FAYETTEVILLE — The chance to grab its second win over Jack Britt in less than two weeks slipped through the hands of the Richmond Senior boys soccer team with about seven minutes to go in Monday’s night rematch in Fayetteville.
Coach Bennie Howard says his team’s failure to mark up on a corner kick resulted in the Buccaneers scoring the game’s ninth and final goal of the night — helping Jack Britt earn a 5-4 decision over the visiting Raiders.
Monday’s victory gave Jack Britt its first win of the season.
“Three of the goals that were given up tonight were because we did not stick with our marks — playing man to man,” Howard said. “So, that’s something we’re going to work on in the next two days prior to our next contest.”
Richmond (4-2) went into the half down 3-0, but two goals from sophomore Carlos Alcacor in the first six minutes of the second half gave the Raiders some life.
After watching Jack Britt (1-3-1) tack on another score, giving the home team a 4-2 lead, Johnathan Tadlock tapped the ball in after it was bounced around in the box to put Richmond within one. Carter Roberson’s first score of the night would knot the game up at 4-4.
“I’m very proud of the way the boys responded in the second half — with a lot of heart,” Howard added. “But I did tell them soccer has two halves and they’re both 40 minutes. You can’t take a half off, dig yourself a hole like we did, and then turn around and play in the second half.
“I told the boys,” he continued, “it’s always hard to beat someone at their own house.”
Richmond will hit the road Thursday, as the team faces off against Whiteville (3-1-2) at 7 p.m.
The last time these two teams met, back in 2014, the Raiders came away with a dominant 9-2 win.
“We’ve got to come out and play,” Howard said. “People are coming after us.”
Reach sports editor Leon Hargrove Jr. at 910-817-2673 and follow the sports section on Twitter @RCDailySports.