Premier Development League Soccer: West Texas United drops season finale

MIDLAND All season long, the West Texas United Sockers have found themselves a step behind the rest of the Premier Development League’s Mid-South division, a play or two short of coming away with a win.

Orlando Bayona made sure the Sockers’ season ended a step behind Laredo in Thursday night’s season finale.

Bayona split two defenders and blasted the eventual game-winner past Leif Craddock in the 41st minute as the Heat won 2-1 and moved into first place while the Sockers’ campaign ended in disappointment.

Bayona is the most lethal weapon on a Laredo offense that has scored a division-leading 35 goals this season.

“He’s real good on the ball, he’s great in the air,” Sockers defender Michael Stewart said. “He’ll keep the touch on it, hold it up, because that’s what he’s best at.”

The Heat (11-3-1, 34 points) badly wanted a win in Thursday night’s matchup.

Coming into the game, Laredo was only a point behind Mid-South Division leaders Chivas El Paso, and the Heat are scheduled to finish off the season at El Paso.

Beating the Sockers at Grande Communications Stadium meant Laredo would take a two-point lead and ensure that a draw or a win earns the outright division title.

And the Heat wasted no time getting started.

Forced to make a stop a couple of minutes in the game, Craddock stopped one shot in the first two minutes.

He couldn’t stop the second. Taking a free kick from 30 yards away on the right side of the field, Juan Ibarra-Trevino bent a low-flying laser around the near post and into the net to give Laredo an early 1-0 lead.

“I have to give it to him, that was a great free kick,” Craddock said. “Right inside the post, right above the wall. I couldn’t do much about that one.”

West Texas United (5-11-0, 15 points) came clawing back until a collision in the penalty area gave the Sockers a chance.

Following a takedown near the mouth of the goal in the 32nd minute that earned West Texas United a penalty kick, Mariano Sapien banged home the spot kick into the left side of the net to equalize the match 1-1.

Bayona didn’t let that lead last long.

One of the Premier Development League’s most prolific scorers, Bayona came into the game with 12 goals and 25 points overall, sixth-best in the league.

In the 41st minute, he struck. Stealing the ball off the foot of a Sockers defender, Bayona split two members of West Texas United’s back line and nailed his 13th goal.

That’s all the advantage Laredo needed.

Playing a possession-oriented, defensive game in the second half, the Heat thwarted the continued runs of Sockers forward Ben Everson, who came on at halftime and tried to find the equalizer.

“They had the lead, so they were going to sit back, take as much pressure as they could,” Sockers coach Warren Cottle said. “That’s intelligent play.”

The Sockers’ equalizer never came.

“Unlucky,” Craddock said. “That’s kind of how the whole season has been.”