Mens PREMIER
Surrey United Firefighters advanced to the semi-finals of the Imperial Cup following a very impressive 4-0 victory over Westside on Saturday at Cloverdale. They signalled their intentions right from the opening kick-off and took the game to the visitors with some dominating play. It came as no surprise when they opened the scoring at the 10th minute of play when a long ball out of defence by Myles Davis found striker Andrew Proctor who laid the ball into the path of midfielder Vince Stewart who slipped his marker and slammed a low shot into the net. Ten minutes later United added a second goal when Stefan Leslie's throw was flicked on by Angus Burke into the path of Rizal Ganief who hammered a left shot high into the net from the top of the penalty area. A couple of fine saves by the Westside keeper denied the home team any further goals before the half-time break. Any chance of a second half revival by Westside was snubbed out at the 51st minute when Surrey notched their third goal of the game. Ganief collected a pass from a quickly taken free-kick and fired a superb cross field ball to Lucas Barrett who laid it across the middle for substitute Justin Carvery to volley it into the net from eighteen yards out. United rounded out the scoring in the 84th minute when Burke slotted the ball home after some fine link up play between Leslie and Stewart. Westside's first real threat of the game came in the dying minutes of the game when some sloppy defensive play by Surrey allowed one of the Westside forwards a sight at goal but he clipped his effort wide of the post enabling Surrey's Drew Smiley to register the shut-out. For Surrey United Jeff Skinner had an outstanding game in the midfield where Vince Stewart was also very prominent.
Mens CAT “A” DIVISION
Season complete.
Mens CAT “B” DIVISION
Season complete.
Mens MASTERS
The masters not only advanced to the finals of the Masters Premier cup with a nail-biting 1-0 overtime victory over Westside but also secured a coveted provincial cup berth with the win. The game was a close fought affair but Surrey clearly had the edge in the creation of clear cut chances. In the first half of play a fine flowing move buy United ended up with Darren Villars rising at the far post to head the cross but agonizingly saw his effort end up in the side netting. United’s Brent Roberts also had a great second half chance but lifted his shot over the cross-bar. With the game flowing into the overtime periods Kelly Bey almost snatched the winner in the first period of overtime but like Roberts lifted his shot over the bar. However midway through the first overtime United got the breakthrough they deserved based on the balance of play and it was man of the match Villars who showed great anticipation to run through to head home Craig Brown’s left wing cross. It was still a tense affair and United desperately needed the comfort of another goal to kill off their dogged opponents. Villars was robbed on one occasion by Westside keeper Rob Merkl but in the late stages of the game with Westside pushing for the equalizer they left some gaps at the back. Twice United should have added the insurance marker but Villars’s breakaway cross eluded striker Murray Howes and then on another breakaway United substitute Sprio Pegios fluffed his shot after rounding the keeper. However, it was all smiles for United at the final whistle as they rescued their season after underperforming in regulation league play.
Ladies PREMIER
By some quirk of scheduling the Ladies premier team also played in their final league game of the season on Wednesday March 17th at Cloverdale Turf at 8.00pm and served up another outstanding performance to register a 5-0 victory to secure the premier league title. United started strongly and there was a great determination about their early play and then after 14 minutes deservedly took the lead when Kate Qually scored on a great free-kick from twenty yards. Seven minutes later United added their second goal when Katie Thorlakson collected a long punt by keeper Theresa Nuttall and then fired a perfect ball into the path of Sharon Lehnert whose precise low shot from fifteen yards found the bottom corner of the net. At the thirty minute mark United notched a third when April Coffin slammed the ball home from close range to finish off a great passing play involving Lehnert and Qually. Three minutes before the half-time whistle United scored their fourth goal when a great passing play between Thorlakson and Kailen Kyle was finished off by the latter with a magnificent curling left foot shot into the top corner of the net. With the game United caught the eye with some flowing entertaining soccer and rounded out the scoring in the sixty fifth minute when Coffin sent Megan Blaker racing down the left and her cross found a wide open Thorlakson who hammered the ball into the net.
Ladies DIVISION ONE
Season complete.
Player of the Week
This week’s Player of the Week goes to Darren Villars of the Masters Premier team for an outstanding overall display which saw his magnificent header help his team advance to the cup final and secure a place in the provincials.