The September rain means the end of summer, and time for the salmon to swim back up their streams and soccer players to get back out on the pitch.
Up on the Coast, Half-moon Bay beat Pender 3-0 at Lions Park, though the Bananas had their chances, with two missed penalties and Rich Massullo hammering the crossbar.
Halfmoon Bay's George Cuthbertson owned every ball that came through his goal box with a combination of subtlety and aggression that looked like a fusion of Bruce Lee and the dance of the sugarplum fairies, stonewalling the perplexed Bananas. Taki Smith with a pair and veteran Dean Schutz scored the goals.
In Sechelt, CPU edged Chiefs 1-0 in a defensive showcase that displayed the best backline pairings the league has to offer.
Chiefs' Tom Bidding ran down every ball in range with Keith Johnson then punting it up field, while CPUs Martin Blackwell dished outside the balls that Romaine Jenner took down. Chiefs had their chances as John 'Walk Tall' Jackson got over everyone in the box to head a corner into the crossbar, but the game's solo strike came from Sebastian Rodriquez.
CPU also thanks Bruce Randall Contracting for its offer of a modest sponsorship, though declined the proposed name change to Bruce Randall's Power Rangers.
The 2013 campaign began for Ridgepoint not with a whimper but a bang, as they put five past Sitas United FCs "noble nine."
As the squad struggled to get players on the pitch, Sitas' grizzled defenders John Sheehy and Bob Stevens were called on to pull out the full 90 minutes, and midfielder Matt Pense was recruited to stand between the pipes and performed valiantly, score notwithstanding.
Ridgepoint exploited the two empty spots in Sitas' defensive end as newly-signed superstars Marcel Vandersteldt and Sean Whalen also scored, causing speculation as to what promises were made in the off-season by Ridgepoint manager Grant Marshall. Singles came from Mike Husband, Eoin Ross and Josh 'K-Nocz' Knox.
Yet for Sitas, these few players 300-esque effort will inspire the many who weren't there. Sheehy's wheezing, Penses' mud-caked jersey, Dino Sitas' bloodied knees were testimony to the diminished squad's mighty effort, which will be recounted across cyberspace in text and email, and at the next contest, it will be with the full team fielded against the foe, huddled and hollering.
No reports were received this week from the women's league, but we hope to see some next week.
