Last night the Firebirds continued their overwhelming dominance against the visiting Middies of
Middletown High School with a final score of 9-2. Fairmont moved the ball effortlessly and ran out to a
three-goal lead within the first twelve minutes of play. In the seventh minute, Torin Brock sent a soaring corner to the back of the six-yard box that was met by a Nate Bittner header back across the goal to Will Herman, who slotted home his first goal of the season. Two minutes later, the Middies were penalized for a bad foul against Aaron Black, which set up a free kick from the right side of the penalty area. Brock stepped up to take the kick and beat the keeper at his near post. Less than a minute later, Freddy Irakoze collected the ball at midfield, slotted a through ball to Grey Danner down the left side of the box, who crossed into the path of Bien Niyonkuru who neatly put the ball into the net. Middletown
scored its first of the night midway through the half on a freekick from 28 yards. However, with ten
minutes left in the half, the Birds quickly responded with a penetrating run into the box from Brock, who was taken down by a visiting defender for a spot kick. A red card to the defender reduced Middletown to ten players, and Grey Danner stepped up to beat the keeper to his left for his first goal of the season. A minute later, the lead grew to 5-1 thanks to gritty hustle by Mu’adh Ali who pressured the keeper and deflected the clearance into the visitors’ goal. Fairmont’s defense was solid from back to front, with very few opportunities given to the visitors.

In the second half, the Birds increased their lead with two minutes gone courtesy of a second goal from
Brock. That was soon followed by goals from Freddy Irakoze, a second from Bien, and Jaxen Overfield, all with twenty-eight minutes left in the game. The Birds dominated possession throughout the remainder of the game, and with the exception of a mistimed tackle in the box that led to the Middies’
second goal on a PK, Fairmont cruised to victory.

Fairmont will visit cross-town rival Alter High School in this year’s Kettering Derby on Saturday, August
23 rd with JV kickoff at 12:00 p.m. and Varsity kickoff at 2:00 p.m.