Short-handed Clinton FC bows out in semifinals
The 2026 season came to an end for Clinton Football Club last week.
CFC, a soccer team composed of student-athletes from Clinton Middle School, saw a successful campaign close with a 7-2 loss to Carter in the postseason tournament semifinals Thursday.
Clinton was short-handed against Carter because the match took place on the same night as a school trip. That left CFC without seven players, including four starters.
Samuel McMurray scored when he converted a free kick. CFC also benefited when Carter scored an own goal.
“I was missing seven players and four starters,” CFC Coach Jake McMurray said. “The game conflicted with a school trip. Samuel scored on a free kick, and it was a nice goal.
“We played with 10 men.”
Clinton finished the season with nine wins.
It opened tournament play with a 6-1 victory over Cedar Bluff Yellow on Monday, May 4.
Juan Zorro had a hat trick, and Samuel McMurray scored twice for CFC, which also tallied on an own goal by Cedar Bluff.
“We had a great season,” he said. “I’m happy with our development, and I’m happy with the unselfish play.
“I’ve learned a lot about coaching defense. The players and the coach are both always learning and developing. We had 19 kids on our roster, and 14 of those 19 players scored goals this year.”
