we were much better in the second. We stuck with what we’re about and fought for a victory.”
“Stephen [Payne] was up for it tonight,” Glaeser said. “You could tell all week he was feeling himself. He was chomping at the bit tonight and made plays exactly when we needed him to.”
“It means everything when you feel the guys next to you working just as hard of you,” FMFC attacker Derek Gebhard said. “I’m just so proud to be with the guys here. 11 guys doing everything they can on the defense and still having the energy to attack, that’s special.”
“It’s a really good group of people first that translates well onto the soccer field,” FMFC captain and defender Mitch Osmond said. “There’s buy-in from every player, there’s energy that’s so positive and we’re figuring out who were are as a team very quickly.
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Forward Madison FC Lineup:
#4 Mitch Osmond
#5 Timmy Mehl
#7 Isidro Martinez
#10 Jayden Onen
#16 Jake Crull
#17 Derek Gebhard
#18 Francis Jno-Baptiste
#22 Stephen Payne
#23 Aiden Mesias
#24 Nazeem Bartman
#55 Bernd Schipmann
Substitutes: #56 Sanchez, #2 Screen, #12 Brotherton, #8 Conerty, #28 Wheeler-Omiunu, #14 Cichero, #9 Chaney
Head Coach: Matt Glaeser
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Richmond Kickers Lineup:
#1 Akira Fitzgerald
#2 Dakota Barnathan
#4 Simon Fitch
#6 Zaca Moran
#10 Nil Vinyals
#16 Jake Mecham
#19 Justin Sukow
#24 Nathan Aune
#32 Emiliano Terzaghi
#91 Owayne Gordon
#99 Kharlton Belmar
Substitutes: Palmquist, Bentley, Cole, Gomiero, Howell, O’Dwyer, Sierakowski
Head Coach: Darren Sawatzky
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Major Match Moments:
1st Half
- 1’ RIC foul
- 9’ RIC foul
- 14’ FMFC major opportunity
- 19’ RIC foul
- 26’ FMFC foul
- 27’ RIC major opportunity
- 32’ RIC major opportunity
- 33’ FMFC foul
- 36’ RIC foul
- 40’ FMFC foul
- 44’ FMFC major opportunity
- 45+1 RIC major opportunity
- 45+2 FMFC foul
Half-Time Score: FMFC 0-0 RIC
2nd Half
- 45’ FMFC substitution #9 Chaney in for #18 Jno-Baptiste
- 48’ FMFC major opportunity
- 51’ FMFC corner kick
- 54’ RIC corner kick
- 61’ RIC substitution #17 Sierakowski in for #99 Belmar
- 62’ RIC corner
- 65’ FMFC foul
- 67’ RIC corner kick
- 68’ RIC foul
- 69’ FMFC foul
- 69’ FMFC yellow card #10 Onen
- 72’ FMFC substitution #28 Wheeler-Omiunu in for #23 Mesias
- 74’ RIC foul
- 77’ RIC foul
- 77’ RIC yellow card #91 Gordon
- 78’ FMFC goal #22 Payne
- 84’ FMFC substitution #2 Screen and #8 Conerty in #10 Onen and #24 Bartman out
- 85’ RIC substitution #8 in #19 out
- 86’ RIC corner
- 90+4 RIC foul
- 90+4 RIC yellow card #16 Mecham
Full-Time Score: FMFC 1-0 RIC
Discipline:
Forward Madison FC
- 69’ FMFC yellow card #10 Onen
Richmond Kickers
- 77’ RIC yellow card #91 Gordon
- 90+4 RIC yellow card #16 Mecham
