The weekend started off featuring two Friday night turf games with the Men’s masters team visiting Surrey FC Fireman Rangers for their top of the table clash and with the men’s premier team hosting Westside at the Cloverdale turf.

In premier action, Surrey United emerged victorious with a 2-0 victory over their long time adversaries Westside to extend their lead atop the standings. Westside sadly looked a pale shadow of some their past brilliant teams but they matched the home side in the first half as Surrey rarely managed to get out of first gear except for a couple of forays where they squandered a two great chances but nevertheless the plays illustrated their potential danger. In the second half, Surrey looked a different team and were fast, aggressive and more purposeful in attack where United’s front three of Cam Wilson, Shawn Blakeway and Ivan Estrada were a constant threat to the Westside defence. It was Wilson, who broke the deadlock at the sixty minute mark when he met Dave Hleucka’s superb cross with a great header that he directed into the net from six yards. Five minutes later, United got the insurance marker when youngster Harpreet Khakh headed home to notch his fourth goal in five premier games. The goal was a replica of the first goal of the game with United’s Ivan Estrada this time providing the cross. United surged forward and striker Blakeway deserved another goal but was robbed by the woodwork for the second successive game when his superb swerving volley hit the upright. Wilson, then came close to the goal of the season when he dribbled his way past a total of 5 Westside players before seeing his shot graze the post and end up in the side netting. Surrey United keeper Paul Shepherd wasn’t troubled often in recording the shut-out but handled the crosses superbly and made one memorable save.

On Saturday the same two clubs met each other in the first division encounter with United winning 2-1 with a come from behind victory. The visitors took the lead in the first minute of play scoring from close range after slack marking in the Surrey defence. United came back strongly and enjoyed sustained periods of pressure throughout the first half but they just seemed to lack the necessary penetration in the final third of the field. They manage to change that almost immediately at the start of the second half and the introduction of Les Antone as a substitute half-time paid an immediate dividend. His quick turn sent him racing down the left before cutting in and laying a perfect ball into the feet of midfielder Ryan Reynolds whose measured strike from fifteen yards nestled neatly in the corner of the net to tie up the scores. United took full control and played with more effort and penetration and looked dangerous on most of their attacks but they failed to convert on some great chances. Les Antone and Ryan Stepputat both hit the post when it seemed easier to hit the net and Ryan Reynolds also squandered a good opportunity. Westside, spurred on by nothing else than their good fortune almost conjured up a couple of goals themselves but were denied by two great saves from united keeper Daniel Heigh who came up big at the critical time. With ten minutes remaining United finally got the winner their overall play deserved when Ryan Stepputat came steaming in at the far post to smash home Jamie Spendlove’s brilliant cross.

The men’s division two team returned to action after a two week absence and managed to register a late come from behind victory to defeat Sporting Punjab 2-1 at Cloverdale Athletic Park on Sunday. The game was a close hard fought affair and saw the visitors take the lead at the twenty minute mark. However, United tied up the scores five minutes before the interval when Jordan Gibbs robbed a defender of the ball and broke away to score with a precise shot from the top of the eighteen yard box. With the game seemingly destined for a tie United’s sustained pressure in the closing minutes paid off when they were awarded a penalty when Nick Gollogly was brought crashing to the ground in the penalty area. United,s leading scorer Chris roots stepped up to take the kick and made to mistake in scoring from the spot to give United the three points.

The men’s masters team came up with one of their best performances of the season to beat the previously first placed Surrey FC Rangers Firemen team 1-0 at Newton Athletic park on Friday evening. It was former Surrey United premier and VMSL all-star Peter Hjorth who got the game’s only goal at the seven minute when he stooped to meet an Ian Farquhar corner-kick with a half diving header from close range. United dominated most of the play and their excellent defensive play denied the home team’s forwards any time and space on the ball. United could have wrapped up the game in the first half but Kelly Bey and Mike Marini both missed the target with their respective chances. United continued to maintain the upper hand throughout the second half and in the end they never needed an insurance marker. United keeper Angelo Bonato had a fairly easy time in recording his shut-out.

The ladies division one “B “teams woes continued with a 5-0 loss away to Langley Devils on Sunday. The game was fairly close early on as both teams battled hard and then midway through the first half Langley broke the deadlock by scoring with a close range effort after a hectic goalmouth scramble. The game remained fairly even until three minute before the break when Langley added two quick goals to break open the game. When Langley added another in the first five minutes of the half the contest was over long before they slotted their fifth goal late in the game.

The division one “C” team ladies edged out the Abbotsford Mariners team by a margin of 3-2 on Sunday at Cloverdale Athletic Park to maintain a firm grip on second place in the standings. Both teams exchanged some great opportunities in the opening minutes of the first half but it was Surrey United who opened the scoring at the fifteen minute mark of the first half. The play developed as a result of hard work from Hayley Jensen and Courtney Duncan who exchanged passes to provide an opportunity for Karley Scrigner to score from close range. Ten minutes later United increased their lead when midfielder Taryne Clancy sent Scrigner through to the top of the eighteen-yard box; Scrigner cleverly drew two defenders before squaring to Ally Pross who hit a high rising shot over the Abby’s net minder and into the top of the net. Five minutes later Abby reduced the deficit when their corner-kick eluded everyone and found its way into the net. The visitors completed the come-back and leveled the scores two minutes into the second frame capitalizing on some indecision in the United defence. Surrey enjoyed the balance of play but failed to convert a number of opportunities until midway through the half when midfielder Courtney Duncan teamed up with Scrigner to send Pross racing through and she finished brilliantly with a hard drive into Abby’s net for her second goal of the game.

Pete Hjorth’s half diving header proved to be the winner for the Men’s masters top of the table win over arch rivals Surrey FC Firemen Rangers and earned Peter 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.