South Jersey Soccer:
Barons Clinch Division with 7-2 Win Over North Jersey Imperials

Saturday, August 14, 1999

By Forrest Robleto
SJSports Staff Writer

The South Jersey Barons easily handled the bottom dwelling North Jersey Imperials, and if Chico California doesn't take every possible point tonight, the Barons could win a bye to the playoff semi-finals if they get enough points against New Jersey Stallions in Toms River tomorrow. An accident on the Garden State Parkway left the Imperials shorthanded. The Barons, who desperately wanted a five point win (four points for the win and 1 bonus point for scoring three or more goals) wasted no time in putting four goals on the board in the first 14 minutes. The Imperials eventually got ten men on the field, but then at the 64-minute mark of the second half, Stallion Mike Gould was ejected for his second yellow card.

Matt Brooks set up Joe Nick for the first goal at two minutes into the game. Five minutes later Rob Dimeo helped Matt Miles with his first goal of the evening. The Imperials accidentally put one in their own goal to make it three to zero at 12 minutes, and two minutes later Matt Miles effectively put the game away with the help of Joe Nick 4-0. Matt Miles helped defenseman Matt Holmes get his second goal of the season at the 34 minute mark to end the half 5-0.

The Barons visibly relaxed near the end of the second half and it was an over exuberant Majik Agu who put in a goal on a pass from Eric Chijoke. The Imperials' Huey Ferguson put in two back to back to get the Imperials on the board but Majik fed midfielder Darren Watts to win fudge for the crowd and put the game away 7-2.

The Barons have a regular promotion in which everyone with a ticket gets a free quarter pound of fudge from Steele's Fudge if the Barons score 7 or more goals in a game. This was the second week in a row that the crowd got fudge. The Barons also continued the give away of tickets to Morey's Piers for anyone under sixteen and will continue this to the next home game if there is a home game in the playoffs.

The snack bar at the Barons home games benefits the Jersey Shore Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Volunteers, including the staff of the Barons work the booth. At tonight's game Robin Victoria Williams, Miss Cape May County, was among the volunteers all working for a very worthy cause.

Photos by Forrest Robleto