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NORTH ATTLEBORO - The Big Red brings out the best in the Bombardiers, on the soccer pitch that is as, the Attleboro High boys' soccer team claimed the 25th annual Leach and Garner Cup series against North Attleboro 1-0 Saturday on the strength of sophomore Troy Martins' goal in the first half.

The MIAA Tournament-bound Bombardiers (10-4-4) now have won 10 of the last 13 Leach and Garner Cup matches, increasing their lead in the series to 14-11.

The victory also postponed North Attleboro's (6-6-5) chances for postseason play once again, the Rocketeers needing one point in order to advance to the MIAA Tournament as well. But, North has just once chance left, that Monday at Mansfield, the Rocketeers having claimed a 2-0 victory over the Hornets earlier in the Hockomock League season. As customary for the Rocketeers, they certainly created enough pressure and scoring chances, the long kicks by Tristan Richardson, the feverish work ethic of Toby Berkowitz, the running with abandonment by Alex Ventola (the Big Red MVP of the match) - four shots and three corner kicks at AHS goalie Marques Menard.

But, time and again, Attleboro's mainline mid-field forces, Evan Silvia, Justin Keefer (the Bombardier MVP of the match) or Jake Keefer, would nudge North off its mark, or the Rocketeer shots were just off their mark.

In the second half, Justin Crear was in close at 42; Connor Grealish sent a point blank shot over the net at 47; Josh Ocel laced a 25-yard drive just wide left at 68; and Grealish sent a point blank header over the crossbar at 76. "We had enough chances inside the 18," said North coach Steve Santos. "As has been the case, we haven't finished them off and we keep other teams in the game."

North had plenty of chances to take the lead too - a Richardson indirect kick which Berkowitz flicked just wide at 12; a Berkowitz header just wide right at 23 and out of a scramble at 25; and Crear having a point-blank chance off a throw-in at 27.

"We didn't play very well," said AHS coach Peter Pereira of allowing North a bit too much space to roam, especially during the first half. "This is an emotional game, we had to settle down."

For the Bombardiers, their patience and persistence was finally rewarded in the 35th minute of the match when Martins, one-timed a right-footed shot, parked at the right door step, taking a cross out of the right wing from Kerry Lubin and blasting the ball to the corner past North goalie Chris McKearney.

Once the Bombardiers took the lead, AHS played much more purposeful, finishing with nine shots and two corner kicks. Earlier in the match, Silvia sent a drive just wide left of the post at 18 and Derek Pereira had a terrific header at 25. And after Martins put AHS into the lead, he had a blast just veer wide at 36. The Bombardiers' best scoring chance of the second half came early, that a right-footed drive by freshman striker Dom Machado at 45.

"In the second half, we were more under control," added Pereira. "They're a kick and run team, so all those long balls became deadly."

North Attleboro girls 2, Attleboro 1

NORTH ATTLEBORO - The Red Rocketeers moved to within two points (with two matches remaining) of qualifying for the MIAA Tournament - and knocked the Bombardiers out of post-season consideration - in winning the annual Blue-Red Cup series match. Junior Brini Varetimos and senior Kassandra Raposa scored for the Rocketeers (6-8-2), the go-ahead goal in the fourth minute of the match and the eventual match-winner in the 48th minute respectively.

The Rocketeer defensive backline of senior captain Jill Haney along with juniors Emma O'Neill and Alex Rousseau clamped shut the Bombardiers' attacking progression before the penalty box area, keeping AHS off the scoreboard until the 72nd minute when freshman Erin Woodhead deflected in a cross from Ashley Vaillancourt.

"We had to win it, we needed the two points," sighed AHS coach Steve Rodrigues as the Bombardiers (7-9-2) certainly had enough chances (10 shots) and advancement on North goalie Kelsey Viens.

North senior midfielder Brooke Dean set up both of Rocketeer goals with aggressive attacking play. Dean made a nice cross off the wing to Raposo, just outside the penalty box area, who one-timed an 18-yard drive. North had 13 players suffering flu-like symptoms as late as Thursday, its match with King Philip being postponed that day.

"We've very much a home team," said North coach Geoff Burgess, whose Rocketeers are just 1-8 on the road this season. "It's a strange thing, I don't know why, this is always a windy field - where it's tough to control the ball."

North has the home field advantage in its quest for post-season play too as it entertains Mansfield Monday and King Philip Tuesday, its final two Hockomock League matches of the season.

"We did a nice job on the back line, they're (AHS) dangerous on their corner (kicks)," added Burgess. "She (Viens) was all over their shots, they didn't must the net very much."

Allison Jenning was in goal for AHS, facing 14 North shots. "This (qualifying for the tournament) should have been done lone before today," said Rodrigues of AHS' quest for an MIAA Tournament berth. "We're a young team (two seniors start) and we lost a lot of close games."

Bishop Feehan boys 1, Walpole 1

WALPOLE - The MIAA Tournament-bound Shamrocks of Bishop Feehan (8-1-7) put forth a superb effort, but could take only a point from the Rebels in the non-league match. Sophomore striker Devin Devoy put the Shamrocks ahead at 27:13, finishing off a feed from Matt Boland. However, Walpole finally pushed a shot past Feehan goalie Nick Hetland (six saves) in the 73rd minute of play.

"Our passing was excellent, we had a ton of chances in the box," said Feehan coach Mike Pariseau as the Shamrocks, primarily outside midfielder Sean Casey, created seven shots and six corner kicks. Feehan had several near misses on deadball re-starts.

"Sean did a nice job with our overlapping runs, he was a key," added Pariseau of the Shamrocks putting consistently pressure on Walpole. The Shamrocks have a non-league match against Dighton-Rehoboth Monday, tentatively slated at home, pending field conditions.