Pioneers Edge Past Olympics in 'Local' Derby

Richmond Olympics 0 Richmond Pioneers 1

Last October, Richmond Olympics became the only team ever to beat the Richmond Pioneers on home soil (that's one loss in what is now three seasons of Over 50 soccer). With the scheduling and weather gods conspiring to deny the Pioneers a rematch until this past weekend, the Pioneers finally avenged that singular blemish by defeating the Olympics 1-0 in a keenly contested game at Hamilton Field.

The term 'local derby' is quite literal when these two teams meet, as both sides frequent the same 'local' — the Pioneer Pub — to replenish themselves following their respective Sunday morning battles.

The inclement weather in recent weeks seriously threatened the fixture yet again, as the Olympics regular home field was closed. But the Pioneers were not to be denied their chance to regain pub bragging rights, and some creative action by Ken Johnston (all Richmond-based soccer players are urged to vote for him on November 19) saw the game moved to Hamilton with a 12 noon kick-off time.

The often-maligned Hamilton Field was actually in great shape. Even Mike (I'll retire before I play there again!) Mogul was heard gushing "I love Hamilton!" after the game. Of course, compared to McMath School, it was like playing at Wembley. Mind you, an Iraqi minefield looks more playable than McMath these days.

To counter the small size of the field, and the absence of the Russian Rocket—Evgeni Kushnir—the Pioneers adopted a 4-3-3 formation, and it took a while to adapt, giving Richmond Olympics the edge in the early going. The Olympics failed to capitalize on a couple of early chances, and the Pioneers gradually started to tighten up at the back and control the midfield and create chances of their own.

The game had the intensity befitting a local derby, yet was played in a terrific sporting manner, as every crunching tackle was followed by a sincere apology. In fact, there was probably more hugging in this game than watching 90 minutes of Oprah!

Despite the Pioneers having a few good opportuntities to score, the first half ended deadlocked at 0-0.

Early in the second half the Pioneers got the breakthrough that—on the balance of play—they deserved. Graham Mason picked off an errant pass from an Olympic defender and burst through on goal, before laying the ball off to Ken Johnston. Johnston put the ball back in the path of Mason, who spun around to lay it off to a surging Stan Bogdanovich, whose low drive beat the keeper to give the Pioneers a precious 1-0 lead.

As the Olympics adopted a more attacking formation in search of the tying goal, the Pioneers were getting many counterattack opportunites, going close on a number of occasions but unable to get that all important second goal. The best chance fell to new signing (?) Jusuf Skrijelj, who, with only the keeper to beat, unwisely tried to pass it off to a teammate.

The single goal margin instilled belief in the Olympics that they could tie it up, and they were unlucky not to get a penalty kick when the ball hit the hand of the Pioneers' Dennis Luk. They pushed forward with serious menace as the game entered the final phase, but were unable to break down a solid Pioneer back four, and the Pioneers hung on for the 1-0 victory.

Next week: No game. We have a BYE. Next game is November 27, an away game against Brittania, at Newton Athletic Park.

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