Powell River United over-35 football club travelled to Victoria Saturday, March 9, to play in the Tony Grover Cup semifinals against Westcastle. The team was looking to advance to the finals and earn a berth in the BC provincial playoffs.
The game started with both teams having fairly equal possession and playing tight defence. About 15 minutes into the first half United almost opened the scoring when striker Lee Illing found himself with a good opportunity on goal and put it just high past the post. The scoring was opened by the home squad when an errant pass across the back line by United was picked off by a Westcastle striker and put into the back of the net behind goalie Rick Bombardir. United trailed 1-0.
Westcastle kept on pressing and had some good chances on net but all were turned away by Bombardir who made some key saves keeping it 1-0. United settled back down and started to take over the possession of the ball. After giving Westcastle’s defence some trouble, Brent Garraway was taken down on the edge of the 18-yard box resulting in a penalty shot. Garraway stepped up and calmly slotted the ball past the diving keeper to make it even at 1-1.
United was able to keep up the pressure and shortly after Garraway was again awarded a penalty shot after he was taken down by another Westcastle defenceman. Once again Garraway took it upon himself to beat the keeper giving United a 2-1 lead. Both teams battled hard with big tackles and strong defence until the half with United maintaining the one-goal advantage.
The second half started much the same with both teams getting chances on net and both keepers making saves to keep their respective teams in the game. Westcastle was able to tie the game at 2-2 when a striker got in behind the United defence and broke in on Bombardir, putting the ball into the back of the net. Again United pushed back and was rewarded when Darren Mousseau crossed a nice ball to Aaron Cramb who buried it past the keeper giving United the lead again at 3-2.
Continuing with the back and forth theme of this game, Westcastle tied it up when a cross into the United box turned into a scramble. When it was all settled the ball was in the back of the United net. United stayed composed and kept on pressing. Late in the half defender Derek Veenhof sent a perfectly placed cross onto the head of Mousseau who made no mistake in making the mesh ripple. United was up 4-3 with very little time left.
Both teams played hard-fought soccer until the final whistle blew giving the visiting United players the win and a spot in the Tony Grover finals as well as a berth in the BC provincial playoffs. United has a week off to rest up and nurse some injuries before heading back to Victoria on Saturday, March 23, to play against the Castaway Juniors who play in the Vancouver Island Soccer League Masters A division. The game will kick off at 12:30 pm at Royal Athletic Park.
