Byron Carmichael (Marshall / Lumberton, NJ) scored a pair of goals to lead the Ocean City Barons (4-0-4, 17 pts.) to a 3-0 road win over the expansion New Jersey Rangers (1-6-1, 4 pts.) on Friday night. With those two scores, Carmichael passes Ruben Mingo to be come the club’s all-time leading scorer with 94 points (39 goals, 16 assists). Steve Miller (Colgate / Ivyland, PA) also added to his team-leading goalscoring total with his sixth of the 2008 campaign.

It was a bittersweet victory for Ocean City, as they say goodbye (for the rest of the 2008 season) to goalkeeper Tunde Ogunbiyi (New Hampshire / Gwynedd, PA). He made four saves to help the Barons earn their first shutout of the season, but will be leaving for Portugal on Saturday to join the Nigerian Olympic team as they prepare for the Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Byron Carmichael (Marshall / Lumberton, NJ) scored a pair of goals to lead the Ocean City Barons (4-0-4, 17 pts.) to a 3-0 road win over the expansion New Jersey Rangers (1-6-1, 4 pts.) on Friday night. With those two scores, Carmichael passes Ruben Mingo to be

come the club’s all-time leading scorer with 94 points (39 goals, 16 assists). Steve Miller (Colgate / Ivyland, PA) also added to his team-leading goalscoring total with his sixth of the 2008 campaign.

It was a bittersweet victory for Ocean City, as they say goodbye (for the rest of the 2008 season) to goalkeeper Tunde Ogunbiyi (New Hampshire / Gwynedd, PA). He made four saves to help the Barons earn their first shutout of the season, but will be leaving for Portugal on Saturday to join the Nigerian Olympic team as they prepare for the Summer Olympics in Beijing.

With the victory, Ocean City keeps pace with the first place Brooklyn Knights, trailing them by one point in the Northeast Division. At the end of Friday’s action, the Barons are one of four unbeaten clubs in the 67-team Premier Development League.

The first half failed to produce a goal, but both clubs did threaten. The home team nearly broke the deadlock about 35 minutes into the match when a ball was floated over the Ocean City backline leaving a New Jersey striker one on one with Ogunbiyi. However, the 6’2 shot stopper leaped in the air to save an attempted chip shot.

Just before the halftime break, the Barons had their best chance of the opening 45 minutes. Adam Williamson (Lehigh / Ocean City, NJ) sent a cross into the box and found Miller in front of goal. Miller nodded the ball toward goal, but the ball deflected off the post.

The match changed as soon as a pair of substitutes entered the game in the 62nd minute.

"When the subs came in, that’s when the game completely turned around," said Barons President John Granese.

"The starters worked very hard, they wore [New Jersey] down, and attacked well," said head coach Mike Pellegrino. "They were doing everything right, they just couldn't find the finishing ball."

Carmichael and Brad Franks replaced Lee Squires (Lees-McRae / Sheffield, England) and Williamson, respectively, and the two made an immediate impact.

The first attack after entering the game, Franks fed a through ball to Byron in the center of the park, he ran toward goal, found space, and fired a shot past former Baron goalkeeper Kyle Crego (Kean College / Ocean City, NJ) for his 38th career goal. The goal gives the Marshall alum 92 points in his Barons career, which passes Ruben Mingo as the club’s all-time points leader.

A few minutes later, Carmichael nearly had his second when Franks delivered another brilliant ball ahead of him. The Lumberton native fired to the opposite post, and struck the post.

Later, in the 75th minute, Miller gave the visitors their second thanks to another through ball, this time courtesy of Jim Davis. Davis, a natural offensive player who made the transition last year to the backline, joined the attack and fed Miller who made no mistake, scoring his sixth goal, which ties him for the most in the Eastern Conference (4th best total in the PDL).

Carmichael put the game out of reach in the 85th minute with a cross from Joe Ilett (Eckerd College / Maldon, England). He headed home a bending ball from the right wing and put it just inside the front post for his second of the game.

Crego, while giving up three goals, did keep his team in the game, making 10 saves in his first appearance for the Rangers.

The Barons’ weekend isn’t over, they return to the Beach House on Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. for a rematch of their season opener with the other New Jersey expansion team, the Newark Ironbound Express. With Ogunbiyi on his way to Portugal, Nick Talarico will get the start in goal for the Men In Red. The two teams met back on May 11, and finished in a 1-1 draw in a physical match that saw two Newark players sent off.

Tickets for Sunday’s home game at Carey Stadium can be purchased at the gate or online at the city of Ocean City’s website, OCNJ.us -- just find the Box Office link.. Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for kids. At Carey Stadium, fans can also enjoy some great food from Mama Mia’s as Chef Joe Massaglia will be on hand to make Carey Stadium a much tastier place.