The Richmond Pioneers kicked off their winter season with a nervy 4-3 victory over a much-improved Langley Aces. With the Pioneers new home field at Blundell unavailable until mid-October, the game was played at Hamilton.

The Pioneers had a good turnout for the first game, and there was even a rare welcome John Murphy sighting.

The Pioneers opened the scoring when a Dennis Luk shot from the left wing—and we’re really stretching the definition of the word ‘shot’ here—deceived everyone, especially the otherwise competent Langley goalkeeper.

Langley tied the game up when the shot was deflected in at the near post, but Evgeni Kushnir restored the Pioneers lead with his first of the season.

The Langley keeper was the busier of the two goalies, but there was little he could do to prevent the Pioneers going up 3-1, when Jim Langlans burned by his marker on the right wing and delivered a low cross that was met by Danny Lazar, whose first time shot tucked inside the near post.

In the second half, the Pioneers had most of the scoring chances but they were up against some solid goalkeeping, as the Langley netminder made a string of impressive saves, notably from Graham Mason and Ken Johnston.

Langley were dangerous on the counterattack and they pulled a goal back when a Mason crossfield pass was intercepted (that’s a nice way of saying it was a terrible pass) and ultimately led to the second goal for the visitors.

The Pioneers weren’t done shooting themselves in the foot. Following some over-indulgent ‘cutesy’ passing between the Pioneer defenders, Langley capitalized once again and tied the game up at 3-3.

One the balance of play, the scoreline was flattering to the visitors, and the Pioneers took the game to them in search of the winner. With less than 10 minutes to go, following a Luk shot that was pushed aside by the keeper, Langlans crossed the ball across the face of the goal and a Langley defender, under pressure from Johnston, put the ball in his own net. 4-3 Pioneers.

In the last minute, the Pioneers survived a scare when a shot struck the bar.

All in all though, a deserved victory for the Pioneers.