CLAYTON - Rivals Clayton and West Johnston didn't play the beautiful game Monday night. Of course, they didn't play the ugly one either. Their second of three scheduled boys soccer matches this season (the last one, which was postponed from earlier this season, comes on Oct. 20) fell somewhere in the middle.

"We got away from our strategy of playing skillful balls on the ground," said Clayton assistant coach Keith Jenkins. "But we got into a kick ball contest and were very fortunate that we got a goal."

The result fell on Clayton's side of the ledger when Dylan Killane slipped in a deflected ball on the backside of a Comets' attack five minutes into the second half.

"We've been trying to find someone to stay on the back post and Dylan's done it well for us of late," Jenkins said. "He stayed on the back, got a bounce and slipped it in for us."

Both teams struggled to maintain possession for any great length of time or mount many consistent attacks.

Clayton (7-3-0 in the Greater Neuse River 4-A Conference) had the better of the chances but had at least a half-dozen balls sail just wide or high of the goal.

The Wildcats (3-6-1) had two penalty kicks but couldn't put either one home.

"I feel like we were very fortunate to get the two penalty kicks, we just couldn't put them away," said West coach Kenneth Sweat.

The first, by Ben Bowden sailed over the crossbar. The second, by Taylor Long, was knocked clear of the goal by a diving Boomer Crocker.

"Boomer was incredible for us. To face two penalty kicks and make one spectacular save on one was outstanding," Jenkins said. "Then he made a heck of a play on the last shot as well to flick that away."

West had one last chance to pull even in the final five seconds when they were awarded a free kick outside on the edge of the penalty area. Anthony Murdock's ball sailed perfectly to the back post and right onto the forehead of teammate Tyler Hill. Hill's header was headed right into the corner of the goal until Gunter flicked the ball away with his left hand, saving Clayton's victory and handing the Wildcats yet another one-goal loss.

"That's five matches we've lost by one goal," Sweat said. "We have some opportunities to finish goals and we just can't do it at times.

"Anthony is our one great scorer and he's kept us in a lot of matches. But it's hard to get him chances in open space because everyone knows about him now."

The Comets head to league-leading East Wake tonight (Wednesday). They'll need a victory and help from somebody else to catch the Warriors in the race for the GNRC championship. West Johnston heads to Knightdale.