September 1, 2026
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The Huron United Football Club’s match-up Aug. 11 represented a clash of the top two squads in the Tri-City Men's Soccer League (TMSL), with league leaders Red Sea FC returning to Listowel after defeating Huron United in its prior league fixture. A well-played, if cautious, match ended 1-1 with the teams deservedly splitting points.
Red Sea demonstrated its bonafides in the early going, controlling the ball in Huron United's half for most of the first 15 minutes of game play. Huron United keeper Josh Coleman turned away a dangerous free kick in the fifth minute, and also courageously dove outside his box to dispatch a chance with a header.
Huron United's pressure tactics and high success rate on aerial duels helped to generate chances on the counter throughout the first half. The best of the lot came via a through-ball from winger Drew Cobean that sent in-form striker Adam Carty streaking into the Red Sea box. Carty's left-footed touch guided the ball around the keeper, but Red Sea’s centre-back just pulled the ball off the goal line to preserve the stalemate.
Huron United’s first chance of the second half came in the 57th minute when holding mid-fielder Flynn Colwell-Castles unlocked a run for left-back Anderson Wolfe. Wolfe's smart hold-up play at the edge of the box created the space for a pass ahead to the diagonally cutting Cobean, whose chip attempt was deflected at the last second by the Red Sea keeper. U21 call-up Aidan Terpstra won a corner in the 61st with a high effort dribble on the flank, which Colwell-Castles whipped in for striker Andrew Wiegersma for a chance in tight.
Shortly thereafter, Huron United full-back Dylan Simon's relentless pursuit of the ball on a scramble forced yet another goal-line clearance from an under siege Red Sea defence. Red Sea’s ensuing counterattack elicited an outstanding save from Coleman, who dove across the goal mouth to shepherd the curling ball around his right post.
Each team was afforded a chance to take a late lead from the penalty spot. In the 78th minute, Cobean drew a penalty on an errant tackle in the box. Jason Leiskau stepped up to the spot but put his shot over the bar. A tough handball call against Huron United in the 88th minute brought Red Sea to the penalty spot, and its taker once again made an acquaintance with the Coleman Wall: Huron United's keeper read the shot perfectly and smothered the rebound. Terpstra and Wolfe combined for a late chance on the counterattack, but the game was destined to finish in a scoreless draw.
Coleman was a unanimous Man of the Match, turning in one of the finest performances in club history. His fifth clean sheet of the season makes him the TMSL leader in that category on the season.
Huron United's next match brought Stratford City to Listowel, Aug. 18. Huron United was unable to replicate its recent run of strong performances, and fell by a score of 2-0.
Stratford took the lead off a well-executed free kick. Unable to consistently threaten the Stratford goal, Huron United pushed men forward in search of an equalizer, only for a Stratford clearance to generate a one-on-one opportunity for its striker against Coleman. Though Coleman managed the initial save, the ball ricocheted off a trailing Huron United defender and into the net to seal the victory for Stratford. Wolfe earned Man of the Match honours in defeat.
Huron United's final match of the regular season was an exceptionally foggy affair against Rohingya FC, Aug. 25, but a last-minute Rohingya winner against the run of play spoiled the evening for Huron United.
Savvy interplay between Huron United attackers A. Carty and Colwell-Castles at the top of the box opened a shooting lane for James Jeffreys, whose well-placed strike forced a diving save from the Rohingya keeper in the opening minute.
With starting keeper Coleman away, regular full0back Simon donned the gloves and immediately demonstrated his experience at the position with several assured plays, including a leaping stop in the eighth minute.
The slick conditions predisposed both squads to errors in possession, which ensured the keepers were occupied with a steady stream of chances off turn-overs throughout the first half. Jeffreys, Carty, and winger Cobean kept the Rohingya goal under pressure, while Simon dispatched all ventures into the Huron United box. The half-time whistle came with the score-line still knotted at zero.
Huron United came flying out of the gate in the second half as the thicker fog rolled in. Centre-back Masoom Saromie escaped pressure with a pass back to keeper Simon, who settled the ball and then launched it onto the head of mid-fielder Matt Brown. Brown perfectly weighted his flicked header to send winger Andrew Wiegersma streaking into Rohingya's box, and Wiegersma ripped the ball past the keeper to give Huron United a 1-0 lead in the first minute of the second frame.
Rohingya responded to the deficit with an attacking fervour. Simon and defenders Shadi Dahrouj and Charlie Hall-Elwood dispositioned a series of Rohingya chances before the visitors equalized off a free kick in the 70th minute.
Self-inflicted errors continued to plague Huron United in the closing minutes, and Rohingya made it 2-1 after a long injury delay with a quick strike in added time to seal a late victory.
Simon was recognized by his teammates as Man of the Match for his valiant performance in net, with honourable mentions going to Brown and Wiegersma.
Huron United finished the TMSL regular season in fourth place with a 6-4-4 record. The team’s playoff campaign begins Sept.1 in Listowel against rivals Riverside FC B. Huron United's roster is composed of players from Kincardine, Port Elgin, and surrounding areas, and the team is playing under the Saugeen Shores United Football Club. The club can be followed at www.kdslsoccer.com/teams/default.asp?u=KDSL&s=soccer&p=home.
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