Mens PREMIER
Surrey United Firefighters rebounded from last week' s defeat to beat Sapperton 2-0 at Queens Park Stadium and regain a share of first place in the standings. However, Sapperton extended Surrey to the limits with a typical strong battling performance. Surrey definitely enjoyed the territorial advantage and extended periods of possession throughout the first half but Sapperton looked very dangerous on the counter attack and only two great saves by Drew Smiley prevented the home team from taking the lead. However it was Surrey midfield maestro Tyler Rosenlund who had the best chance of the first half when he raced onto a long through ball and tried to chip Sapperton keeper Kent Waechter but miscued and calmly lobbed the ball into the keeper's hands. The pattern of the second half followed the first half with Surrey doing most of the pressing but their execution in the final third of the field continued to let them down. Sapperton then suffered some cruel luck and in the space of seven minutes saw two great shots both hit the same post and rebound to safety. Then half way through the second frame Surrey grabbed the lead when Rosenlund's corner kick found United substitute Angus Burke free at the top of the box and he deftly chipped the ball over the defenders and the keepers outstretched hands into the top left corner of the net. It was the boost Surrey needed and five minutes later they added a second when Burke linked well with veteran Jeff Skinner who galloped down the left wing and fired over a perfect cross that striker Rizal Ganief just had to guide into the net from close range. It was less than Sapperton deserved for their valiant effort but as they pushed forward in search of a goal Surrey almost added a third when substitute Niall Thompson chipped the keeper but saw his effort roll agonizingly past the wrong side of the upright..
Mens CAT “A” DIVISION
Surrey “s Game against Wickham was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch..
Mens CAT “B” DIVISION
Surrey United played Tsawwassen Royals “B” at CAP”4” and the overcast conditions did not keep United from flying out of the gates. At the 4 min. mark Kelvin Hayes sprung Kody Bell with a lovely through ball. Bell made no mistake roofing his 1st shot of the game into the Tsawwassen net. United continued to press forward and at the 6th Min. Colin Grout’s hard arcing corner kick, was deftly headed by Kody Bell into the top left corner of the Tsawwassen net. At 14 min. Liam McKinnon one timed a beautiful free kick taken by Kelvin Hayes to give .United a 3-0 lead with the game barely begun. United continued to press the visitors and at 22 min. increased their lead this time off a set play, with Liam McKinnon’s long throw putting Colin Grout clear, and he deftly roofed the ball into the top right corner of the net. The rain became heavier and the game slowed a bit, which was surely a relief for the visitors. Finally at the 59th min. Kody Bell placed a lovely through ball to Derek Toth, who took the ball in on the keeper and slotted home his first of the year. United wrapped up their scoring at the 78th min., when Kris Turcsanyi made a couple of shifty moves and raced in on goal placing the ball into the bottom right corner. The game was not quite perfect, as Tsawwassen broke United’s shut-ot bid with a consolation goal in the 90th min.. Final score 6-1 for United. Player of the game was a resurgent Kody Bell who put the visitors on their back heels, early in the game, and Tsawwassen could not cope with his pace.
Mens MASTERS
SU were hungry for another much needed 3 points to continue their rapid climb up the standings and started. strongly against a feisty Wickham. Wickham did not mount much of an attack, however were defending well. SU's attacks down the left flank were finally rewarded when Mike Marini put in a cross for Murray Howes who gave United the lead me with another superb header.
The second half started with a flurry and Carson Drayson capitalized on a turn over and used the much underused 'toe bash' to slot home SU second 2 minutes into the 2nd half. Not more than ten minutes later, Bill Jackson on a fine solo effort that started from about 40 yards out, which saw him unleash a shot from about the top of the 18 to see the third goal of the game. Dave Harkison got SU 4th and 5th with fine set ups by John Van Dyck for the 4th and Mike Cain for the 5th. Unfortunately Wickham were able to break Angelo Bonato's shut out with a late goal. Terrific performance from the United back line and in particular from Mike Schue.
Ladies PREMIER
Surrey United Ladies returned to winning ways again with an unimpressive 3-0 home win against Langley FC after suffering their first league defeat for eighteen months last week at the hands of Coquitlam Metro-Ford. United without any substitutes made hard work of lower table opponents and squandered some good opportunities in the first half to leave the score-line blank at the interval. The game meandered along at a leisurely pace until the 60th minute when things got interesting. United were denied what appeared to be a clear cut penalty when veteran striker was clean through on goal but was pulled down eight yards from goal be a defender. Her reaction to the non-call earned her a red card for her comments to the referee and United were now down to 10 men. Somehow though these six time defending provincial champions respond well to adversity and their play in the final thirty minutes with a man disadvantage was way better than it had been in the opening sixty minutes of the game. Unsung hero Shannon Douglas broke the deadlock and bagged the game-winner with a powerful low shot from twenty yards out. Five minutes later United were awarded a penalty when Kate Qually was bundled off the ball and the veteran Qually made no mistake from the spot. Five minutes from the end United completed the scoring when Rachel Pelat finished off some great work by Nicole Stewart down the left with a close range tap.in.
Ladies DIVISION ONE
The Ladies Division one Report was not available at the time we went to press
Player of the Week
This week’s Player of the Week goes to the Masters team Sharon Lehnert whose two goals not only clinched victory for the team but also took her personal tally for the season to five.