WARREN, Ark. – The 2022 Tomato Derby, the annual battle on the soccer pitch between Bradley County’s only two school districts, is in the books after the Warren Lumberjack Soccer Club defeated the Hermitage Hermits at full-time 2-1 at Jim Hurley, Jr. Stadium in Warren.
Within the first minute of kickoff, Hermitage had a wonderful scoring opportunity from a Warren foul which set up the Hermits with a free kick in a central spot and in range. Manuel Candido of Hermitage took the kick and got it up and over the Lumberjack wall. However, Warren goal keeper John Hill was there to knock it down to keep things level at 0-0.
A high intensity packed opening few minutes saw both teams pushing hard for the first goal. That would not come though until the nineteenth minute when Hermitage made a mistake at the back with a loose ball. The Hermit defenders failed to clear the danger. Warren’s Aaron Romero burst through, took possession, and found himself one-on-one with the keeper. Romero passed the ball into the far corner to give the Jacks a 1-0 lead.
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Hermitage equalized just six minutes later. Warren committed another foul deep in its own territory. Hermitage’s Manuel Candido stepped up and curled a stunning goal over the Jack wall and into the top right corner.
The Lumberjacks had a chance to regain the lead in the thirty-fifth minute from a corner, but the connecting header was directly at Hermitage’s keeper.
Two minutes later Warren midfielder and captain Hector Torres picked up possession deep into Hermitage’s defense. The senior ripped a shot to the left corner of the goal, but the keeper made a nice save. Unfortunately for Warren Torres was hurt on the play. He was subsequently carried off at halftime and did not return to action.
Things remained all square at 1-1 until the sixtieth minute. After receiving a deflected pass in the penalty box, freshman Oliver Chavez-Mata volleyed a shot on goal. Hermitage’s keeper got a paw on it, but the shot was too strong. It bounced over the line to give Warren the lead.
Hermitage had one final chance to level the match in the seventy-fourth minute with another free kick. The shot was close, but this time it hit the crossbar. Warren won at full-time 2-1 over the Hermits.
The Tomato Derby win takes the Lumberjack SC to 3-2 on the season.
Top photo: Oliver Chavez-Mata celebrates the go-ahead goal that would seal the win for Warren over Hermitage Thursday evening.
