The Richmond Pioneers made the mother of all road trips to Chilliwack to take on one of the league’s top over-50 teams, and suffered an agonizing loss by the solitary goal of the game, an own goal extraordinaire from Ken Kan.

Already missing four key players due to holidays and injuries etc., the Pioneers struggled to get a team together for this daunting 220km round trip to the Fraser Valley. However, kudos to all who made the effort, with special mention to Tony McBride who rose from his sickbed to play. And Peter Voetmann even brought his boots despite having pacemaker battery replacement surgery the previous day, but sanity prevailed and he was content to be a linesman.

The opponents had no such problem with numbers, as they looked like they had enough players for two teams.

Chilliwack had the edge in play early on as they showed quality and depth in their play, using their wings to full effect. Although some dangerous crosses were being put it, the Pioneer defence up to the task, and goalie Gary Byrne was busy but never really tested in the first half.

The Pioneers front two of Danny Lazar and Evgeni Kushnir battled hard, but the Chilliwack central defenders were tough to break down, and despite a few openings, the Chilliwack goal was never really threatened, even from a couple of Pioneer free kicks.

The second half was equally tight, and although Chilliwack made a couple of dangerous forays through the midfield, the Pioneer defensive four were also having a solid game, with Eric Stepura cleaning things up nicely at the back.

The game looked like it had become a stalemate, and a 0-0 draw on the cards, until the 70 minute mark. A Chilliwack forward made a surging run through on goal, only to be denied by a wonderful fingertip save from Dave Valitis, the Pioneer keeper getting just enough to deflect the shot onto the post, the ball gently bouncing back out. Right back Ken Kan, not realizing the time he had, tried to blast the ball to safety, but got it horribly wrong, instead slicing the ball into his own net for an incredible blooper of a goal.

A heartbreaker for sure, and if it had been videotaped Ken Kan would be a YouTube star by now.

The Pioneers pushed hard for the equalizer, but the disparity between the size of the Chilliwack bench and the Pioneers lack of a bench was becoming a telling factor, as the visitors visibly tired while Chilliwack were still putting fresh players on the field of play.

For all the effort from the Pioneers, the Chilliwack defending remained solid and uncompromising. In the last minute, Ken Swanston’s shot whistled past the post, and that was as close as the Pioneers got.

A good, competitive game, but one that will long be remembered for Ken Kan’s incredible blooper of an own goal.