Kingston Stockade FC looks to bounce back

Team hopes regular-season finale gives it momentum going into playoffs after defeat to TSF Academy FC

Despite a 4-3 loss to TSF Academy FC, Kingston Stockade FC will have a first match bye in the playoffs.

Almir Batista Jr.’s goal in the 85th minute lifted TSF Academy FC over Kingston Stockade FC, 4-3, in the Stockade’s final regular-season home match in front of a record crowd of 1,120 at Dietz Stadium on Monday night.

“Difficult match. It was a good team that we played against, and we were fatigued,” Stockade FC Coach David Lindholm said, speaking of Kingston’s 4-2 win over the Seacoast United Mariners two days earlier.

“We just ran out of gas at the end there, and it was tough result, because we played well enough to win at times,” he added.

He pinned the loss on a lack of concentration at times that allowed TSF to score goals on the counterattack.

“That was the difference in the game.” Lindholm said.

He added, that any lack of concentration had nothing to do with (6-3-1) Kingston clinching the No. 1 seed in the National Premier Soccer League’s Atlantic White Conference after Boston City FC played Hartford City FC to a 3-3 draw in Hartford on Sunday. As top seed, Stockade will get a first match bye in the playoffs.

Instead he blamed it on the fatigue.

Kingston fought back and got near the goal a couple of more times in the closing minutes of the match and in stoppage time,

PHOTOS BY TANIA BARRICKLO — DAILY FREEMAN Kingston Stockade FC’s Eric Fortier, left, goes in for one of his two goals during Monday’s game against TSF Academy FC at Dietz Stadium on Monday night.

Kingston Stockade FC’s Juan Gatti duels for the ball during Monday’s game.