It's been a while since we last checked in on Forward Madison (admins apology) so we felt it would be appropriate to do an early (mid?) August check in on our friends to the east. The last time we looked at Madison they were in the midst of a long season opening road trip, which is thankfully long over now. Forward Madison have had a tremendous season to this point. Until this past weekend Forward Madison had a nine match unbeaten streak on their hands, only recently broken by Boise in Idaho.
May
Coming off a long road swing Madison struggled in much of May, earning two wins and three losses over their five matches played that month. Their first match at Breese Stevens Field was a USL Cup loss to Detroit City FC, though Madison did get their first home win later that month. That came in their second match of the season at Breese Stevens Field when the 'Mingos dropped expansion side Corpus Christi FC 3–0.
June
Unlike MLS and other top flight leagues, USL League One and Forward Madison had no World Cup break to worry about. Two losses, one of which being another USL Cup match, to start the month didn't help Madison out. Though after the USL Cup loss to Indy Eleven, the Flamingos started rolling through everyone they faced. Both of Madison's wins saw them hammer clubs inside the friendly confines of Breese Stevens Field. First was a crushing 5–1 win over Athletic Club Boise and wrapping the month was a 3–1 win over the V3 New York Cosmos. Between those two matches was a draw with expansion side Fort Wayne FC.
July
One away match to Spokane started the month of July before Forward Madison headed home for a long five match homestand, spanning most of the month. Madison opened the month with an away win before beating Omaha in Madison as part of the USL Cup. Forward proceeded to go on an absolute tear with 4–0, 3–1, and 5–2 wins to close out the month. On 1 August Forward Madison pushed their streak to nine with 2–0 win over Westchester. This past weekend on 8 August the streak came to an end with a loss at Boise.
Looking at August
With a loss at Boise and a nine match unbeaten streak behind them, Forward Madison now has a normal-ish looking finish to the season. Madison will play 8 of their last 14 matches at home, though will not host more than two in a row at home now. Fourth place Forward Madison will host Greenville Triumph this Wednesday followed up with a trip to Portland, ME to face Hearts of Pine.
Closing out the month is a road trip to Richmond, VA on Saturday, 29 August. Before they get to Richmond the 'Mingos will host Charlotte Independence on 22 August, six days after their trip to Main. Forward Madison find themselves six points back from top of the table Union Omaha, but still easily within the top eight for a USL League One playoff spot.
