This weekend saw only three of our seven teams in action with the other teams becoming victims of the weather. The Men’s Under 21 game, the Men’s Masters and the Women’s Premier team were the only teams that played and they combined to register two wins and a tie. However, the Men’s premier game was re-scheduled for Wednesday 19th November on the Turf at Newton Athletic Park and we have a full report of their important victory over West Van Trollers.

The Masters team extended their win streak to nine games with a most convincing but perplexing 7-3 away win. (How did the opposition score 3 goals ). Midfield veteran Ian Farquhar opened the flood gates early by notching two goals in the first fifteen minutes. By half-time United had established a commanding 5-0 lead and then changed a bunch of players around including a new stand-in goalkeeper to replace Angelo Bonato who for once enjoyed a second half otfiled run on the freezing cold day. United got three goals from midfielder Kelly Bey and singles from Mike Marini and Murray Howes.

In ladies action, the Premier Women started strongly in their home game against Richmond and dominated the play from the outset. It was no surprise when they took the lead in the eighth minute when Bianca Wilkinson squared the ball for Diana Artuso to hammer a twenty yard shot low into the corner of the net. Ten minutes later Diana was able to beat the defender to the ball and force it into the net following a goalmouth scramble. Diana completed her “au naturelle” first half hat-trick in spectacular fashion by hammering a thirty yard strike into the roof of the net. United were in dominating form and rarely looked troubled by the hard working Richmond opponent who were unable to generate any offence. In the second half United quickly increased their lead by Megan Blaker pounced on a loose ball just inside the penalty area and slotted her shot into the corner of the net. Richmond pulled back a consolation goal in the 65th minute when they cashed in on a mix-up in the United defence but United responded quickly and rounded out the scoring shortly afterwards when substitute Sharon Lehnert went racing through to outpace the defenders and then calmly tucked the ball into the net. Martina Holan had a great chance to extend her scoring streak (8 goals in her last 4 games) when she was upended in the penalty area. However, her well- struck penalty shot hit the post and rebounded to safety.

Diana’s three goal performance earns her this week’s player of the week award. Each Weekly Winner will have their name entered into a random draw for the month for Dinner for Two.

The Men’s Under 21 team dropped what may turn out to be two crucial points drawing 2-2 with a spirited Norvan team at Cloverdale on Sunday. The day started brightly enough with United creating some early chances with right wing Kyle Krois often the architect but some poor finishing kept the score-line blank.

However, after twenty minutes of play, striker Evan Howard made amends for an earlier miss when he pounced onto a through ball from Lee Grant, beat the defender and deftly flicked the ball over the head of the diving keeper and into the net. Norvan equalized ten minutes before the half following a defensive miscue by United and then went ahead early in the second half following once again some poor defensive coverage by the United youngsters. However, these young players don’t know the meaning of the word defeat and they battled back tremendously to take the game to Norvan and created a string of glorious opportunities. Chris Powell came desperately close on two occasions to tying up the game and the cross-bar also intervened to save Norvan but it was left to the youngest player on the field 14year old Jacob Lenski to hammer a magnificent 25 yard left foot strike into the top corner of the net. With five minutes remaining United poured forward and forced a series of hectic goalmouth scrambles but just couldn’t get the vital touch to force the winning goal across the line.

In Mens premier action on Wednesday United returned to their winning ways with a 2-0 home win against West Van Trollers on the Turf at Newton Athletic Park although in the end the margin of victory could and perhaps should have been greater. The real story of the game was the United starting line up which was missing McKenzie, Ash, Dalrymple, Magowan, Crocker, Deacon, Christensen, Nakhla, Estrada, Hleucka and Blakeway from the National Bronze medallists for a variety of reasons although Dave Hleucka and Sean Crocker came on as substitutes during the game. Furthermore injuries and non-availabilities also ruled out Reeve, Etminan, Koorn and Wilson leaving United stretched too the very limits and counting on several teenagers to earn the three points. After weathering some severe early pressure from West van who rattled off five successive corners in a hectic three minute spell United broke out quickly and the visiting keeper found Gareth Wilkshire’s right wing cross too hot to handle and in the ensuing scramble the keeper’s clearance hit one of his own defender’s and rebounded into the back of the net. United were overdue some good fortune and the goal spurred the confidence of the younger players. Teenagers Vince Stewart and Myles Davies gained in prominence as the game progressed and when Cory Janzen increased United’s lead with a low shot from fifteen yards at the 60 minute mark United took over full control of the game. Stewart, Janzen and Stauber dominated the middle of the park with some immaculate possession play while the hard working Wilkshire and Trevor Rosencrans created havoc on the flanks. United’s finishing wasn’t sharp as too often the final pass eluded the attackers or the shot was fired wide of the goal; otherwise they may well have added a couple of further goals. West Van had their moments at times but United veteran keeper Drew Smiley pulled off two great saves to preserve the shut-out and the win which enabled United to regain second spot in the division.