Below Par Pioneers Conquer Vikings

Richmond Pioneers 4 Surrey Vikings 2. Despite a distinctly below par performance, the Pioneers prevailed against a stubborn Surrey Vikings team, winning 4-2 to extend their unbeaten streak to eight games.

The Pioneers took an early lead, when Ken Johnston held the ball up well before finding Graham Mason making a running through the still sleeping Viking backline. Mason beat the goalkeeper to the ball for an easy tap in.

Although Surrey Vikings came back and scored an equalizer at the 10 minute mark, the Pioneers would reclaim the lead with an impressive Stanley Chan header from a Ken Kan corner kick. It was Chan's first goal of the season.

Both teams were creating chances, although the Pioneers were struggling to get into their usual groove. However, they did extend their lead 25 minutes into the first half when a Jim Fitzgerald pass set up Mason to score his second of the game on a fine individual effort.

In the second half, the Pioneers performance was decidedly languid, although they still managed to create a couple of quality chances, with Ben Fung blasting a shot high and wide, and Mason was denied a hat trick following a diving save from the Vikings keeper.

The Vikings would pull the score back to 3-2 when they capitalized on some generous Pioneer defending. There were a few anxious moments for the Pioneers before a late goal sealed the victory for the home team, , with Johnston scoring his 25th of the season, redirecting a Fitzgerald header off a Kan corner kick.

Next game. The last game of the season is at home against Trafalgar. Can Mike Mogul break out of his 20 year goalscoring slump? The pressure is mounting....

- 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.