MATCH REPORT

Weekly Roundup - April 26th & 27th

By Marion F Dent
Press Associates

	Player of the Week Drew Smiley VMSL Premier Surrey Premier 11-0 LIWSA Comox April 27, Cloverdale Athletic Park Click here for multi-photo slideshow Surrey VMSL U-21 2-0 Victoria Gorge April 26, Cloverdale Athletic Park Click here for multi-photo slideshow Photos by Richard Howes BCFPB

The second weekend of Provincial cup play saw all four Surrey United adult teams advance to the semi-finals of their respective competitions for the second successive year.

The Men’s Under 21 team, the defending provincial champions, started things off on the right note defeating Victoria Gorge 1-0 at Cloverdale Athletic Park thanks to some clinical finishing from striker Jordan Gibbs after Sean Kelly had done some great work beating two defenders to set up the opportunity. For the balance of the game United dominated the play but squandered a number of quality scoring chances to keep the game much closer than it really should have been. Surrey goalkeeper Jordan Fode posted the shut-out and was rarely troubled throughout the game.

On Sunday morning at Cloverdale the Women’s Premier team proved much too strong for the visiting team from Comox recording an emphatic 11-0 victory. Canadian National team star Sylvana Burtini led the scoring with four goals and fellow striker Martina Holan grabbed two goals. Singletons came from players Kate Qually, Diana Artuso, Geri Donnelly, Sharon Lehnert and U-19 national team player Melissa Amado.

In Masters action, our defending provincial champion team beat Victoria Athletics 3-1 although once again the margin of victory could have been greater had the players finished the many scoring chances that they created. United striker Murray Howes opened the scoring but the visitors tied the game up before the half time whistle. Another goal by Howes and an insurance marker by wily veteran Ian Farquhar sealed the win.

In the Men’s Open provincial competition Surrey United pulled off an upset win at Todd Field, University of British Columbia, beating league and cup champions Westside in a penalty kick shoot-out after the two sides were knotted 1-1 at the end of regulation and two overtime periods. The game lived up to its billing as the ‘tie of the round’ and was played at a frantic pace from the beginning to the end. Westside took the lead midway through the opening frame when Steve Dickinson cut in from the right, played a quick one two with Alex Percy and slotted a low left-footed shot into the corner of the net. United rallied strongly but their keeper Mike Wickens denied United midfielder Todd Stauber a goal with a diving save. In the second half United carried the play to Westside but were once again thwarted by two fine saves from Wickens. However, Surrey’s endeavour and fine play was rewarded in the sixty-eighth minute when great work on the left by Darren Villars set up striker Shawn Blakeway whose fierce drive was too hot for Wickens, who could only parry the shot. United midfielder Cory Janzen pounced quickly to force the ball over the line. United went in search of the winner, pushing Westside back on their heels but despite forcing a succession of corner-kicks Surrey could not convert them into goals. Westside always looked dangerous on the counter-attack and a pair of brilliant saves from keeper Drew Smiley prevented the home side from scoring.

In overtime both sides battled furiously, pushing their bodies to the limits, in search of the winning goal but the goalkeepers were outstanding. Smiley denied both Frazao and Dickinson, yet again, and at the other end Wickens twice blocked efforts from United substitute Dave Hleucka.

In the shoot-out Smiley emerged as the ultimate hero saving two of the Westside spot-kicks with Westside missing the target on their other penalty. Janzen, Stauber and Clayton Dobbin coolly slotted their shots into the corner of the net to send United into the semi-finals for the second successive year.

This week’s Player of the Week award not surprisingly goes to Drew Smiley.