Pioneers Crush Park Royal Physio

Park Royal Physio 0 Richmond Pioneers 9. After two consecutive low scoring games, the Pioneers went to North Vancouver in an uncompromising mood, hammering nine unanswered goals past Park Royal Physio.

The Pioneers took an early lead when Ken Johnston converted a Ken Kan cross. Soon afterwards, John Tsang set up Stan Bogdanovich, who struck the ball sweetly from 18 yards. Chances were plentiful for the Pioneers, and a third goal from Herb Lanz would complete the first half scoring.

The second half saw the Pioneers in complete control of the game. Sweeper David Chan, converted to a striker in the second half, added the fourth goal and the rout was on. The fifth came when Jim Fitzgerald intercepted a Park Royal clearance, and from a distance of 30 yards, struck a powerful shot that was destined for the roof of the net.

A flurry of goals would follow, with Ben Fung, a second from Bogdanovich, John Tsang and Ken Kan all getting into the scoring action. The only challenges left were to preserve the shutout for stand-in keeper Lorne Baumel, and—by far the tougher challenge of the two—setting up a goal for Mike Mogul, whose goalscoring slump is rumoured to go back 20 years!

Baumel, who was a spectator in the first half, was called upon to make a couple of saves late in the game to earn his shutout.

But despite some valiant attempts to tee up Mogul, the goalscoring drought continues.

Next game. Four of the last five games are at 'the fortress', with Poco Blues the visitors on the 16th.

- Based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, the Pioneers play in the Over 50 Division of the BCOTS (BC Old Timers Soccer league). The division has 40 teams from all over the Lower Mainland region.