VIDEO: Burns PKs send Wildwood past Lower Cape May

Posted: October 22nd 2024

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

WILDWOOD – A Wildwood High School boys soccer team that struggled to finish its many glorious chances during the run of play used two penalty kick goals to slip past rival Lower Cape May, 2-1, in a game played under the lights at Kaitlin M. Anzelone Memorial Field Monday.

Gavin Burns connected on spot kicks on each side of halftime to provide the scoring for a Warrior team that generated numerous other chances in the game but failed to score otherwise.

Burns converted the first penalty kick with only a second to go in the first half after teammate Noureddine “Nunu” Bedderi was pushed from behind after moving into the penalty area with possession.

The Warrior senior bagged his second 12 minutes into the second half to give his team a two-goal advantage after a Lower Cape May player was whistled for a hand-ball violation in the penalty area.

Lower Cape May (4-10-2) did not muster many chances but was given a lifeline when Omar Mariche Silva scored a wonderful goal from 25 yards away, pouncing on a loose ball and curling a shot inside the right post 15 minutes from full time.

But Wildwood saw the game out from there as Lower Cape May did not generate another shot on target.

The Warriors missed out on numerous chances. Bedderi rattled the crossbar from 10 yards away in the first half, Michael Blanda couldn’t connect with the rebound of a deflected shot at the goal’s doorstep in the second half and Burns had an effort from the right flank denied through a diving fingertip save by Lower Cape May goalkeeper Ryan Gibson in the game’s waning moments. Burns was also denied a second-half goal when he slipped a shot past Gibson from the left side of the box, only to see Lower Cape May defender Logan Perkins clear the ball off thel ine.

Gibson also made a couple of solid stops on strong efforts by Bedderi, particularly in the second half.

Lower’s best other chance to score came through a thundering header from Johnny Montgomery off a first-half corner kick but Wildwood goalkeeper Broc Denke was equal to the task.

Wildwood (11-3-1) can clinch its first-ever championship Tuesday. A win over Salem would give the Warriors the Tri-County Classic Division title. Wildwood posted a 7-0 win over Salem in the teams’ first meeting earlier this season.