With scheduled opponents Point Grey Thistles unable to round up a quorum of players for Sunday's game versus the Richmond Pioneers, Ken Johnston hustled to arrange another game. Noting that archrival Surrey Classics were expected to be idle as their scheduled opponents Ben United were still returning from a trip to China, it actually took a phone call to Hong Kong before this game could be confirmed.

The last time these two teams met was in March 2006, the Pioneers famously ended Surrey Classics' 67-game, 3-year unbeaten streak in a 9-goal thriller.

Both teams have gone through a few personnel changes since then and, oddly enough, the current Classics team looks even stronger than the record breakers of a couple of years ago.

With the game just five minutes old, the surging Classics opened the scoring, capitalizing on a mix-up between Pioneers' goalie Gary Byrne and defender Mike Mogul, the latter's hesitation in clearing the ball proving costly.

Not long after, the Classics added a second with another gift. Following a corner kick, a goal-bound shot was heading straight to Jim Fitzgerald, correctly positioned protecting the post. However, Fitzgerald made a complete hash of the expected clearance, and the ball trickled over the line, 2-0 Classics.

The Classics were having great success down the right flank, the source of most of their offensive threats, and were probably thinking they were going to run away with this game.

However, the Pioneers started to settle into the match, and at the other end Evgeni Kushnir had a great chance to score for the home team, forcing a good reflex save out of the Classics' keeper.

Soon after, a Graham Mason corner kick found a wide open Danny Lazar, his header hitting the woodwork. Minutes later, another Mason corner was met this time by Kushnir, his powerful header also crashing off the bar.

With the Classics proving to be susceptible to set-plays, it was a case of third time lucky when the Pioneers' first goal came from yet another Mason corner, the static Classics defence allowing Danny Lazar another free header, and this time the Pioneer's leading scorer made no mistake, powering his header past the helpless keeper.

The Pioneers went into the half time break 2-1 down, ruing the missed chances and the two soft goals given up to the Classics.

In the second half, with the winds now at their backs, the visitors talented midfield quartet continued to impress, although their chances were restricted to long range shots, and only once did they force Gary Byrne into making a save that wasn't in the 'routine' category.

However, at the 55 minute mark the Pioneers yet again gifted the Classics another soft goal when there appeared to be little danger, after another communication breakdown allowed a soft looping header to go into the unprotected net.

Despite being 3-1 down, the Pioneers were still playing with a lot of heart and belief, buoyed by the fact the Classics' back four looked vulnerable. Their inability to deal with set plays once again allowed the Pioneers to get back into the game, when Jim Langlands sweetly volleyed into the net directly from a low, driven corner kick, once more from Graham Mason.

With both teams giving their all and the game opening up, chances were now being created at both ends. The Classics had a good chance that drifted wide of the top corner of the goal, and Ken Swanston looked certain to equalize for the Pioneers but took too long to get his shot away.

From the ensuing corner kick, however, the Pioneers did get their third goal when Mason's telling delivery found an advancing Jim Fitzgerald, and he made no mistake with a powerful header, making amends for his earlier costly miscue. His second goal of the season, Fitzgerald jumped into fourth place on the Pioneer scoring standings, heady territory indeed for the coiffured fullback.

The refereeing, or lack of it, was a cause of frustration for both teams, as the official failed to clamp down on some increasingly cynical challenges. With the clock winding down, the Classics—probably borne out of their frustration at giving up a two goal lead—felt they had been denied a late penalty, the Pioneers thankful that the ref finally got one right.

The final whistle blew for a 3-3 draw, a great comeback for the boys in red.