In premier league action, on Good Friday Surrey United beat Pegasus 5-1 at Cloverdale Athletic Park to maintain their first place overall status in the league. Surrey were full value for their win and after coming close on two early opportunities to score, they deservedly took the lead at the fifteen minute mark when Shawn Blakeway’s headed flick found fellow striker Dave Hleucka who from the edge of the penalty area chipped the ball over the keeper and into the net. If anyone expected Pegasus to simply lay down they got a rude awakening five minutes later when Pegasus leveled the scores after Paul Dailly had stripped possession away from the United defence. United, who were admittedly rattled, finally regained their composure and the lead by scoring three quick goals in the next ten minutes to virtually lock up the result. First, Justin Carvery’s speed saw him elude the offside trap and he burst through to beat the keeper. Then Clayton Dobbin stripped the Pegasus defender off the ball on the half way line and then burst past another defender before crashing a powerful low left foot shot into the net from fifteen yards. Shawn Blakeway then added United’s fourth racing onto a long pass from defender Luke Ash and then tucking his shot past the advancing keeper and into the bottom corner of the net. In the second half United were not interested in running up the score and added just one more goal when Hleucka rose magnificently to head home a Sean Crocker corner kick. The result clinched the divisional title for United who have now won the division for the third time in the past four years.

In division two action on Friday United beat IFC Zawisza in an entertaining affair at Cloverdale Athletic Park. After a scoreless first half United took the lead three minutes into the second half when Martin Kelly hammered home a low shot from close range after a neat passing play involving Cory Newson and Nick Gollogly. The IFC visitors tied the game up at the seventy minute mark before United midfield ace Dale Kahri notched the winner with ten minutes of the game remaining.

On Saturday, with the fields declared closed in Vancouver United got to host the Under 21 cup-final for the third year in a row setting up a game against last year’s cup winners Norvan Saints. Unfortunately, Norvan won again this year defeating the United young lads by a 2-1 margin. It was a disappointing result especially after a brilliant first half performance that saw us take the game to the opposition. United almost scored in the first ten seconds when Evan Howard broke clean through but rolled his shot narrowly wide of the far post. Then the Norvan keeper came to their rescue with two great saves from long range shots that were destined for the back of the net. In the twentieth minute United were awarded a penalty after Les Antone was pulled down from behind as he burst into the penalty area. However, the visiting keeper proved equal to the task pulling off a great save to deny Surrey United. Then literally against the run of play Norvan capitalized on United’s partial clearance and rammed the ball home from close range following a hectic goalmouth scramble. With the advantage of a one goal lead and a strong second half wind at their backs Norvan played a cautious second half preferring to defend in numbers. While goal-scoring chances were limited United kept gaining momentum and deservedly tied up the game with Les Antone making amends for his penalty miss by firing home the equalizer from close range. However, with ten minutes of the match remaining Norvan grabbed the game winner when with a quick counter-attack, after a Surrey corner-kick, Norvan’s forward chased a keeper’s punt the full length of the field and squared the ball into the middle for his teammate to score from twelve yards.

Surrey’s premier squad was back in action again on Easter Sunday in a game that really had no bearing for Surrey but had massive implications for the visiting ICFS Inter team who needed a win to keep their quest for a divisional title alive.

VMSL U-21 vs Norvan - League Cup Final Saturday March 26 - Cloverdale

It was therefore not surprising that Inter started the game the stronger of the two teams and after totally dominating the opening quarter of the game they opened the scoring at the twenty minute mark when slack marking by Surrey at a free-kick allowed Joseph Morello to hammer home a low shot from eighteen yards out. The goal only served to inspire United to a better effort and coupled with a tactical switch United started to come more and more into the game and started to create more chances but were unable to level the scores prior to the half-time whistle. United took control of the game in the second half and after some constant pressure and a series of near misses they finally tied the game up in the seventieth minute when defender Luke Ash out-jumped the entire Inter defence to head home Clayton Dobbin’s free-kick. With plenty of fierce action in the last quarter of the game neither side was able to break the deadlock leaving Inter with a must win situation in their remaining league game.

Our ladies premier team, were the only one of our women’s team in action and they registered a massive 8-1 home victory. From the moment that Natalie Halcro opened the scoring in the first minute it was apparent that United would be able to score virtually at will and although Richmond did briefly tie up the game it was only a momentary reprise form the onslaught that followed. Natalie Halcro added her second, with both Bianca Wilkinson and Jill Stewart scoring twice. Singletons came from megan Blaker and Vanessa Martino.

We selected Dave Hleuka as this week’s Player of the Week for a pair of outstanding performances in the two premier games.
Each Weekly Winner will have their name entered into a random draw for the monthly prize of for Dinner for Two.