The North Vancouver Parks department closed their fields for the weekend and pretty much decimated our men’s program of games as the premier, division one and division two teams all had games scheduled against North Vancouver opponents. It was therefore left to the men’s masters team to fly the flag and they did so in a fine manner beating long time rivals Aldergrove United 2-0 at Cloverdale Athletic Park on Sunday to avenge their first game of the season loss against the same opponents which still stands as their only defeat of the season. It was another hard fought close affair and United left it late to win the game scoring twice in the last twelve minutes to earn the three points. Murray Howes returning after a seven game absence notched the winner in the 78th minute before Brian Cuthbert provided the insurance marker five minutes later. Cuthbert started and finished the move that saw his first time pass send Mike Marini racing down the right flank. Marini’s measured cross was met by Cuthbert who had continued his forward run and he tucked the ball away nicely with all the composure of a guy who scores (on the field) approximately once every four years. The win puts United in a good frame of mind for next week’s top of the table tilt with Surrey Fireman Rangers.

The ladies division one team’s had mixed fortunes with their games at Cloverdale Athletic Park on Sunday with the “B” team losing 1-0 to Aldergrove Wanderers in a game that they could have won but for some poor finishing.

The division one “C” team faired much better and after a sluggish start they raised their game to beat Langley United 6-0 and maintain their challenge at the top of the division. After missing a number of good opportunities United finally broke the deadlock at the 25th minute when Karley Scrigner scored on her debut following some creative midfield play between another newcomer Hayley Jensen and striker Krystle Gauvin. United increased their lead ten minutes later with Casey Graham providing the finishing touch after a hectic goalmouth scramble. In the second half, United played with much more conviction and purpose adding four more goals. The pick of these was scored five minutes into the second frame when young midfielder Taryne Clancy powerfully burst through the midfield and hammered a twenty five yard strike into the top corner of the net.

Ten minutes later Jensen celebrated her debut with a goal and similar to Clancy thundered home a powerful rising shot from twenty yards. Jensen then ended up turning provider once again with a perfectly slotted through ball from striker ally pross to run onto and steer the ball into the corner of the net past the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper. The final goal of the game came very late in the match and with time running down the hard working Scrigner stole the ball off an unsuspecting Langley defender and broke in on goal to score from close range.

In premier action, our ladies had their game postponed until Tuesday evening on the turf at Burnaby Lake where they cruised to a 3-0 victory against Poco premier without much trouble despite only fielding a twelve man roster.

United started strongly and piled on the pressure winning a succession of corner-kicks and then finally connected on one of them at the six minute mark when Randee Hermus rose above everyone else to powerfully head home Kate Qually’s cross.

Five minutes later United scored again with another cracker from Amber Allen who hammered home a powerful blast from the edge of the area after some neat set-up play involving Megan Blaker and Martina Franko.

The game for all intents and purposes was over and done with as a competitive entity and United took their foot off the accelerator for pretty much the rest of the game. It had a similar feel to it where as the recent Norvan game where United were cruising along with a 2-0 lead before Norvan had the audacity to score against Surrey who promptly kicked into their “A” game and scored seven unanswered goals. This time Poco did not make the same mistake in waking a sleeping giant and although they battled hard they were unable to register a worthwhile shot against United keeper Theresa Nuttall who had little difficulty in recording her sixth shut-out of the season. United, went through the motions, which is hardly beneficial in the bigger scheme, but nevertheless managed another second half goal from Natalie Halcro to round out the scoring.

Karley Scrigner’s two goal performance in her team’s six goal victory earned her this week’s Player of the Week award. Each Weekly Winner will have their name entered into a random draw for the monthly prize of for Dinner for Two.