Texoma FC fell to fellow expansion side Westchester SC 3-1 in the club’s second USL League One match of the season. Brandon McManus scored the lone goal for Texoma FC while Conor McGlynn, Oluwatobilba Adewole, and Jonathon Bolanos got on the score sheet for the visitors.
As usual, let’s start with formation. Texoma head coach Adrian Forbes made his first formation shift of the year. Instead of the usual 3-5-2, Texoma came out in a diamond 4-4-2. Ozzie Ramos and Diego Pepi were moved out of the starting XI from last week to make room for Lamin Jawneh and Solomon Asante.
Texoma started the game on the front foot and were rewarded for their attacking play in the 4th minute when Ajmeer Spengler assisted Brandon McManus for the opening goal of the match.
In what seems to be the norm, goalkeeper Mason McCready made 3 massive saves in the 7th, 8th, and 13th minute to preserve Texoma’s 1-0 lead. However, the pressure Texoma was under became too much, and Westchester’s McGlynn fired a shot into the upper corner to equal the match at 1-1 in the 30th minute.
The rest of the first half saw chances at both ends, but neither team was able to take the lead before halftime. Angelo Calfo, who seemed to be nursing a previous injury, was subbed off in the 43rd minute for Ozzie Ramo. Ramos filled in at defensive-mid where Calfo had been all match.
Neither coach decided to make substitutions at halftime, and in the 48th minute, Adewole put the visitors ahead 2-1 after a free kick slipped through the box to the back post.
In the 65th minute, Westchester looked to double their lead when they were through one-on-one with the keeper, but Texoma center back Preston Kilwein made an excellent recovery tackle to deny the chance.
In the 84th minute, Reid Valentine and debutant Donald Benamna were brought on for JP Jordan and Davey Mason. This substitution pair put Texoma back in their familiar 3-5-2 shape.
Texoma spent the rest of the match with numbers forward looking for the equalizer; however, in the 85th minute, Westchester scored the dagger to go up 3-1 with a goal from Bolanos.
In the 94th minute, Texoma FC midfielder Ajemeer Spengler saw his second yellow of the match for what was deemed a tactical foul in transition. Spengler will be forced to miss Texoma’s April 5th home match against Naples FC.