There wasn’t a group more excited to see the re-opening of Timberlane Park field than Powell River Villa FC2 of Vancouver Island Soccer League.
However, after its 4-3 loss to Gordon Head Blazers on Sunday, December 2, there was more criticism of the city than there was of the game.
The reason for anger was the closure of Timberlane due to unplayable conditions.
“They protected it for two years,” said captain Kye Taylor, “while we were out of our home pitch and suffering without revenue, having to bounce around and carrying our stuff everywhere. As far as I know it’s designed to deal with the weather and we need our money from our concession, our gate and at our clubhouse later to survive. We are going to lose $500 today and we’re not a team that can afford that.”
When asked about the present conditions at Timberlane, Taylor said, “It’s perfect, 100 per cent. It’s wet but there are no puddles and no standing water anywhere.”
The change of venue to Brooks Turf field meant the game was delayed by an hour to 2:30 pm, revenue from admission was reduced and concession sales were cut to zero.
Bill Reid, the city’s director of parks, recreation and culture, said parks staff are the experts on determining field conditions and whether they are playable or not playable, not the users. “We’re the ones who have to maintain it. We’re doing our jobs the way we were trained to do. We know how to keep the field in play.”
The goal is to ensure it remains in play for the entire season, Reid added. “Yes, it’s a sand-based field and drains better than a soil-based field, but sand-based fields don’t stand up to the wear and tear the same as soil-based fields. It’s still a young field. It’s only had two years to establish, which isn’t a long time in the life of a field.”
A field report is done every Thursday During the winter, there is a possibility of frost and there are times when games will have to be cancelled, Reid said. He also pointed out there is a month-long closure period between December 15 to January 15 to give all the fields a rest. “It’s the time of the year when grass doesn’t grow and the closures gives the fields an opportunity to recover.”
Meanwhile on the pitch, Villa ran into trouble early.
Gordon Head came out with its guns blazing and promptly surprised Villa with a couple of quick goals.
In just the third minute Villa was scrambling deep in its zone and a shot from 12 yards out was deflected and caught keeper Matt Liknes going the wrong way.
Ten minutes later a ball was misplayed on the back line and immediately scooped up by the Blazers. A hard shot from close range quickly made it 2-0.
Villa wasn’t about to be steamrolled and got its first goal at the 15-minute mark. Ben Elliot had an opening and launched a perfect shot from 25 yards into the top corner.
Blazers had a chance to restore its two-goal lead when a long ball was headed in the box but Liknes played it perfectly and made the save.
He was called upon again when a Blazers’ striker fought off two tackles and eventually was brought down in the box.
On the ensuing penalty shot Liknes dove to his right but the shot was perfectly placed to the left and the Blazers were up 3-1 after 25 minutes.
A driving pass was, however, converted when Sean Jenkins flicked the ball beyond reach of the keeper to end the half 3-2.
The second half started in similar fashion to the first when a Blazers’ player beat Liknes to a long ball and chipped it by him.
The score of 4-2 looked like it was going to stand until a Villa cross was tossed around in the box and squirted out to Jake Kenmuir standing at the side of the net. Kenmuir capitalized on the chance to make it 4-3.
Villa pulled out all the stops in an effort to gain a tie but in the end the Blazers withstood the pressure and handed the team its fifth loss of the year.
Villa won’t have to worry about field conditions next week as it will be on the road Saturday, December 8, to play Victoria’s Vic West Wolves.
