April 11, 2004 Richmond Athletics Win 2004 Aldergrove Over 50 Tournament
Congratulations to Richmond Athletics for a flawless performance at the Annual Aldergrove Over-50 tournament, winning all four games without conceding a single goal.
Kevin Morris's Athletics team comprised five members of the Richmond Pioneers, plus players from Kevin's Paddlewheelers team, the New West Regals, and one from Richmond United.
With 9 teams competing, a points system was adopted that rewarded shutouts and goals scored. On Saturday, the Athletics beat Aldergrove 1-0 and Mission 7-0. Sunday morning's game against Courtenay ended in a 2-0 victory and the Athletics entered the last game knowing that a victory would win the tournment.
The opponents for the last game was an all star Columbus/Europa team, playing under the the name Coquitlam Lions. But the Athletics had great goaltending, a rock solid defence, dogged determination in midfield and creativity and pace up front, and went on to defeat the all stars 1-0 to claim the top prize.
Pioneers Season Ends on a High Note
Richmond Pioneers 3 Aldergrove One 1
The Richmond Pioneers closed out a very successful winter season with a fine performance against a strong Aldergrove One team, defeating them 3-1 at McMath.
Aldergrove came out strong, determined to avenge the emphatic 6-1 loss to the Pioneers back in November, a performance that probably has to be considered the best of the season for the Pioneers.
This game was being played at a brisk pace, as both teams tried to get the upper hand. Aldergrove came close on a couple of occasions: one when a long range shot hit the outside of the post, and another chance was saved by goalie Gary Byrne bravely diving at the feet of the advancing forward.
The Pioneers started to assert themselves, and at times the one touch passing was wonderful to watch. The Pioneers took the lead on the 30 minute mark when a Denis Harvington cross found an unmarked Stan Bogdanovich, who scored with a powerful header. Ken Johnston came close to increasing the lead, but his shot was just a shade too high.
Leading 1-0 in the second half, most of the chances were falling to the Pioneers, who were getting the upper hand in the midfield battles. The Pioneer defensive four were very cohesive, successfully dealing with the fast Aldergrove counterattacks.
Midway through the second half, the Pioneers would get a second goal. A precise pass from Bogdanovich was cleverly first timed by Johnston, wrong footing the Aldergrove goalie for his 31st goal of the year.
Aldergrove pulled one back when a shot from 25 yards out beat Pioneer goalie Dave Valitas. The goal revitalized Aldergrove and they sensed a comeback was on the cards.
But it was not to be, as the Pioneers added an insurance goal when an audacious flick from Harvington sent John Tsang free. Tsang neatly chipped the ball over the advancing keeper and headed the bouncing ball home to give the Pioneers a very satisfying 3-1 victory in this hard fought game.
The season ended with the Pioneers suffering only one defeat in 22 games, scoring 76 goals while conceding only 29. In two seasons of Over 50 soccer, the Pioneers have yet to lose a single home game, a streak that is now at 26 games.
Man of the Match: Denis Harvington, with honourable mention to Ken Kan.
Add your email address to our automatic update list. If you want to be notified when our weekly game report has been posted, click here to be added to our automatic update list.
Stop the Pop Ups! This website is a free site from 20M.com. Because it's free, we have to put up with those pop-up ads. If they really annoy you, download this free popup stopper software. Gary says it works really well.
- Based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, the Pioneers play in the Over 50 Division of the BCOTS (BC Old Timers Soccer League). The league has over 40 teams from all over the Lower Mainland region
