Central boys shock Keene, 2-1

MANCHESTER, NH — Junior Amar Kamaric scored on a direct kick in the 71st minute, lifting Manchester Central to a stunning 2-1 win over Keene High Tuesday evening at venerable Gill Stadium.

It was a huge win for the Little Green, whose season has been a series of emotional highs and lows. With the victory, Central improves to 5-5-3 and has vaulted into eighth place in the Division I standings.

Keene drops to 9-3-1 and into a tie for fifth.

“We definitely weren’t consistent tonight. That’s something we’ve been struggling with all year,” said Central Head Coach Maid Ahmic. “We gave the ball away in our own end. There were times we dribbled when we should have passed or went to one side instead of the other. But these are mistakes we can clean up in practice.”

At times, the Central offense was able to generate a sustained attack, resulting in several prime scoring bids.

But at other times, the Little Green had trouble clearing the ball out.

Such was the case in the 69th minute, when Keene’s talented freshman, Charlie Fauth, made a steal in the attack zone and wasted little time firing a shot on net. Central keeper Sam O’Toole (7 saves) blocked the initial shot, but the rebound came right to senior forward Brynn Blonshine, who rifled the ball into the far corner to tie the game, 1-1.

To its credit, Central bounced back immediately, ramping up the intensity of their play and putting the Blackbirds back on their heels.

Keene, looking fatigued, began to commit fouls to try and slow the Little Green attackers. One foul gave Central a free kick from about 30 yards out. Rather than try and chip the ball into the crowd of players in front of the net, Central mid Amar Kamaric opted to blister a shot, which sizzled past the wall of players and curled just inside the post, past the dive of Schollenberger (8 saves).

Central had other chances to extend the lead but Jean Amisi Aya Wa Mawenda clanged a shot off the post and Sean Venator put a shot inches over the cross bar.

Both teams had quality bids in the first half but the game remained scoreless until the 36th minute. Aya Wa Mawenda made a nifty centering pass and junior captain Muhammed  Traore came sliding in from the right and was able to get a foot on the ball and knock it past Schollenberger for the goal.

Central will look to build on their momentum when they travel to Londonderry, Thursday at 4 p.m. to take on the Lancers.