November 2, 2003 Rare Lorne Baumel Goal Propels Pioneers to Victory
On a beautiful November morning, the Richmond Pioneers travelled to Kitsilano and had to rely on a fine second half performance to overcome an improved Trafalgar team 5-1.
It took a while for the Pioneers to adapt to the narrow field at McBride Park, and in the early stages play was relatively even, with neither team creating any clear cut chances. As the half went on the Pioneers gradually took control, and Stan Bogdanovich should have scored when the Trafalgar keeper was caught way out of his goal. The game remained 0-0 at the half time break.
The second half saw space open up, and the Pioneers' edge in fitness and class would ultimately tell. The breakthrough goal came from an unlikely source, as Lorne Baumel latched onto a loose ball in the Trafalgar penalty area, following a Denis Harvington corner.
Shortly afterwards, Ken Johnston set up Harvington, who placed his 10 yard shot nicely inside the far post for a 2-0 lead.
Trafalgar were handed a lifeline when a long range shot was misjudged by Pioneers keeper Dave Valitas, and suddenly the Pioneers had a tenuous lead. The anxiety was eventually eased when Eugene Kishmere went around the Trafalgar keeper and scored from a difficult angle, to give the Pioneers a 3-1 lead.
Late in the game, goals from Ken Johnston and John Tsang sealed what was a wonderful second half performance from the Pioneers.
Mogul's Man of the Match: Ken Johnston, with sweeper Ken Kan and Lorne Baumel as the second and third stars.
Next week: The Pioneers face Trafalgar again, this time at home. The Pioneers have not lost an Over 50 league game since January 12th, a run of 14 games, and have never lost a game at McMath.
On a lighter note: Remember the Iraqi Information Minister, Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, affectionately called Comical Ali? He was famous for his outrageous 'spin' on the war, saying things like "Their infidels are committing suicide by the hundreds on the gates of Baghdad."
Well, apparently he has resurfaced and is now writing match reports for the Surrey Classics! (Click here for indisputable proof)
Apparently last Sunday's encounter was 'an evenly balanced game'....and 'the Classics were pushing the Pioneers and creating good chances.'
Click to read the Surrey Classics match report...it's a very imaginative work of fiction :-)
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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
