'Stale' Pioneers Defeat Stubborn Cosmos

Richmond Cosmos 2 Richmond Pioneers 3

Sunday Dec 12, 2004 - In the final game before the Christmas break, the Richmond Pioneers eeked out a 3-2 victory over a stubborn Richmond Cosmos team to take a 12 game unbeaten streak (including the Penticton tournament) into the holidays.

With inclement weather causing the closure of the Cosmos' regular home field, the game was played at Hamilton School at 12 noon, a time when the Pioneers are usually enjoying their first post game pint in the Pioneer Pub.

Clearly disoriented from the odd starting time, the Pioneers conceded the first goal early in the game as the Cosmos scored on a free kick from the edge of the area. The Pioneers soon tied the game up, an own goal conceded by a Cosmos defender while being pressured by Eugene Kishmere.

The Pioneers were creating a lot of chances but were facing a very good goalkeeper who was singlehandedly keeping the Cosmos in the game. After an impressive save from the Cosmos keeper, blocking a long range shot, Ken Johnston was on hand to scoop the loose ball over the line to give the Pioneers a deserved 2-1 lead.

The Cosmos were always dangerous on the counterattacks and Gary Byrne in the Pioneer nets was called upon to make a good save (or so he kept telling everyone - your intrepid reporter must have been tying his shoelaces at the time). The Pioneers had many chances to increase their lead. However, the combination of great goaltending and a referee whose ineptitude increased as the game went on—ignoring one play where the ball had clearly crossed the Cosmos goal line—the score remained 2-1 at the half.

Early in the second half, the Pioneers took a two goal lead following some great hustling from Peter Voetmann that created a turnover, with Ken Johnston converting the opportunity for his second of the game.

To their credit, the Cosmos refused to capitulate, and closed the gap to 3-2 when the Pioneers were guilty of some slack marking in their penalty area.

The Pioneers continued to pound away at the Cosmos goal, but their goalie was giving nothing away. The referee would increasingly infuriate the Pioneers with his erratic calls, gifting the Cosmos another free kick opportunity on the edge of the area, while missing a blatant intentional hand ball in the Cosmos penalty area. The Cosmos had a late chance to tie it up following a giveway from, well, let's not mention any names, eh? (I could've mentioned Jim Fitzgerald's name for conceding the free kick for the first goal, but I didn't, did I).

Although another win for the Pioneers, this was a decidedly underpar performance. Post game analysis seemed to lay the blame for the lacklustre performance on Denis Harvington for bringing day old donuts instead of fresh ones to the Arsenal vs Chelsea game, viewed just a few hours before the Pioneers game kicked off. And with an abundance of "hardworking" Air Canada and Telus employees on the roster, this team know their donuts!

Man of the match: Ken Johnston.

Exhibition games over the holidays:
December 19 vs. TBA
January 2 vs. Point Grey

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