COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Martin Maybin scored his third goal of the season as Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC took a 1-0 victory against San Antonio FC on Saturday afternoon at Switchbacks Stadium. Goalkeeper Billy Thompson played a key role in the win, coming on in the first half and putting in a strong debut performance to lead his side to the victory.

The Switchbacks (3-1-0, 9pts) opened the game on the front foot, and had the first good chance when a shot by Martin Maybin turned wide of the right post as Josh Ford got down well to save. The Switchbacks then had the ball in the net from the ensuing corner kick, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Colorado Springs had to make a change in goal in the 20th minute when Devala Gorrick suffered what appeared to be a head injury on a San Antonio (1-2-2, 5pts) corner kick, as former PDL Goalkeeper of the Year Thompson came off the bench for his Switchbacks debut. He was quickly called into action as San Antonio’s Carlos Alvarez got in behind the Switchbacks’ defense five minutes later, as Thompson made a fine one-on-one save to keep the game scoreless.

The Switchbacks again put pressure on the San Antonio goal just past the half-hour mark as Josh Suggs looked to send in a good cross from the left, only for Ford to pluck it out of the air crisply. Ford also got down well as a cross by Luke Vercollone came to the right side of the penalty area and Jordan Burt, whose low shot found the target, but was saved.

Colorado Springs almost opened up a chance five minutes before the break as a clever piece of interplay between Maybin and Miguel Gonzalez opened up a lane for Vercollone, but the San Antonio defense recovered to charge the shot down from 10 yards.

San Antonio also had a pair of chances late in the half, as Rafael Castillo had a shot from long distance saved, while Alvarez pulled down an angled cross eight yards from goal and hit a shot on the volley, only for Thompson to react well and gather.

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The visitors had another chance early in the second half when Victor Araujo found space in the right side of the penalty area, but his shot sliced wide of the near post.

The Switchbacks took the lead just before the hour mark as the hosts made San Antonio pay for a big defensive error. Mike Seth charged down a clearance out of the back that ricocheted toward goal, but as the ball landed it span away from Ford, which allowed Maybin to grab possession and finish into the open net.

San Antonio tried to push for an equalizer, and came close with 13 minutes to go when a low cross from the right was just out of the reach of Araujo at the near post. Moments later, Sam McBride needed to make a big block as Colorado Springs’ Aaron King almost made it a two-goal lead for the hosts, and San Antonio’s Araujo sent a header wide after a good angled cross by Wilson Palacios.

The Switchbacks were able to hold on for the victory late, though, as Thompson claimed a pair of crosses into his penalty area to secure all three points for his side.

Upcoming Games

April 30: Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Real Monarchs SLC, 9 p.m. ET, Switchbacks Stadium

April 30: San Antonio FC vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC, 8:30 p.m. ET, Toyota Field

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Billy Thompson, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – Coming off the bench midway through the first half,  Thompson made a good initial save not long after his introduction, and backed that up with a composed performance that allowed Martin Maybin’s  goal to stand as the winner.