For the Flint City Bucks weathering the storm meant more than opening an umbrella and waiting out an hour-and-15-minute weather delay Sunday.

The Bucks struck for a timely first-half goal, added another before the heavens erupted and went on to defeat Fort Wayne FC 3-0 in USL League Two action at Bishop Dwenger Stadium.

Jake Erlandson added a second to his goal-scoring tally for the evening, striking in the 90th minute when the match resumed following a thunderstorm.

Erlandson opened the scoring in the 26th minute and Amadou Cisse (48’) scored in his first start for Flint (4-2-2, 14 points), which ended a two-game losing skid and climbed back into third place in the Great Lakes Division. 

Goalkeeper Isaac Walker collected his fourth shutout as the Bucks appeared to have reached their nadir after Wednesday’s 1-0 gut-punch loss to first-place Kalamazoo FC. The road defeat, which was decided on an 89th minute goal by Kalamazoo’s Andres Delascio, came on the heels of a 2-1 home loss to Kings Hammer on June 12.

“Two consecutive defeats is rough and we had to do some soul searching to figure out some things within the squad,” Bucks coach Andy Wagstaff said. We had some tough conversations, but it's good when you get a result like we did tonight.

“The lads played with a lot of enjoyment and played without fear, which could be seen in our movements and our attacking plan. It was good to watch. It was a huge bounce-back after two very disappointing results.”

Sunday’s result over Fort Wayne was a rebound victory, especially as the team makes a playoff push as the season’s second half gets into full swing.  

Flint’s breakthrough came off a seemingly benign free kick by left back Alan Kehoe from 40 yards. Erlandson got on the end of the floating delivery and looped it over the Fort Wayne goalkeeper Joe Bowles into the top right corner of the net.

Erlandson’s first goal put the Bucks in control as they dominated possession for the remainder of the first half and into the second before the storm delay.

Cisse’s goal was a piece of magic.

Cisse zipped past two defenders down the right side before hammering a low blast to beat Bowles. Noah Jensen assisted on the goal, which came five minutes before the official halted play due to lightning in the Fort Wayne area. 

“That was a good start. It kind of raised the levels of — not nerves — but it kind of got the monkey off our backs a little bit...We were a little gun shy,” Wagstaff said. “But we got the lead and then we snatched another one just as we got in the second half on the counter, which was great.

“That sort of set the (tone), to get behind defenses and a very direct mindset. We've not really seen a lot of it this season.”

Cisse, who entered 10 minutes into Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to Kalamazoo after Sebastian Chalbaud left with a hamstring injury, played collegiately with Madonna University where he was Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference player of the year after registering 27 goals and 30 assists in his career.

Last summer, the Livonia resident played with Kalamazoo FC when the club competed in the National Premier Soccer League.

“He's been training hard every day. He's been a bit overlooked by me and I will be the first to admit that,” said Wagstaff after Wednesday’s match in Kalamazoo. “Now I've been watching him more in training with a little bit more detail this past week and I am like, 'Man, he's a handful.' 

“He's a good story so far. He's gone from somebody who's been outside of the squad to suddenly being in the squad, coming into the game 10 minutes after Sebastian came out and we put him up top and he's been brilliant.”

Erlandson administered the dagger, heading in a free kick from Ids Hannema past Bowles.

Flint failed to cash in a couple of chances, notably in the 37th minute when Dylan Borczak found Cisse alone in front goal with a pinpoint cross from the left side. Bowles denied Cisse at close range. Two minutes later, Bowles turned away a blast from Harvey Slade.

Until the first-half turnaround, the Bucks dodged a few close calls. Walker prevented the home side from a sure goal in the 18th minute when he tipped Maxwell Amoaka’s drive from inside the box onto the crossbar.

Goals

Flint — Jake Erlandson, 26’ (Alan Kehoe), Amadou Cisse, 48’ (Noah Jensen), Erlandson, 90’ (Ids Hannema)

Yellow cards

Fort Wayne — Will Harris, 60’ (tackle), FWFC 64’ (tackle)

Flint — Alan Kehoe, 74’ (push)

Starting lineups

Fort Wayne —  Joe Bowles, GK; Noe Garcia, Ethan Stoneman, Will Harris, Maxwell Amoaka, Zach Tom, Dylan Shockey, Brett Bebej, Grayson Doody, David Koch, Joel Harvey

Flint — Isaac Walker, GK; Jake Erlandson, George Proctor, Alan Kehoe, Ideal Shefqeti, Dylan Borczak, Adam McAleedan, Harvey Slade, Noah Jensen, Matthew Fearnley, Amadou Cisse

Weather

Partly cloudy, 89 degrees

Next Home Games

June 26:  Bucks host Grand Rapids FC on Saturday night, June 26, 7:30 PM at Kettering’s historic Atwood Stadium.  It’s YOUTH SOCCER NIGHT with all Mid Michigan youth soccer players receiving free admission courtesy of Dort Financial Credit Union.  Players just need to wear their team soccer jersey for complimentary admission.  

June 29:  Bucks host South Bend Lions FC on Tuesday night, June 29, 7:30 PM at Kettering’s historic Atwood Stadium.  All tickets are BOGO / 2 for 1 courtesy of Consumers Energy!

Regular FCB match tickets are $5 (youth) and $10 for (adult) GA.  Reserved tickets at midfield are $15.  Tickets are available M-F at Flint Prints in the Ferris Wheel Building - 615 S. Saginaw St, downtown Flint, www.ticketmaster.com and at the stadium gates beginning at 6:30 PM.  Stadium capacity is back to normal but anyone wishing to socially distance themselves may easily do so.  The stadium accommodates over 10,000 spectators.  For complete ticket and schedule information please visit: www.flintcitybucks.com