The opening week of the summer season saw all three of our teams, Men’s PCSL, Women’s PCSL and Men’s Under 21 Umbro League, travel to Victoria for their opening games of the season. It was an early start with all three teams travelling on the same team bus that left the White Rock Park & Ride at 6.30a.m. on Saturday Morning.

The first weekend of the Umbro 86ers Development team’s season, didn’t exactly start off as planned as the young side had a shaky start to the summer season. In a turnover filled first half Surrey found themselves back on their heels trying to make up for mistakes. Victoria, with a much older squad, took full advantage of all the turnovers and came at the Surrey back-line in waves. United captain, David Gingell and defensive partner Dan Maquire could only halt the attacks for so long and after 18minutes Victoria’s first goal came from a midfield miscue, which sent in Victoria’s speedy striker who calmly slotted it past United keeper Jason Minhasse as he came out to challenge. The second Victoria tally, came off a cleanly taken free kick from one of their three over aged players, Yamaski who struck it over the top of the defensive wall from just outside the penalty area. Surrey survived some intense pressure and goalkeeper Minhasse came up big with a number of timely saves to deny the home side any further goals. On the occasions when he was beaten United’s defence somehow managed to scramble away the other scoring chances.

United managed to regroup at the interval and in the second half they regained their composure and indeed a little heart. Substitutes Isaac Baldoo and David Craig added some much needed bite to the midfield and their tremendous work rate and tenacious tackling help win the possession that Surrey sorely lacked in the opening frame. Surrey were able to develop a number of well executed attacking build ups but unfortunately they lacked the killer instinct in the final third of the field to get their first mark of the season. However, Victoria capitalized on a rare venture into United’s half when their forward Kellen Holden cracked a high rising shot into the top corner of the net for the third goal. Victoria’s fourth goal of the came from a broken play and a mis-hit cross took an even worse bounce that ended up on the foot of Holden for an open net 4-yard tap in.

In the Ladies PCSL action at Royal Athletic Park Surrey United emerged with a 1-0 victory against the always tough to beat Victoria Stars. While, Surrey certainly enjoyed the territorial advantage during the first half they found it difficult to penetrate a well organized Victoria defence. On the occasions that United were able to break through they squandered away the good scoring opportunities. In fact, at the other end of the park, it was only a brilliant save by United keeper Kylee Saxton that denied Victoria the lead as she somehow managed to run backwards and push a hard dipping shot over the cross-bar.

The second half produced even more Surrey pressure and they finally got the goal their dominant play deserved at the seventy five minute mark when Megan Blaker flicked on a Geri Donnelly corner kick for United striker Kate Qually to volley into the net from close range. United’s defence rarely permitted Victoria any clear cut chances with Lisa Smith, Alex Ius and Andrea Sumner all enjoying strong games. United continued to fritter further chances as they pushed forward in search of the insurance marker but on this occasion it didn’t prove to be too costly as they secured all three points with their first away victory of the season.

Surrey United’s men suffered the same fate as the Under 21 team losing 4-0 at home to last year’s league champions who looked formidable opponents and in mid-season form. Virtually, all of United’s provincial champion roster will now get most of the summer off to prepare for the national championships in October and some of United’s good young prospects will get an earlier baptism at this level than originally expected. Martin Schaefer was the only starter from the premier team in the line-up as United tried to establish a defensive strategy which was soon blown out the water when the home side took the lead after only eight minutes with a fierce drive from eighteen yards. Victoria piled on the pressure and United were rocked back on to the defensive for most of the half and were restricted to isolated counter-attacks. However, United almost tied it up when prominent striker Chris Jarvie who was proving to be a handful for Victoria broke through and narrowly fired wide of the target. Unfortunately, five minutes before the half the home team bagged what proved to be the insurance marker at the forty minute marker when their right wing back launched himself through the air to head home in spectacular fashion a fierce left wing cross.

United’s young players battled hard but were no match for the more experienced Victoria team who continued to control the play in the second half and were denied two further goals by United keeper Geoff Ayi-Bonte who pulled off two great saves. In the 76th minute Jarvie broke through once again and this time the home team keeper dove full length to push Jarvie’s stinging drive onto the post. The goal bound effort might have produced an interesting finish had it gone in the net but it only served to urge Victoria to greater action and they added two goals in the last eight minutes to round out the scoring.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK GEOFF AYI-BONTE