Last updated Feb 11, 2005
The Battle for South Division Bragging Rights:
| P | W | D | L | Points |
| Richmond Pioneers | 13 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 32 |
| Surrey Classics | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 31 |
Sunday Feb 6, 2005
Pioneer Machine Keeps Rolling Along
Surrey Vikings 1 Richmond Pioneers 3
The Richmond Pioneers travelled to North Surrey to take on the 'improved' Surrey Vikings on Sunday, and the Pioneers efficiently dispatched their opponents to record a comfortable 3-1 victory.
Played in cold, adverse conditions—at game time a mixture of blowing rain and snow (John Tsang had more layers than a Black Forest cake)—the Vikings home field was in surprisingly good shape.
The Vikings had indeed picked up a couple of good new players recently, and the early exchanges saw both teams pushing forward, testing each other. The Pioneers, however, looked the more likely to make the initial breakthrough, coming close on a few occasions. The Vikings best chance game when a tackle by Jim Fitzgerald saw the ball riccochet dangerously towards the Pioneer goal, causing keeper Gary Byrne an anxious moment.
Tied 0-0 at the interval, the Pioneers came out in the second half with more urgency, and the inevitable breakthrough came when Evgeni Kushnir (yep, that's Eugene - we've been spelling the Rocket's name wrong for two years now) was pulled down in the penalty box. Kushnir took the penalty himself—twice—to put the Pioneers up 1-0.
Now finding acres of space in midfield, the Pioneers pushed forward at will and a second goal came when Graham Mason picked up a nice flick from Denis Harvington, his left footed shot eluding the Viking keeper.
Totally against the run of play the Vikings pulled one back. A cross from the right wing looked like a routine clearance for right back Jim Fitzgerald, but the 'ideas man' had the crazy idea to 'duck', leaving the ball for the appreciative Viking forward to head home.
However, the outcome of the game was never in doubt. Fitzgerald made amends for his mistake, when his deft free kick from the right wing found Kushnir (I'll get used to it) at the near post, and the Rocket's glancing header made it 3-1 Pioneers.
Kushnir should have got his hat-trick when the wandering Viking keeper got stranded, but his attempt at the open goal from 30 yards missed the target by a wide margin.
Another flawless performance (well, almost) from the cohesive defensive corps, it was a workmanlike performance from the Pioneers, who continue to roll along like a well-oiled machine.
Man of the match: Evgeni Kushnir
Next Week: Local derby versus Caribe.
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- 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
