All season long, the young Lady Vikes have been tantalizing close on the soccer pitch.

It was more of the same in Tuesday night’s match against visiting Division 4-5A foe Clinton, as Warren Central gave the visiting Lady Arrows (14-1-1, 1-0) all they could handle in a 1-0 loss.

Consider Clinton coach Thomas Bobo impressed with Warren Central (6-5-4, 1-1), a team that started only two seniors, two juniors, one sophomore and six eighth graders.

“Warren Central has got a young team, but I think they’re going to be a strong team,” Bobo said. “They’re in our district next year, so that ought to be interesting.”

The back row, anchored by keeper Jazmine Walker, flustered a potent Lady Arrow offense all night, making sure that every shot was a contested one. Clinton’s lone goal was of the miraculous variety, as the slow roller from midfielder Madison McKee squeaked past Walker early in the first half.

The Lady Vikes were only outshot 7-5, but had their chances to force overtime. Several shots bounced off the post or fell into the arms of Clinton keeper Ana Godfrey.

“I’m disappointed that we lost,” WC coach Janet McMaster said. “But we played a hard game and we had some great shots. We had opportunities, but we just didn’t take advantage.”

(B) Clinton 4, WC 1

Erik Chappell scored the lone goal on a penalty kick, as the undermanned Vikings fell to a deeper and more skilled Clinton club.

The Indians (11-1-3, 1-0 in 4-5A play) scored two quick goals out of the chute off backup keeper Jamal Brinnon, who replaced injured senior Andrew Sandoz, out with a fractured knee. JM Webster headed in the first goal with barely 1:30 elapsed in the contest, while Austin Wyman knocked in a rebound to put the Vikings in a 2-nil hole early.

“I think right at first he (Brinnon) was a little nervous,” WC coach Ray Head said.

With the Vikings (7-6, 1-1)playing back most of the match, the Arrows had plenty of opportunities, but good shots were few and far between despite the Vikings missing three starters. Wyman scored early in the second half off a high arcing kick that just got past Brinson’s outstretched fingertips, while James Gulley scored on a deflection off a WC defender midway through the half.

“I knew we couldn’t match up toe-to-toe with them, so we had to play a prevent defense,” Head said. “We made them shoot from the outside of 18 (yards), so they didn’t get a lot of good shots. To hold them to 4-1 considering what we had in there, I thought the kids did a good job. I’m proud of them.”

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Contact Steve Wilson at swilson@vicksburgpost.com.