The Richmond Pioneers travelled to Aldergrove expecting a tough game from the team that beat them 6-2 last year, but this new look Aldergrove team is in transition and the Pioneers took full advantage of the opportunity to avenge last year's loss, beating the home team by a resounding 6-0 scoreline.

The Pioneers were buoyed (more like 'shocked') by the presence of a certain Irishman who rarely travels 'east' —usually coming down with a mysterious illness (medical term: the 'Aldergrove flu')—and the additional presence of a certain John Murphy, who in recent years has been seen less than Elvis, but has now shown up for six, count 'em, six straight games.

From the kick off the Pioneers looked lively, opening the scoring within 5 minutes when a Graham Mason pass sent Evgeny Kushnir through on goal, the 'Russian Rocket' outpacing the defender and rounding the keeper to score from an acute angle.

The Pioneers were moving the ball around nicely, and it was only a matter of time before the second goal came. Ken Swanston flicked a header on to Danny Lazar, who coolly finished the move with a left footed shot into an empty net, with the keeper stranded.

The Pioneers were in complete control and Ken Johnston thought he'd scored the third goal, only for the referee to incorrectly rule it offside. A minute later however, Johnston got his goal in almost identical fashion. A Mason pass released Cees Van Staal down the left wing, the dutchman passing to Kushnir who relayed the ball to a wide open Johnston. 3-0 Pioneers.

At the other end, keeper Gary Byrne made a fine point blank save to deny Aldergrove a chance to reduce the deficit.

The second half saw Aldergrove come more into the game, but the Pioneer defence held firm and Byrne was looking solid in the Pioneer net, tipping one dangerous shot over the bar, and saving another with his legs in unorthodox fashion to preserve the shutout.

The Pioneers fourth goal killed off any hope Aldergrove had to get back into the game. The goal came from an unlikely source when a Jim Fitzgerald strike from over 20 yards out squirmed through the Aldergrove keeper's legs. A gift of a goal maybe, but the first by the 'Assman' since the 2002/3 season (although in fairness, he's missed a lot of games with the Aldergrove flu over the years).

The Aldergrove defence was now in a shambles, with the Pioneers in complete control creating, and missing, chance after chance. Lazar added his second of the game with a cheeky chip shot over the keeper and Ken Swanston completed the rout with a sweetly struck shot from the edge of the penalty area to the keeper's right. 6-0 Pioneers.

A great team performance from the Richmond Pioneers, and a totally unexpected scoreline.