MATCH REPORT

Weekly Roundup - February 2nd

By Marion F Dent
Press Associates

	Player of the Week Graeme Magowan VMSL Premier MWSL Premier (2-1) Burnaby Canadians February 2, Cariboo Oval Click here for multi-photo slideshow VMSL Under 21 (2-0) SFC Firefighters February 2, Cloverdale Athletic Park Click here for multi-photo slideshow Photos by Richard Howes Available from the BC Football Photo Bank

Week number 18 saw the weather play havoc with the schedule and saw the vast majority of teams without a game on the weekend. Our Division One and Division Two Men’s teams were two of the many victims but our five other teams all were fortunate enough to play the games and enabled us to register four victories with only our Ladies Division One team suffering a tough loss in round robin cup play.

On Sunday morning our Ladies Division One team got caught unprepared and conceded three goals in the opening twenty minutes. Although they came back strongly and enjoyed a considerable territorial edge in play they were unable to find the back of the net and make any impression on the early score-line. The Ladies Premier who had scored 50 goals in their previous ten games were for the second successive week unable to generate their normal quota of chances as the home team Burnaby Canadians “B” proved to be a determined and resolute opponent. United found themselves a goal down early in the game before centre-back Andrea Sumner tied up the game heading home a Bianca Wilkinson corner-kick. Ten minutes before half-time Diana Artuso wrapped up the points firing home from the penalty spot after she was wrestled to the ground by a Burnaby defender. The second half was a dour struggle and United will chalk up this game as one of their less distinguished performances.

The Men’s Masters team got back to their winning ways and registered an emphatic 8-2 victory in the cup over IFC but at the time of writing we regret we do not have the full match details.

In Men’s Metro Premier action Surrey United visited top of the table North Shore Pegasus at Kinsman Stadium in North Vancouver and came away with a commendable 3-2 victory. The game had plenty of spirited action and the hard but fair tackles were flying in all over the park in a rousing VMSL game that had a cup-tie atmosphere and was played before a good size crowd made up mostly of players from the other non-playing VMSL teams. Surrey dictated most of the early play but were denied goals on two occasions by Peg keeper Della Pace. He firstly, somehow beat out a close range header from United midfielder Darren Villars and then acrobatically tipped a Graeme Magowan header over the bar. Ten minutes before the half Surrey deservedly took the lead when Joe Deacon volleyed home a cleverly flighted free-kick from fellow midfielder Craig Dalrymple. United defenders Magowan and Peter Hjorth held the usually potent Pegasus striking duo of Martin Dodd and Laurent Scaligine in close check and the two Peg forwards were glad to shake them off as the teams entered the dressing rooms for half-time.

Pegasus started brightly at the start of the half but fell behind another goal when Surrey striker Dave Hleucka headed home defender Martin Schaefer’s deep cross and despite Eddie Cannon’s great attempt to head it back out United can thank the linesman for being precisely in the right spot to signal that the ball had fully crossed the line and award the goal. With United seemingly in total command Pegasus rallied strongly and tied up the game with two great goals. Firstly, Martin Dodd headed home a wickedly deceiving Paul Dailly corner-kick and then ten minutes later Surrey only half cleared their zone from another corner. Pegasus midfield player Gavin Frey pounced on the loose ball and hit a cracker from twenty five yards that hit the post and flew into the net. With twelve minutes left Surrey regrouped and came back to grab the winner when leading scorer Shawn Blakeway fired home from close range after two earlier efforts had been blocked on the goal line in a hectic scramble. Overall Surrey were full value for the win with centre-back Graeme Magowan being the worthy recipient of the coveted Player of the Week Award. (This selection automatically qualifies Sean with an automatic entry for the chance to win a trip for two to Mexico!!!!!).

In Under 21 cup action at Cloverdale United secured a spot in the semi-finals with a comfortable win over SFC Firemen. Similar to last week United started the game brightly and played some attractive attacking football that saw them create some glorious chances but once again their lack of finishing might have proved costly if they hadn’t notched a pair of goals in the last twelve minutes. Sean Kelly pounced on a long clearance by keeper Jordan Fode and then set-up striker Jordan Gibbs with the goal. Mike Dinsmore was the other marksman for United and Jordan Fode registered the shut-out.