The weather once again claimed most of the games this past weekend with the exception of the men’s and ladies’ premier teams and the men’s Under 21 team.

In men’s premier action Surrey United were looking to bounce back from last Saturday’s defeat against Sapperton which temporarily dislodged them from first place. They started the weekend off with a Thursday night make-up game against Croatia at Cloverdale Athletic Park and after a delay the game eventually got going some fifteen minutes late with the arrival of a substitute referee. While both teams started somewhat tentatively it was Croatia who opened the scoring at the 20 minute mark when a Johnny Sulentic free-kick took a deflection on its way into the net to deceive Surrey goalkeeper Drew Smiley. United gradually rebounded from the set-back and were unlucky not to level the scores when Niall Thompson bent his free-kick around the defensive wall only to see it hit the post and rebound to safety. Moments later Thompson hit the back of the net with a subtle headed flick on a Todd Stauber cross but the effort was disallowed for offside. In the second half United came out in a much more determined manner and within five minutes had levelled the game when the Croatian keeper could not hold onto Dave Hleucka’s powerful shot and United striker Ryan Hopp, following up like a good forward should do, tucked the loose ball into the net. Surrey came surging forward as they overpowered Croatia and five minutes later added a second goal when Hleucka headed home a curling Stauber cross.

Ten minutes later United rounded out the scoring from the spot with a well-taken Gareth Wilkshire penalty kick that was awarded to the home team after Hopp had been manhandled by a Croatian defender. Both teams could have added further goals, with United being denied twice by outstanding saves from the keeper and then saw their own keeper Smiley deny Croatia with a fine save.

On Saturday night the men’s Under 21 team defeated Club Ireland 2-0 in a league game at Cloverdale Athletic Park. United were full value for their win and played some eyecatching attacking soccer as they virtually laid siege in their opponent’s half of the field.

Unfortunately, they were unable to turn their dominance into goals as they failed to convert a constant stream of quality crosses from Les Antone. Josh Neufeld also came mighty close with a thumping twenty yard strike that whistled past the post. United could have even found themselves a goal down but can thank their keeper Taylor Weakes for coming up big to thwart the Club Ireland striker on an isolated breakaway. The second half followed much the same pattern but United finally broke the deadlock when substitute Andrew Sciampacone fired home from close range after the Irish had failed to clear Antone’ s cross. United wrapped up the points in the dying minutes of the game when with Club Ireland throwing everyone forward, United forward Antone countered quickly to outpace the defenders and hammer his patented powerful left foot shot high into the net.

After a beautiful day on Saturday who could have predicted that on Sunday Morning the Cloverdale fields would be covered in snow which resulted in the cancellation of the men’s premier, division one and division two games and the ladies’ division one and under 21 games. The ladies premier team, however, had better luck with the weather in Vancouver where they were able to play Westside Shooters in the premier cup at Hillcrest park in Vancouver where they won 8-0. The game did not prove to be much of a challenge for the team who scored four goals in each half. Bianca Wilkinson and Chelsey Hannesson both scored two goals and single markers came from Jill Stewart, Natalie Halcro, Nadia Guglielmini and Toby MacDonald. Special mention should go to the game’s first star Kate Qually who celebrated a rare appearance in the midfield by chipping in with four assists.

Whilst there were just the three games this weekend we selected Kate Qually as this week’s Player of The Week. Each Weekly Winner will have their name entered into a random draw for the monthly prize of for Dinner for Two.