WestSound FC scores first goal and win at BUFC

BELLINGHAM, WA—WestSound FC’s Men had yet to score a goal in two EPLWA matches but that streak was ended in dramatic fashion on Sunday May 11 as Graham Davidson notched an 89th-minute winner for the guests in a 1-0 triumph before 445 fans.

The Hammers had plenty of chances throughout the match, but they either didn’t finish or were thwarted by the superb play of WestSound FC goalkeeper Jordan Hadden.

Davidson hails from the UK (Liverpool) but has made himself into a local in the Kitsap area after attending Olympic College where he was a defender, and then playing for the Kitsap Pumas of the PDL and the indoor PASL.

In 2011 Graham Davidson takes a shot on goal during Kitsap Pumas pre-season. On Sunday in Bellingham he scored the first goal in WestSound FC's EPLWA history ---and it was a match-winner. (David Falk) — In 2011 Graham Davidson takes a shot on goal during Kitsap Pumas pre-season. On Sunday in Bellingham he scored the first goal in WestSound FC’s EPLWA history —and it was a match-winner. (David Falk)

Bellingham United Team Insider Brandon Enyeart wrote about the match for the Hammers official website:

The Hammers started quick with a flurry of shots in the opening 10 minutes. One of the more promising shots came in the 9th minute from Midfielder, Sean Connor who looked to have the match’s first goal, but was robbed on the line by a WestSound defender.

Moments later in the 14th minute Forward, Tyler Bjork had a crack at goal, but his clean strike was handled without problem by West Sound Goalkeeper, Jordan Hadden.

Bellingham continued to control the majority of the possession in the first half until the 40th minute when WestSound FC was finally able to mount an attack. The attack managed to draw Bellingham Goalkeeper, Brian Swanson off of his line and WestSound was able to get the ball around him. Swanson was quick to recover though and managed to make a save off the tips of his gloves.
The game would remain at 0-0 heading into the half.

The second half started much the same as the first. Tyler Bjork continued to be the hardest working player on the pitch and consistently created opportunities for the Hammers. In the 61st minute he took another huge shot at Jordan Hadden, but much like in the first half, Hadden answered the call to keep WestSound FC in the match.

Six minutes later, Sean Connor decided to test the WestSound FC Goalkeeper once again and just like his teammate, Tyler Bjork, he too was stonewalled by Hadden.

The EPLWA has some fine goalkeepers. Jordan Hadden has impressed in goal for WestSound FC. (File photo / Kathy Johnson)

Frustration started to set in for the Hammers and the match started to have the feeling that even a draw would be a disappointing result for BUFC against the winless and goalless WestSound side. The Hammers continued to have chances on frame, but each and every one of them were thwarted away by WestSound FC.

Finally in the 90th minute the unthinkable happened when WestSound’s, Graham Davidson curled a shot through two defenders and around Brian Swanson to give WestSound their first goal and first lead of their EPLWA existence. Davidson immediately ran over to a rambunctious group of Hammers fans in the Copper Hog Beer Garden just to make sure they felt it.

Bellingham threw numbers ahead in the final three minutes of stoppage time in hopes of salvaging a draw, but fell short for their efforts. In one of the more surprising matches of the Evergreen Premier League so far, WestSound FC defeated Bellingham United FC with a last minute heartbreaker.

Head Coach, Lance Calloway had this to say about the match:

“Today’s game was quite frustrating for me as a coach. We created a lot of scoring opportunities, but did not capitalize. Quite honestly, we should’ve been up 3-0 in the first 25 minutes.
WestSound’s Goalkeeper deserves credit as he came up huge on several occasions and definitely kept them in the game.

I thought for the whole match we were too casual in our play. I was expecting us to come out for the second half a little more active, but we came out the same.

When they scored we were very casual on defense and made some basic mistakes by splitting two defenders and not containing, so their forward got a good shot off. Very disappointing that he got through two players to score in the final minutes.

To WestSound’s credit they did not give up and they got the points. We have to come out better next week bottom-line. I know our players in the locker room after the match were very disappointed in our performance and felt they could’ve done better.”

Tyler Bjork was your Hammer Man of the Match for his incredible work rate and regardless of the final score, it was very much deserved. The Hammers head back out on the road next Sunday to play the Seattle Stars. Bellingham’s next home game won’t be until June 8th when they face Yakima United FC.

WestSound FC hosts Spokane Saturday May 17 at Silverdale Stadium.
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