MATCH REPORT

Weekly Roundup - February 8th & 9th

By Marion F Dent
Press Associates

	Player of the Week Ivan Estrada VMSL Division One MWSL Premier 3-1 Burnaby Canadians A February 9, Cloverdale Athletic Park Click here for multi-photo slideshow Masters 6-0 Sapperton February 9, Cloverdale Athletic Park Photos by Richard Howes - BCFPB

Week number 19 saw six of our seven adult teams in action with the Under 21 squad receiving the bye. We were able to secure 5 wins out of the six games with only our Ladies Division One team suffering another tough 3-1 loss in round robin cup play.

On Saturday the youthful Men’s Division One team (12 of the 15 players are aged 19 and under) turned on the style to blast Norvan Saints 9-0 at Kinsmen Stadium North Vancouver on Saturday. The win clinched the Division One “A” title for the young team which given their average age is quite an accomplishment. Most of the goals were of the “highlight reel” variety as Norvan never recovered from United’s opening twenty-minute onslaught that saw them score five times. With an insurmountable seven goal lead at half-time United eased up in the second half adding two further goals. Ivan Estrada led the goal parade scoring four goals in a game for the second time this season and his efforts earned him for the second time this season the coveted Player of the Week Award. (This selection qualifies Ivan with a second automatic entry for the chance to win a trip for two to Mexico!!!!!).

The Men’s Premier team came out the winners 1-0 over Croatia in a close fought affair at Hillside Vanouver in the first round of the Imperial Cup. Goal scoring opportunities were at a premium for both teams as both sets of defenders dominated the forwards. Croatia almost scored in the first minute when Jon Sulentic set up Joe Maras but United keeper Drew Smiley was very alert and came to the rescue by pulling off a great save. United scored the games only goal at the twenty five minute mark when substitute Greg Brisbon won possession midway into the Croatian half, rounded two defenders and placed a low shot into the corner of the net from eighteen yards. In the second half Croatia hit the post and Surrey missed a penalty kick that left the game finely balanced until the final whistle.

In the Men’s Division Two Cup United emerged victorious winning the game 2-1 on a “golden goal” by substitute Martin Kelly in the second period of overtime. United started the game brightly and took an early lead when leading scorer Chris Roots blasted home a twenty yarder to give United the lead at the eight minute mark. Shortly afterwards United received a severe blow when striker AVI Yakub was sent off. The remaining ten men battled tirelessly to thwart the home team Meralomas but in the 82nd minute Lomas tied up the game. United received some respite when Lomas also had a player sent-off in the dying minutes of regulation time before Kelly popped up in dramatic fashion to fire home the winner after Roots had set up the play.

The ladies’ Premier team took on defending provincial and former national team champions Burnaby Canadians at Cloverdale Athletic Park on Sunday and produced their best opening half of soccer this season in building up a commanding 2-0 half-time lead. Bianca Wilkinson opened the scoring at the fifteen-minute mark perfectly rounding off a flowing passing move that involved Geri Donnelly and Vanessa Martino. Bianca then turned provider when she fired over an inch perfect corner kick cross for National team player Randee Hermus to outjump the defence and head into the net. The game had its share of physical confrontation with United defenders Andrea Sumner and Sadie McLure particularly dominant against the very physical Burnaby forwards. The extra insurance marker was provided by Randee Hermus who notched her second of the game when she followed up a free-kick blast by Andrea Sumner to force the rebound past Burnaby keeper Michelle Gaddemans. Burnaby scored a late consolation goal to foil United keeper Wendy Hawthorne’s shut-out bid.

The ladies’ Division One team were left to reflect on a familiar story after their 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Richmond Rumble. Another slow start cost them two early goals before Lindsay McDonald reduced the deficit before half-time. Despite dominating most of the second half United’s big nemesis “lack of finish” reared its head again as they wasted their dominant play with poor finishing before Richmond grabbed a late goal to put the game out of United’s reach.

In The Masters cup play United romped to a very comfortable 6-0 home win against Sapperton.