MATCH REPORT

Weekly Roundup - April 19th

By Marion F Dent

Press Associates

	Player of the Week Martin Schaefer VMSL Premier Province Cup Play VMSL Premier 1-0 Sportstown Firemen April 18, Burnaby Lake Click here for a multiphoto slideshow Surrey Premier 2-1 Victoria Gorge April 18, Cloverdale Athletic Park Click here for a multiphoto slideshow

For the adult teams, this weekend brought about the first round of the provincial championships and we initially had mixed fortunes for the four teams that were involved. Firstly, the men’s Under 21 team received a first round bye and progressed through to the quarter-final which sees them playing arch rivals Westside next Saturday on the turf at Cloverdale @ 3.00pm.

Our masters team started the weekend off on Saturday by travelling away to Victoria and unfortunately lost the game 1-0 despite enjoying the majority of play. They hit the woodwork on two occasions and squandered a host of chances. However, the outcome of the game, was reversed as our team lodged a protest regarding the eligibility of one of the Victoria players which was subsequently upheld. This means our Masters team will now play Norvan in the quarter-finals at Cloverdale next Sunday.

On Sunday morning our ladies premier team won their quarter-final game 2-1 against a very competent visiting Victoria Gorge FC team. All the scoring came early in the game and the visitors took the lead at the ten minute mark capitalizing on a defensive miscue that saw a clearing pass intercepted by the Gorge striker whose first time shot took a deflection and looped over United keeper Wendy Hawthorne’s despairing clutches and into the net. United responded strongly and within two minutes levelled the scores when a glancing header by Kate Qually hit the post on its way into the goal. Ten minutes later some continuous pressure in the Gorge half paid off when Sharon Lehnert pounced on lose ball twenty yards out and hammered a powerful right foot shot into the net. United continued to dominate for most of the game but were unable to notch an insurance marker by failing to convert one of the many chances they created. The lack of finish almost came back to haunt the home side when in the dying minutes of the game Gorge fired the ball across the face of the goalmouth but fortunately for United none of the Gorge players were able to get the vital touch and the ball eluded every one and rolled harmlessly out of danger.

On Sunday afternoon at Burnaby Lake our defending Provincial champion
Men’s team registered an opening round 1-0 victory against Sportstown Firemen with a very convincing performance. United were full value for the win and the margin of victory should have been greater based on the balance of play and the number of scoring opportunities. In the first half Joe Deacon fired one chance narrowly wide of the target and then saw another rising shot brilliantly saved by the Sportstown keeper. The game featured a great individual battle between Sportstown’s league leading goalscorer and United defender Martin Schaefer who clearly won the battle and played an excellent game.

United again dominated most of the second half play and Cory Janzen twice came close with shots that brushed the woodwork. Furthermore, the Sportstown defence were defiantly sacrificing their bodies throwing them in the way of shots and blocked three goalbound efforts. United were unperturbed and remained assured, confident and patient and then finally their dominant play was rewarded in the 83rd minute when Daren Villars rose majestically above the defenders to head Rob Wilson’s right wing cross beyond the keeper’s reach and into the net to send the champions into the next round.

Martin Schaefer of the men’s premier team with an outstanding defensive performance is this week’s player of the week. Each Weekly Winner will have their name entered into a random draw for the month for Dinner for Two.