The weekend kicked off once again with a Friday night game on the Cloverdale Turf which saw the United men’s premier team record their second successive shut-out and their third successive win beating Pegasus 2-0. The first half proved to be a fairly even affair with Gareth Wilkshire grazing the post and Sean Crocker having a goal bound shot unluckily blocked by a team mate. Pegasus also came close to scoring when a speculative shot hit the cross-bar and the rebound was bundled clear by United. The second half ended up far from even as a determined United side overpowered Pegasus. United sweeper Martin Schaefer almost followed up last week’s game winner with another blistering shot that he hammered against the cross-bar. Niall Thompson had a magnificent swivel shot flash narrowly wide of the target but then in the 65th minute United’s constant pressure deservedly paid off when Sean Crocker scored his fifth goal of the season chipping the ball over Pegasus net-minder. United continued to dominate with their back three completely shutting down the usually potent Pegasus forwards and Surrey eventually got the insurance marker at the 80th minute when some Cam Wilson speed and trickery opened up the Pegasus defence before drawing the keeper and then side footing the ball to Shawn Blakeway to slot the ball into the open net. Drew Smiley made just two saves in recording the shut-out thanks to some masterful defensive play by United’s defence comprising Graeme Magowan, Luke Ash and Martin Schaefer.

The division one team extended their unbeaten streak to eight games with a hard earned 3-1 victory against Pegasus on Saturday and thereby retained their number place in the league standings. Landon Ling opened the scoring for United in the fifth minute with a ferocious left foot shot from twenty yards. Pegasus tied up the game ten minutes later when their striker burst through the defence to score from fifteen yards. Both teams each had a goal surprisingly disallowed for offside and while both teams created plenty of chances they managed no further goals before the interval. After a fairly even first half United gradually exerted more control in the second half but despite chances and plenty of possession they were unable to increase their lead until the 70th minute when stand out Chris Powell pounced on a loose ball to smash home what proved to be the winner. Ten minutes later Powell was on hand once again to grab the insurance marker scoring from close range.

The division two team outlasted Elephant Walk Socceroos 3-1 to secure a win that still keeps them in the title race. United opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Jordan Gibbs fired home a Chris Roots cross from close range. The Soccerroos tied up the score two minutes later but then United regained the lead three minutes after that when substitute Steve Way burst through the defence to slot the ball into the corner of the net. United iced the victory in the 67th minute when Way this time turned provider for Gibbs to hammer home his second goal of the game.

The mens Under 21 squad turned up for their game against Burnaby Canadians at Cloverdale Athletic Park but regrettably only five of their opponents did and Burnaby therefore had to default the game and the associated three points to the United young boys. Nonetheless the three points and a tie for league leaders Norvan were welcome news for our lads.

In masters action United provided a sound display in securing a 3-1 victory over Sapperton at Cloverdale Athletic Park. The newly crowned Western Canadian champions went about their business in a very purposeful way and striker Murray Howes opened the scoring in the 2nd minute of play outjumping all the opponents to head home a corner-kick. United increased their lead at the twenty minute mark when substitute Daryl Holmes blasted home a Kelly Bey cross. Ten minutes later Holmes added his second and United’s third with a powerful header to give the home side a commanding 3-0 lead at the interval. United then put their game into cruise control for the second frame and despite surrendering a consolation goal midway through the half they were always in full command and the result of the game was never in doubt.

On the ladies front our Womens premier team entertained local club SBBA who one week earlier had earned a point by drawing Coquitlam City.

United, nevertheless, decided to rest regular starters Martina Holan-Franko, Sara Maglio, Sadie McLure and Andrea Sumner. This presented an opportunity for other players to step forward and show their stuff and oh how did they respond. United paraded their new $6mm signing 16 year old Chelsey Hannesson who indicated her future intentions by scoring 5 goals on her official debut and also chipped in with one assist and earned herself a yellow card. It’s hard to recall, in the rich history of this club, a more impressive debut by anyone playing their first game. If SBBA thought there was an opportunity to repeat last week’s result it was dispelled as early as the first minute when Bianca Wilkinson’s precise cross found Hannesson unmarked who then scored on her own rebound after the initial shot had been partially stopped by the keeper. Ten minutes later Hannesson pounced again for her second goal and then completed the natural hat-trick with a vicious rising shot five minutes later. Megan Blaker added United’s fourth just before the half with a tap in from close range. In the second half without trying to run up the score Hannesson added two further goals with a Natalie Halcro goal sandwiched in between. Stephannie Weston was rarely troubled throughout the game and was able to record the shut-out. The win secured United first place in the division with a four point margin over UBC and a six point margin over Coquitlam. While both teams have games in hand over our girls these two challengers also have to play each other twice.

Our Ladies Under 21 team visited second placed ICFS in a top of the table clash at South Memorial in Vancouver. After a slow start United methodically took control of the game with some great possession play. The constant pressure finally paid off in the 18th minute when Ally Pross hammered a shot from eighteen yards against the underside of the cross-bar. The ball rebounded kindly to last week’s two goal hero Krystle Gauvin who drove a hard rising shot over the outstretched hands of the ICFS keeper and into the top corner of the net. There was no further scoring in the half although United did have two goals called back for offside and hit the woodwork a further three times. ICFS were indeed fortunate to still be in the game and when they grabbed a tying goal early in the second half might have been forgiven for thinking it might be their lucky day. However, United’s Ally Pross led a determined United response by scoring three outstanding goals. It took United only three minutes to reclaim the lead when a fine through pass by Angelica Singh enabled Pross to run onto the ball and chip it into the net. United grabbed the insurance marker at the 76th minute when a fine passing play involving Lexi Iggulden and Nicole Stewart provided Pross with an easy opportunity to slot the ball past the keeper and into the net. Pross completed the natural hat-trick with five minutes remaining when Charday Vonic slipped a ball through for Pross to run onto and hammer the ball into the net. The win secured United first place in the division with a six point margin over ICFS, who remain their closest challenger.

The ladies division one team didn’t fair as well and were disappointed to lose 5-2 away to Surdel in a game they could have miraculously won had they finished half of the many chances they created. United went two goals down before Keri Young reduced the deficit just before half-time when her well struck free-kick beat the keeper. United continued to squander good chances hitting the woodwork on three occasions but their opponents were much more clinical with their finishing and added two goals to increase their lead. United’s Kim Ashford pulled one goal back but any chance United had of staging a comeback similar to last week’s game was quickly squashed when Surdel added a fifth two minutes after United scored.

Whilst there were several great performances this week notably from Chris Powell (two goals for mens division one), Daryl Holmes (two goals for mens masters), Ally Pross, (three goals ladies Under 21) we cannot really give this week’s award to anyone other than Chelsey Hannesson of the Ladies premier team for her five goals and one assist. Each Weekly Winner will have their name entered into a random draw for the monthly prize of for Dinner for Two.