HADDONFIELD, NJ -- If the goalposts were 24 feet6 inches wide instead of just 24, or if the crossbar was 8 feet three inches above the ground instead of just 8, the result of last Saturday's opening round game between Haddonfield and Moorestown in the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association girls tournament might have been different.
Whoever said football is a game of inches referred to the gridiron version popular in the United States. Turns out it's true in the football more popular in the rest of the world.
Haddonfield was nursing a 1-0 lead in the 47th minute when Moorestown was awarded a penalty kick. The Bulldogs dodged a bullet there when the shot hit the crossbar and was cleared. Two minutes later Moorestown shot one off the crossbar, hit the rebound into the left post and then shot that rebound barely wide right.
"I can't buy a goal," wailed Moorestown coach Bill Mulvihill. "If they were selling goals they wouldn't take my credit card.
His lament proved to be true again, after Haddonfield had gone up, 2-0, when a Moorestown shot hit under the crossbar, bounced down and out.
The game ended up 2-0 and Haddonfield went through to the quarterfinals where they downed Oakcrest, 4-1, three days later to advance to the semifinals Wednesday night against Washington Township.
The boys were equally as successful with a 1-0 golden goal victory over Williamstown to advance to the semis against Rancocas Valley.
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