Stallions B strike like lightning, thunder off with 4-0 First Division victory

Woodstock Stallions’ Humayun Umar (right) tries to cut off a Tillsonburg pass. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

Woodstock Stallions B thundered onto the Cowan Park’s Guarantee field, struck like lightning, and retired in good order before an oncoming storm threatened more than the team’s victorious mood.

“The boys stuck to their plan, played well and were in full control for the whole game,” summed up Stallions coach Sean Gannon following a 4-0 Western Ontario Soccer League (WOSL) First Division shutout victory over the visiting Tillsonburg Poultry Specialties, Thursday, July 24th.

Woodstock striker Logan Dunlop’s natural hat-trick provided ample offence for the Stallions, counted at the five, 15 and 30-minute marks of the opening half. He opened scoring via a ‘tap-around’ of the Tillsonburg keeper, working hard to find open space.

“Fifteen-yard poke around,” said Dunlop.

His second and third markers were ‘cheeky chips’ lofted over an onrushing keeper, extending the Stallions lead to a comfortable three goals by halftime.

“Gotta love those cheeky chips,” smiled Woodstock centre fullback Adam McDonald, whose position allowed him full vantage of a quality defensive effort.

“We moved the ball really well,” he said. “Pretty quick and pretty intentional.”

“One of our best performances this season,” Dunlop agreed.

Ilyas Umar rounded the 4-0 final in the second half, finding a chink in Tillsonburg’s defensive wall on a free kick awarded just outside the 18-yard box. Stallions keeper Zach Mann recorded the shutout.

The victory lifted Woodstock’s record to 7-1-2 (W/T/L) in WOSL First Division standings, good for third place behind Chatham (9-0-1) and Strathroy United (7-2-1). Tillsonburg dropped to 1-0-11.

Although a result Woodstock should have achieved given the teams’ relative positions in the standings, the Stallions had stayed focussed throughout agreed McDonald and Logan.

“Kept our heads in the game,” summed up the latter.

The Stallions are within striking distance of the division’s top two positions and resultant promotion to the Premier Division, however due to the fact Woodstock Stallions A are in that loop, they are unable to advance. As a result, the team’s goal heading into the season was ‘trophies’ said McDonald.

“Trophies, good results and hard, dedicated work in the field,” Dunlop added.

Gannon has been pleased with the effort in that direction, as well as unselfish play, displayed again against Tillsonburg.

“The boys do a lot of work for each other on and off the ball.”

With league and division cup play concluded, the last remaining trophy the Stallions can aspire to is the First Division regular season championship. The Stallions have four games remaining, trailing league-leading Chatham by five points, an improbable but not impossible task.

“It might not be the case this year, so our goal is to finish as strong as we can,” Gannon concluded, heading off the pitch as dark thunderclouds passing roughly over Hickson, continued approaching. “We’ll just keep fighting every minute and see where we end up.”

Ontario Masters Cup Semi-Final

Gannon is excited to announce that the other team he coaches, the Woodstock Stallions Masters, are hosting a 2025 Masters Provincial Championship semi-final match Saturday, August 9th at Cowan Field.

The local masters (over-35) team opened playdowns with a 3-0 shutout victory over the Toronto SPG Red Devils, advancing to semi-finals with a 2-1 win over London Jagiellonia. The Stallions will play the winner between Thornhill NextArt Madrid and Windsor Croatia.

Although the game’s start time is yet to be officially finalized, Gannon expects it will be 5 p.m. Hosting a provincial cup semi-final is a rare event for Woodstock continued the coach, looking forward for the chance for his team to create history.

“I’m asking the people of Woodstock and area to get out and back the boys with the biggest crowd Cowan Park has ever seen,” he concluded.