In the space of two weeks the U18 Thunderbirds have found themselves bounced out of the League Cup and dropped out of top spot in the very tight Gold 1 division.
Off to a strong start to the season, the T-Birds’ only previous loss came while playing short-handed back in mid September. Since then they have been regularly scoring three, four and five goals a game, incredibly with almost every player in on the scoring.
That form came to a sudden halt two weeks ago in East Van with a hard-fought Cup semi-final loss to KLM Santos, last year’s run-away champs.
Then last Saturday in another early trip to East Van, on a bitterly cold and rainy plastic pitch, the T-Birds lost 1-0 against VAFC Rangers. Despite heavily out-chancing the home side, the Coast boys just couldn’t find the back of the net, getting shut out for only the second time this season and twice in eight days.
The Thunderbirds now find themselves in third place on goal difference in an incredibly tight top flight U18 division with an unprecedented six teams within one win out of top spot. Next up, a home field rematch with Santos this Saturday, 11:30 at Kinnikinnick.
– Submitted by Dean Schutz
