After a disappointing finish to their eastern road trip, Bay Cities FC regained their winning ways, taking an early lead and coasting to a 3-1 over Flower City Union at an unfamiliar home stadium: Cañada College in Redwood City.
The home side took control of the match from the opening whistle, with Ivan Valencia taking the first shot of the match at the 61 second mark.
And Bay Cities took the lead in the 10th minute, when a long ball out of the defensive half found Josiah Romero making a run along the left sideline. Romero drew the defenders and goalkeeper to him and cut the ball back to a wide open Andrew Paoli, who blasted it into the roof of the net.
The long ball yielded results again in the 38th minute, when Rei Dorwart made his run toward the penalty area. Flower City goalkeeper Russell Robles made a sliding save, Romero rushed in to grab the rebound, but got tangled up with Robles and the referee pointed toward the spot.
Romero took the penalty kick. Robles guessed correctly, but the ball squirted tantalizingly through his hands.
The visitors from Rochester, New York pulled one back with a few seconds left in stoppage time. Alex Ainscough’s through ball found Jordan Saling as he was falling to the turf. He was able to flick it on to Lukas Fernandes, whose curving strike from the top of the penalty area eluded Bay Cities goalkeeper Alan Cruz.
Flower City went on the attack early in the second half, but Bay Cities put the match away in the 54th minute. A free kick from 30 yards out was sent into the penalty area. The ball rattled around the penalty area until Jacob Penner blasted a volley across the goalmouth and inside the far post.
Cruz and the Bay Cities defense kept the visitors at bay for the remainder of the match, with only Suniel Veerakon taking a shot that went off target in the 86th minute.
