Mens PREMIER

In a match featuring two previously unbeaten teams Surrey United Firefighters edged Delta United 2-1 at Cloverdale Athletic Park on Saturday thanks to a great goal five minutes from time by midfield maestro Tyler Rosenlund to send Surrey alone at the top of the table after four games. The game was a well fought affair played in a good spirit and Delta almost opened the scoring in the first minute of play when striker John Blair headed into the grateful arms of United keeper Drew Smiley. At the other end of the park Delta keeper Brian Brum saved well diving at the feet of Cam Wilson who had broken through the Delta rearguard. Surrey broke the deadlock fifteen minutes after the interval when Rizal Ganief was taken down in the penalty area. Golden Boot leader Cam Wilson successfully converted the spot-kick calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Delta battled back and came on strongly to enjoy their best spell of the game pinning Surrey United back into their own half and fifteen minutes later leveled the scores when this time Blair guided a looping header past the outstretched clutches of Smiley. It was the first goal conceded by the Cloverdale based squad this season but they responded well to the adversity and were unlucky not to score when Lucas Barrett outpaced the Delta backline only to see his low shot rebound to safety after hitting the upright. With the game seemingly destined for a tie some fine set-up play by Ganief and veteran Steve McCauley carved out an opportunity for Rosenlund who with a moment of sheer brilliance and skill curved a 20 yard drive into the net via the inside of the post. Rosenlund had a fine game throughout and Jeff Buchanan looked once again very composed in the United backline. Mark Gomes was the outstanding player for Delta and his probing runs out of defence caused problems for the home side most of the afternoon.

Mens CAT “A” DIVISION

Surrey had the strange game time of 9.00pm on Wednesday evening for their division “A” Cat away game tilt with Estrelle D’ Chile and took the lead twelve minutes into the half when their goalkeeper pulled down Chris Roots in the penalty area and received a red card for the infraction. Roots converted from the penalty spot and now United had the lead and a one man advantage. Although they dominated play some poor finishing cost prevented them from increasing their lead. Then in what proved to be a costly lapse United conceded a late goal with virtually the last kick of the half to allow the home side to level the scores at the break and provide the shorthanded opponents a lifeline. In the second half turn Estrelle rocked United with three further goals in a twelve minute span. The first coming from the penalty spot for a hand ball and then another from a direct free-kick and one more from open play. United reduced the deficit at the 67th minute mark through Brendan Wilkinson but were unable to add any further goals. This was a result that United let slip away with some poor defensive errors and a lack of concentration and focus.

Mens CAT “B” DIVISION

This week’s game featured the VMSL’s top two CAT “B” teams, Surrey United “C” and Richmond Olympic “B”.  The game kicked off at a very high pace, with Surrey United controlling most of the play for the first 15 minutes.  Many close misses, were all that the home team had to show for their hard work.  Richmond started to pick up their play at the 20 minute mark resulting in glorious chances at both ends of the park.  Finally at 32 minutes, Lenny Longley made a piercing run from the left, only to be taken out by two sliding Richmond defenders, resulting in a deserved Penalty Kick.  Longley coolly placed his PK into the bottom right corner of the net. The second half opened with an invigorated Richmond Team taking charge of the game and the young Surrey United team had trouble regaining their first half form but were able to still hang on to their first half lead thanks to the fine goal tending of Ben Baerg.  Finally, at the 60th minute, the pressure finally told and Richmond struck with a break-away goal that certainly had a hint of off-side about it. United responded well and the game went back and forth, with both teams starting to run out of gas.  Surrey United almost won it at the 86th minute when Kirk Boechler made a fine run down the left flank, to set-up Kody Bell whose close range effort skimmed the cross-bar on its way over the net.  The final whistle produced a tied result that still leaves Surrey United undefeated and tied at the top of the table.

Mens MASTERS

The Masters entertained West Vancouver in a heavyweight tilt at Cloverdale Athletic Park on Sunday where the visitors emerged with a 2-0 victory in a game that could have had a much different outcome had it not been for the woodwork. After weathering some early pressure from West Vancouver the home team fought back determinedly and with ten minutes to go before the break United thought they had scored the opening goal. After a neat little one two with Mike Shue United striker Billy Jackson unleashed a powerful shot that hit the underside of the cross-bar and came straight down without crossing the line. If West Vancouver edged the territorial play in the first half United picked it up after the interval took the game to the visitors. Their effort again went unrewarded when United hit the bar again on a fine effort from midfielder Darren Holzle. With twenty minutes remaining West Van played a great ball down the line where their outside midfielder beat two players before crossing a great ball into the box which their striker calmly slotted home the winning goal. With ten minutes of the game remaining and with United pushing hard for the equalizer West Van caught United with a quick turnover and added the insurance marker. Game over....Two Nil....The players played really hard for each other but were denied three times by the woodwork and the team deserved a better outcome from the match where Billy Jackson and Mike Shue were stand-outs for Surrey.

Ladies PREMIER

Surrey United Ladies premier had a bye this weekend and leave for the National Championships on Tuesday October 6th.

Ladies DIVISION ONE

This match was a tale of two halves, the first belonging to Surrey United and the second belonging to Delta Metro as both teams shared a point in a very entertaining 2-2 tie at John Oliver Park on Friday evening. Surrey United started strongly in the first half and after 15 minutes opened the scoring. The goal came off a two way play started with defender Rosie Gryma stripping the ball from one of Delta's midfielders and quickly sending a cross to striker, Kaitlyn Rowbotham, whose hard rising shot was turned away by Delta's keeper into the path of a charging Sandra Abe, who hammered the ball into the back of the Delta net. United increased their lead shortly before half-time following some great hard work and an individual effort by midfielder Sukhpreet Grewal who won the ball and then beat two Delta's defenders before hitting a high solid shot into the top corner behind Delta's keeper. For the most part of the first half Surrey United recorded a dozen or so hard shots at the Delta keeper, or had some great balls just falling off the mark throughout the first half. While at the other end during the first half Surrey United kept Delta Metro bottled up in there own end only giving up four shots on Surrey United's keeper Brittany Galeslook.  In the second half Surrey United came out slowly and were never allowed by Delta Metro to regain the strong momentum they enjoyed in the first half. The determined Delta team quickly took charge of the second half and reduced the deficit by scoring just five minutes into the second frame. This only fuelled Delta’s determination and confidence and they pushed Surrey United back onto their heels in a desperate defending role. Ultimately Surrey United paid the price and gave up the equalizer in the last few minutes remaining in the final half. The goal came again after Surrey United’s poor marking at the top of the box allowed an unmarked Delta midfielder to have a free shot and the powerful strike eluded the grasp of United's keeper, Brittany Galeslook. 

Player of the Week

This week’s Player of the Week goes to the Men’s premier team midfielder Tyler Rosenlund whose brilliant goal five minutes from time secured the victory for United and sent them all alone at the top of the table.