Mens PREMIER
Surrey United Firefighters added the Imperial Cup to their Premier League Championship trophy by defeating West Vancouver 2-0 in overtime at Kinsmen Stadium on Saturday in a highly entertaining game. The outcome of the games between these two evenly matched teams is always in doubt until the final whistle is blown and this game was no exception. West Vancouver started the stronger of the two teams and enjoyed some early pressure forcing three corners in fairly quick succession but Surrey managed to clear their lines on each occasion and the Cloverdale based team started to enjoy some pressure of their own. In fact it was Surrey who carved open the first real chance when Steve McAuley rose magnificently at the far post to meet a Stefan Leslie cross with a powerful header that was brilliantly saved by West Vancouver goalkeeper Marco Durante. The speed of Angus Burke and Rizal Ganief was a constant threat to West Vancouver's defence and Burke's claim for a penalty after thirty minutes of play was turned aside after he was upended in the penalty area. Three minutes later the Firefighters came close to scoring again when Ganief's low free-kick deflected through the wall but was well smothered by Durante. In the closing seconds of the first half came one of the highlights of the game when Surrey half cleared a corner to the top of the box where West Vancouver striker Milad Rahmadi spectacularly volleyed the ball towards the goal but Drew Smiley, who saw the shot at the last moment, made a superlative save to tip the ball over the cross-bar. In the second half, this see-saw battle continued at a fast pace but it was Surrey who seemed to get the more clear cut chances and the best one of the half fell to United when striker Andrew Proctor was sent racing through on a brilliant pass by Jeff Clarke. Proctor outpaced the West Vancouver defence and as he steered his shot towards the cornet of the net Durante somehow managed to get his outstretched fingers to the ball to deflect the ball past the post. With the game still deadlocked after ninety minutes the game advanced into the much predicted overtime frame and the tired combatants somehow kept the game flowing at a high tempo but still proceeded goalless into the second period of the overtime. Then midway through the frame Surrey were awarded a penalty kick much to the dismay of the protesting West Vancouver team when Surrey's Angus Burke was brought down in the penalty area. Striker Rizal Ganief calmly slotted the spot kick past Durante to give the edge to the Firefighters. West Vancouver responded well and great run by Rahmadi saw his goal-bound low shot brilliantly turned aside by another great save from Smiley. With West Vancouver pushing hard for the equalizer Surrey caught them with a quick counter-attack when Burke once again broke clear of the defence and as Durante challenged the striker, Burke squared the ball to team mate Ganief who slotted the ball into the open net. Lucas Barrett and Myles Davis worked tirelessly for United in midfield and Leslie and McAuley in defence had very strong performances.
Mens CAT “A” DIVISION
Season complete.
Mens CAT “B” DIVISION
Season complete.
Mens MASTERS
The Masters Cup Final also pitted the same two clubs as the Imperial Cup Final and was staged as a double header at Kinsman Stadium on Saturday. Surrey United took the lead early when in the 7th minute when Murray Howes hit a dangerous free-kick from 35 yards out which the West Van keeper Jason Marras could only parry and United’s Steve McCaw following up on the play coolly headed the ball home. The game was a physical affair from both teams with many good tackles all over the pitch. In the 38th minute Surrey forward Brent Roberts and West Vancouver’s Darren Knott were both harshly shown red cards after both players got into an altercation. This was a huge loss for United as the speedy Roberts was unsettling the West Vancouver defenders with his pace and dangerous runs. West Vancouver had a couple of decent shots in the first half but most of them were from long range and Angelo Bonetti was only really tested once just before the interval saving well from a close range attempt. In the second half West Vancouver continued to push forward in search of the tying goal and although they had plenty of pressure most of their shots were either off target or just from too far out to be considered dangerous. However, that changed with seven minutes of the game remaining when West Vancouver substitute Danny Vaughn came scored in close with a very tight angled shot after turning sharply in the six yard box. Surrey United stormed back down the field almost from the kickoff and caught West Vancouver on a dangerous 2 on 1 breakaway. Carson Drayson outpaced the defender and slid the ball over to the unmarked Darren Villars but somehow Marras was able to get a hand on the shot from Villars who was only 8 yards out and produced what proved to be a game winning save. Two minutes later United had a second player red carded after midfielder Darren Holze was forced to grab the West Vancouver forward player for a last man professional foul an automatic ejection. With two minutes remaining in regulation play United suffered the cruelest of blows when Vaughn again sprung free and coolly slotted a low shot into the net to seal the win for the West Vancouver team.
Ladies PREMIER
No game
Ladies DIVISION ONE
Season complete.
Player of the Week
This week’s Player of the Week goes to Rizal Ganief of the Mens Premier team for an outstanding overall display which saw his two late goals in overtime seal the Surrey United win in the Imperial Cup Final.