Greeneville, Tenn – The Jefferson County Patriots rallied from a goal down at the half to score three unanswered goals in the second half to defeat Greeneville 3-2.
Jefferson County opened the game with constant pressure on the Greeneville goal, putting 2 shots on frame and forcing Greeneville keeper, Tanner Myers into two early saves. After the barrage, Greeneville began possess and apply pressure to the Patriot back line. In the 20th minute, Greeneville broke through with the opening goal of the game. David Fisher delivered a free kick into the box where Connor Stayton directed the ball off a glancing header into the far post for the game’s first goal. For the next 20 minutes both teams created opportunities but neither keeper flinched as both Ethan Bunch of Jefferson County and Tanner Myers of Greeneville finished with three first half saves.
When the second half began Jefferson County was a different team. In the opening seconds of the second half, the Patriots equalized after a cross into the Greeneville six yard box was deflected by a Greeneville defender into the goal. Just three minutes later, Jason Grahalus pounced on a poor clearance by the Greeneville defense and buried the go ahead goal. Grahalus scored the eventual game winning goal nineteen minutes later finishing a long cross to the far post with a header into an open net to make the score 3-1 in the 63rd minute.
From that point the Greene Devils created chances and their first shot in the second half came with ten minutes remaining in the game off the foot of Austin Beets. His eighteen yard blast just missed the target sailing wide right past a diving Bunch. Just three minutes later, Sam Gourley stood over a free kick from 24 yards away and delivered a precise strike beating the wall and Bunch to the near post to draw Greeneville to within one at 3-2 in the 73rd minute. The final seven minutes belonged to the Patriots who put away the game by keeping possession.
Jefferson County, who earns their first win against Greeneville in the last 15 meetings, outshot the Greene Devils 17-13 and placed 8 shots on goal to Greeneville’s 7. Each keeper finished with 5 saves a piece. Greeneville (5-6-1) are scheduled to play Claiborne in a District 2 game on Monday at Burley Stadium beginning at 6pm.
