Pioneers Get the Job Done

Carib Islanders 2 Richmond Pioneers 3

Sunday Oct 24, 2004 - The Pioneers travelled across Richmond to take on the Carib Islanders, and just like in past encounters, the Islanders put up a brave fight but came up short, with the Pioneers winning 3-2.

Due to injuries and holidays etc., only eight, repeat eight, of the Pioneers 18 man roster were present for this local derby, played on the soggy confines of Burnett School.

With some help from friends, the Pioneers just managed to field 11 players, admittedly a couple of them ailing. So if ever there was a time when Carib were going to beat the Pioneers (which, by the way, has never happened) then this was surely the time.

Carib starting out strongly, passing the ball around nicely, and within five minutes scored the opening goal, a well executed play that the Pioneers could do little about.

However, parity was soon restored when Ken Johnston, still hindered by the hamstring injury that kept him out of last week's game, scored an opportunistic goal.

Both teams created chances, but as the half went on, the Pioneers were slowly getting their game together and taking charge.

Denis Harvington came close when a wonderful long range effort hit the crossbar. Minutes later, a corner kick from Ben Fung was neatly flicked on by Harvington to Johnston, who headed home from close range to give the Pioneers a 2-1 lead.

In the second half, the Pioneers took a two goal lead when a shot from Mike Mogul—that's what I said, a shot from Mike Mogul— was fumbled by the Carib keeper and Ken Swanston was on hand to knock home the rebound.

But the Islanders refused to buckle, and pulled a goal back, a scrambled effort following a sequence of Pioneer defensive miscues. In the dying moments of the game, Carib almost grabbed a tie, but they somehow managed to shoot over the bar from, oh, two yards out.

In view of the depleted squad, the Pioneers were happy to leave with another win, knowing that in the next few weeks, most of the missing players will be returning to action.

Man of the match: Ken Johnston.

Next Week: Home to Peace Arch.

		contact the webmaster