Written By Anthony Badillo

Hickory FC, after grinding out a comeback road victory just 3 days prior, had to stave off an uno reverse card in front of season high 5,526 match attendance at home. On par for Hickory this season, they maintained majority possession of the ball throughout the match, especially in the first half. The first 20 minutes saw both clubs try to feel their way into the match, with Hickory generating a majority of opportunities, including a shot by Midfielder Mario Albert going wide right of the post in the 13th minute. 

Hickory FC broke through in the 22nd minute, with Ronan O´Mahony delivering a deep pass into the middle of the box, where Centre-Back Jonah Straube received the ball on a run and flicked it into the back of the net. This goal created a wave of momentum, with Forward James Lane, making his first start for Hickory FC tonight, flying sky high into the air to receive a corner and headed it off the top of the crossbar. Moments later in the 26th minute, another opportunity arose for Robbie Deighan, receiving a pass into the box but ultimately flicking his shot wide right of the net. 

Momentum continued, with Midfielder Ronan O´Mahony taking two shots himself in the 30th and 31st minutes, but to no avail as well. Wake FC finally found their first opportunity of the night, with a flick above the bar 

in the 37th minute after a pass back towards Miklosi got away from the Hickory defense. This eventually led to a breakaway goal in the 40th minute, with a great sequence of play down the pitch on the counter. Leo Souza collected the ball and drove up the right side of the field, passing it to Winger Alvaro Maneiro, reconnecting it with Souza who slid the ball over towards Mario Albert, blasting it through the keeper and giving Hickory a 2-0 lead at halftime. 

The second half started off very similar to the first, with the first 20 minutes of the second half cultivating in Hickory maintaining possession and creating a couple chances, but to no avail. Wake FC would capitalize on these missed opportunities, and finally broke through for their first goal of the match in the 68th minute, dribbling off a defender and launching a rocket from deep. Wake FC were back into it with about 25 minutes remaining in the match. From that point on, Wake also showed to maintain more possession of the ball. This wouldn’t lead to much however, as one more shot recorded from outside the box in the 73rd minute proved to be their last opportunity. Hickory FC also continued to try and seal the game, with a cross from Maneiro in the 75th minute reaching Jonah Straube in the left side of the box. A brace was attempted, but a near post save from Wake´s goalkeeper kept Straube´s goal tally on the night at 1. 

Hickory FC continue to maintain their second place position, up by 2 points on rivals Appalachian FC with 2 games in hand, as they cross off game 1 of a significant 3 game homestand, next up hosting Tobacco Road FC, and with all eyes pointed towards a match for the table lead against South-Atlantic division leaders Charlotte Independence 2 next Saturday, June the 27th. 

Share This Article

• Mail
• Facebook
• Print
• ShareCopied to clipboard

As we have reached the halfway point of the 2026 USL2 South-Atlantic League division schedule, Hickory FC, in the midst of a playoff hunt, had to grind out a tough 3 points on the road in Wilmington, NC against coastal foe Port City FC. The Wilmington hosts never made anything easy for Hickory in the evening, including an early goal within the 3rd minute by way of a Ryan Lee header off a cross for the hosts. Port City FC´s crisp passing helped lead them to the early advantage, and they maintained control of the game for a majority of the 1st half, showing intensity in their pressing and a fast paced sense of defense, swarming Hickory FC players with the ball and never letting their opponents get into a rhythm. 

This however, would not last, as Hickory FC around the 25th minute mark began to maintain more possession of the ball and seemingly settled into the match. Right Back Luke Munson of Hickory began to develop good crosses into the box, one of which resulted in a corner, but to no avail for the visitors. After a few minutes of great build up play from Hickory, the equalizer was seemingly found. Midfielder Ander Marticorena delivered a slicing through ball towards forward Bautista Rossi who finished it into the back of the net. This goal would not last however, as Rossi was deemed to be offside. The end of the first half resulted in additional missed opportunities for Hickory FC. 

This fair run of form for Hickory would leak into the start of the 2nd, as Port City FC recognized this and began to seemingly park the bus. In the 50th minute, Hickory FC winger Martin Kozak made a cut from inside the left part of the pitch and delivered a shot, albeit directly to Port City’s Goalkeeper Kevin Christensen. Minutes later, another great opportunity arose for Hickory from a Martin Kozak corner, delivered to Alvaro Bonet, who narrowly netted his second goal of the season but was denied by a header off the post. 

Port City would grind defensively for the remainder of the match, showing relentless grit to try and disrupt any flow or rhythm Hickory FC tried to develop. They even managed to collect their second shot of the match since the early goal, with it flying above the bar in the 59th minute. Hickory FC would continue to push, with more of the ball beginning to enter the box. After a header was deflected and bounced to substitute Right Back Leonardo Souza, Souza took a shot attempt that was saved by Christensen who managed to rush back in time from the initial deflection. 

Despite these defensive heroics, a handball penalty awarded to Hickory in the 86th minute wiped out a night of relentless struggle for the hosts, as Martin Kozak buried it in the 87th, bringing the clubs level. Hickory would continue to press, and at the death for the visitors, Left Back Bautista Schmidt delivered a cross into the box for substitute forward James Lane, who scored his first goal for Hickory FC with a game winning header. A rough night for the hosts, who managed to lead for 84 minutes, only to lose the match in the final 10. Hickory FC fights for a much needed 3 points on the road before a massive 3 game homestand, and with 2 games in hand against 3rd place rivals Appalachian FC, they hold a great opportunity to widen the gap and secure a spot in this year’s playoffs. 

Share This Article

• Mail
• Facebook
• Print
• ShareCopied to clipboard

On a 95 degree night in the capital of South Carolina, Hickory FC persisted through the heat and delivered a high scoring affair from their end to keep pace in the playoff race. From the get go, Hickory held control of the match and never let SC United get into a rhythm. Early building out of the back and patience defined Hickory FC’s ability to get a feel for the game and establish dominance early on. Shots by midfielder Mario Albert and forward Bautista Rossi set the tone for how Hickory would apply pressure all night on the Bantams. 

The first goal finally arrived in the 33rd minute of the match, after Left Back Bautista Schmidt crossed a long ball to Winger Javan Ochieng towards the right side of the box. After collecting the pass, Ochieng delivered a cross that deflected towards Albert, and the midfielder sent a rocket from outside the box to deliver Hickory FC´s first of many goals throughout the night. 

Just moments later, Javan Ochieng showed a moment of brilliance, collecting the ball from the right flank and dribbling past defenders for his first goal as a Hickory FC player. Hickory FC led 2-0 leading up to the break, however, an opportunity for SC United to climb back into the match came with a free kick around the 44th minute, with their shot deflecting off the top of the cross bar. This ended a first half seemingly controlled and dominated completely by Hickory FC. 

SC United wouldn’t go quietly into the night however, as they began to apply pressure themselves and earned multiple free kick and corner opportunities. These opportunities would be missed however, along with Hickory keeper Daniel Miklosi making a phenomenal save from a Bantams header, and led to 0 goals scored for the hosts. After the Bantams early run of form in the second half, Hickory FC decided to apply the dagger, with substitute Midfielder Tate Asante’s shot getting saved by SC United, but fellow substitute Centre-Back Alvaro Bonet scoring off the rebound. The night was capped off by another substitute, Winger Ivan Morcillo, who scored an amazing free kick goal in the 89th minute. Positioned on the left side outside the box, Morcillo sent a curving shot that bent past the Bantams keeper into the top left corner of the net. Moments later during the final bit of extra time, Morcillo scored again, securing his brace, with the assist coming from Right Back Luke Munson off a low cross into the box. This capped off a dominant night for Hickory FC, securing a much needed 3 points and currently holding the 2nd spot in the South Atlantic division´s table. 

Hickory FC will need to maintain this form in the upcoming matches if they want to safely secure their playoff spot. Up next includes another road trip to Wilmington, NC against Port City FC, before returning for a 3 game home stand which includes a massive June 27th matchup against division leaders Charlotte Independence 2. 

Share This Article

• Mail
• Facebook
• Print
• ShareCopied to clipboard