DENTON _ The Vaqueros scrapped and scored repeatedly to hold off the upstart Denton Diablos 4-3 on Saturday.
Fort Worth (2-0, 6 points) took an early lead but had to come from behind late to secure the NPSL Lone Star Conference victory.
Vaqueros midfielder Cameron Brown scored the game’s final goal in the 68th minute to give Fort Worth the advantage in the Chisholm Trail Clasico.
Fort Worth led 2-1 at the half off a pair of Jamie Lovegrove goals as the savvy finisher netted a pair of composed strikes. However, Denton enjoyed a brief stretch of the game to take a 3-2 lead midway through the second half.
“Great game especially for the neutral, lots of goals, lots of offense,” Vaqueros coach Nick Stavrou said. “I felt as the boys showed their character to be down in the second half and over-run a little bit to comeback in the game and get the victory.”
New Vaqueros winger Darren Mitchell picked up his first goal for the Boys In Blue when his 64th minute goal leveled the match at 3-3.
The Vaqueros brought a mature, possession game with a veteran squad while Denton (0-1) featured a dynamic, younger more direct composition.
The match marked the first in history for the new Diablos club.
“It was two good teams going at it,” Stavrou said. “I’m proud of the guys in that they were able to hang with the young guys and pull to the finish line with a victory.”
Fort Worth will enjoy the upcoming Memorial Day weekend off before returning to play at home on June 1 in the return leg of the Chisholm Trail Clasico.
Around the Conference, Laredo (1-0, 3 points) knocked off Tyler (0-3) while Midland-Odessa (1-0) defeated Katy (0-1). |