March 7, 2004 Pioneers Crash to Defeat
Surrey Classics 5 Richmond Pioneers 1
The Richmond Pioneers lost for the first time this season—and had their unbeaten streak halted at 28 games—after suffering a resounding 5-1 loss to the Surrey Classics.
Before the game even started, the Pioneers knew they were in trouble, as they barely managed to field 11 guys. The midfield in particular was decimated, as three out of four of the Pioneers starting midfleld were absent either through injury or badly timed holidays.
Due to the inclement weather, the game was switched to the new artificial field at Newton Athletic Park, the first time the Pioneers have ever played on such a surface, and it showed, especially on the first goal.
Not for the first time this season, the Pioneers gave up an early soft goal, a weakly hit shot that still managed to elude Pioneer keeper Dave Valitis. Soon afterwards, a refereeing call that should have been the other way resulted in a Surrey free kick 25 yards out. Although not struck particularly well, it was enough to put Surrey 2 up, and in control of the game.
A third goal came following a corner kick, with the Pioneers marking dreadful. And if things couldn't get any worse, they did, and Surrey added a fourth goal before the half time break.
The Pioneers pulled a goal back in the second half when Eugene Kishmere powered through to score, and the game may have become interesting if Graham Mason had taken his time and not gone for the low percentage first time volley, after finding himself with space on the edge of the box.
However, chances were few and far between for the Pioneers, and Surrey eventually re-established their four goal cushion. Once again it was from a set play, a corner kick that followed a foul on Bob Heron that the referee chose to ignore.
All excuses aside, the Pioneers were missing too many key players to seriously compete with a well-balanced Surrey Classics team that showed plenty of hustle, and far more desire than the Pioneers.
Click here to read the Surrey Classics match report.
Man of the Match: Second half goalie Gary Byrne.
Next Week: Trafalgar again, at McMath. Click here to visit their website.
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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
