Last updated Oct 25, 2005
Pioneers Break the Peace Arch Jinx
Richmond Pioneers 4 Peace Arch 1
The first real home game of the season saw the Richmond Pioneers face Peace Arch, a team that seemed to have a hex on the Pioneers last season. But this season is a new season, and the Pioneers finally rose above the .500 mark with an emphatic 4-1 victory.
The biggest surprise when arriving at McMath—apart from the shock of seeing Ken Swanston there 15 minutes before kickoff—was the sorry state of the playing surface. Usually in decent condition at this time of year, the field is a complete embarrassment, not to mention hazardous.
The Pioneers enjoyed most of the early possession and took an early lead when a Graham Mason pass put Dennis Luk through on goal. His shot squirmed under the Peace Arch keeper, for his third of the season.
The Pioneers were creating lots of chances, and the returning John Tsang had two wonderful opportunities to increase the lead. Looking a little rusty, he tumbled over a sand dune after Evgeni Kushnir had done all the hard work to set him up, and minutes later a Mason pass put him through one-on-one with the keeper, only to slice his shot wide.
In the Pioneer goal, Gary Byrne was rarely troubled, yet the Pioneers only had a slender 1-0 lead to show at the half.
At the 55 minute mark, a Luk pass sent Kushnir through on goal, and the 'rocket' powered his way through to put the ball past the keeper and give the Pioneers a deserved 2-0 lead.
Almost inevitably—when you consider the referee was the same ref who unforgettably awarded five penalty kicks in the Pioneers/Regals game last year—the Pioneers earned a penalty kick when Kushnir was brought down by a Peace Arch defender. Kushnir converted the kick himself, and the Pioneers had a comfortable 3-0 cushion.
Peace Arch had a couple of dangerous breaks with the Pioneer defence looking tentative at times, but the Pioneers extended their lead when a wonderful Ken Swanston pass sent Ken Johnston through on goal, and the Pioneer sniper broke out of his personal slump with a well taken finish.
The Pioneers could have scored a couple more, with Denis Harvington hitting the bar, and John Murphy comically trying—and ultimately failing—to dig the ball out of the sand with the goal beckoning.
Peace Arch got a late consolation goal when a shot from an acute angle surprised Dave Valitis in the Pioneer goal.
Next week: Away to BC Transit, at South Surrey Athletic Park
Pioneers 2005 Penticton Champions!
On the heels of the recent victory at the Juan de Fuca Tournament, the Richmond Pioneers enjoyed a fabulous weekend in Penticton, winning all four games and taking the number one spot in the Over 50 Division at the 2005 Penticton Soccer Tournament. continued
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- Based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, the Pioneers play in the Over 50 Division of the BCOTS (BC Old Timers Soccer League). The league has over 40 teams from all over the Lower Mainland region
