Mens PREMIER
Surrey United threw away the chance of determining their own fate in the championship race by throwing away two points in their draw against Sapperton at Cloverdale on Saturday. Surrey started brightly and took the early part of the game to Sapperton and was unlucky not to open the scoring in the 4th minute when Justin Carvery's powerful shot struck the upright and rebounded to safety. However, two minutes later they did score when Carvery chipped the Sapperton keeper and while his effort rolled to the goal-line Firefighter Jeff Skinner followed up to force the ball over the line. Surrey spent the remainder of the half squandering a hatful of chances and Andrew Proctor fired wide on two efforts but United failed to increase their lead. The second half followed the same pattern as Surrey piled on the pressure but Gagan Josan, Lucas Barrett and Cam Wilson all had great opportunities to score but a combination of poor finishing and some excellent goalkeeping denied the home side any further goals. In the 75th minute the unthinkable happened when Sapperton tied up the game scoring from close range after a series of defensive mishaps by Surrey. For the remaining 15 minutes Surrey applied relentless pressure and substitute Rizal Ganief fired wide on two occasions plus player coach Niall Thompson had two efforts brilliantly saved by the Sapperton keeper who was outstanding in preserving a precious point for Sapperton.
Mens CAT “A” DIVISION
No Scheduled Game.
Mens CAT “B” DIVISION
Surrey United’s CAT “B” team played home to the KLM Lions from Vancouver. Surrey United had to play with a make-shift line-up on the back line, with only 1 regular defender able to play in the game. The game was played at a pedestrian pace, with the visitors employing a defence first system in an effort to contain the high scoring league leading United team. Finally after some sustained pressure United finally broke the deadlock at the 38th minute when Liam McKinnon rifled in a low shot into the net, after a nice feed from Andre Felicio. Playing deep into 1st half extra time United had a chance to increase their lead when a visiting Defender handled the ball. Lenny Longley stepped forward to place a perfect shot to the keepers right, making the score 2-0 at the half. At the 70th min. Longley got his second of the game after a great break-away feed from Colin Grout. With ten minutes of the game remaining KLM spoiled the shut-out when United got caught out pushing forward, and KLM capitalized by scoring on an outnumbered situation. However, United wrapped up the game at the 89th minute with Longley completing his hat trick after a great 3 way passing play from Kirk Boechler to Corey Bergen. Longley’s quick move got him in the clear again and he made no mistake with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Mens MASTERS
No game report received.
Ladies PREMIER
United’s premier Ladies showed took on Richmond on Sunday at Cloverdale in another critical league game and emerged victorious with a 1-0 victory against a defence-first oriented Richmond team. United dominated most of the play but lacked execution in the final third of the field. Surrey did get the ball in the net in the 33rd minute but Megan Blaker’s effort was ruled out due to an offside call. Blaker was again denied in the 40th minute by a great save from the visiting keeper. The second half story was much the same; with United winning a succession of corners but they were unable to get the finishing touch. Kailen Kyle had a good claim for a penalty shot turned down after she was brought down in the penalty area but her claims fell on deaf ears. Finally, in the 81st minute Surrey got the vital breakthrough when the keeper was unable to hold on to an Ellen Kuyer shot and veteran Blaker pounced on the rebound to force the ball home from close range. The win brought United within three points of league leaders Coquitlam Metro-Ford.
On Tuesday evening United took on Coquitlam at Cloverdale in a must win game that would pull United into a first place tie in the standings with their arch rivals. United started strongly in the game and there was a determination in their early play that suggested that they were up for the game. Surrey’s fine start was rewarded early after only seven minutes when Rachel Pelat’s right wing shot- come-cross eluded the grasps of the Coquitlam keeper and found its way into the back of the net. United surged forward and piled on the pressure and came close to scoring on a number of occasions but eventually added a second goal in the 27th minute when great work down the left by Katie Thorlakson saw her precise low cross steered into the net by Ally Benes. Six minutes later a fine inter passing play between Nicole Stewart and Benes set-up an opportunity for Ellen Kuyer who duly obliged by dispatching the ball into the back of the net from close range. Outstanding midfielder Kaylen Kyle added another goal for United three minutes later when her powerful low shot from 25 yards rocketed into the corner of the net to give the home side a four goal advantage at the interval. Any remote possibility of a Metro-Ford rally was quickly dispelled in the first minute after the re-start when Kyle’s cross from the right was met by Ellen Kuyer whose clever header looped over the keeper and into the net. The closest Coquitlam came to scoring was a long range shot which was turned aside by United keeper Theresa Nuttall. United added the final goal of the game in the sixtieth minute when Thorlakson and substitute Natalie Halcro forced a turnover in the Coquitlam defence and Halcro slammed the ball into the net. United played out the remaining thirty minutes and the 6-0 victory was easily their most polished overall performance of the season.
Ladies DIVISION ONE
Surrey United Ladies started strong right from the opening whistle in their league game against Vancouver Vixens and were rewarded just fifteen minutes into the first half when a high chip ball into box by midfielder Kaitlyn Rowbotham was met by a charging striker Kara Santerre, who made no mistake driving a low hard shot into Vixen's net. Ten minutes later United had a good chance to increase their lead when Claire McKinnon was taken down by a Vixen's defender just outside the 18 yard box and from the resulting free-kick, awarding Jessica Harkison's shot just went over the cross-bar. For the remainder of the first half United produced a number of good scoring opportunities but failed to add to their one goal lead.
The second half saw a continued dominance by United which restricted any serious offensive threats by Vixen, and then fifteen minutes into the second half Surrey increased their lead. This was accomplished by some hard work created by midfielder Rosie Gryma whose hard shot ricocheted off the cross bar and Vixen's attempt to clear the ball allowed united substitute Jessica Newman to steal the ball and slam it into the wide open net. Ten minutes from time United added their third and final goal came when a well placed cross Newman found a wide open Kelsey Ingram who one-timed a high rising shot that found the back of Vixens net.
Player of the Week
This week’s Player of the Week goes to Men’s Division two Player Lenny Longley whose three goal performance took his season tally to 15 goals.