by Glen Gibbs Peak Sports Powell River Villa dropped its second decision in a row to open the schedule this year with a 3-1 loss to Saltspring FC2 on Saturday, September 17, and finds itself in a big hole early in the season.
It’s not quite as serious as the eight-game winless streak last year, but certainly a reminder for the team to stop the bleeding quickly.
Unfortunately, when Villa opens the first aid kit it won’t find a two-time division most valuable player, Kye Taylor, in it.
Taylor found out prior to the game on Saturday, that due to his ejection from the game against Gordon Head Blazers last week, he would be on the outside of the pitch looking in for two games.
His absence on the pitch was very noticeable against Saltspring as Villa struggled to find consistency in its effort and attack.
The first 10 minutes of the game were even with both sides having a few chances early but neither capitalizing.
Jamie Zroback almost put in the first goal on a free kick at the 15-minute mark that had the keeper beaten, but the shot was blocked and cleared off the foot of a defender.
At the other end, Douglas Rivera made a couple of big saves for Villa, but was caught off guard when a Saltspring striker launched a perfectly placed ball, from 25 yards against the play, into the top far corner.
Strangely, the goal at 25 minutes seemed to deflate Villa for a while but they rallied toward the half by pressuring the Saltspring goal.
On one of the drives a perfectly delivered cross caught the goal-hungry eye of Brandon Knox who launched himself at the ball.
Unfortunately, his head collided directly with the head of the keeper and Saltspring’s Miguel Alvarado lay on the turf for several minutes.
“All I remember is I was going for the ball and I felt somebody hitting me,” Alvarado said, “and then everything went stiff and I can’t really remember anything after that.”
When asked if he was concerned about being concussed he said, “yes, but look how many players we have and we don’t have another goalie.”
On the other side of that ball, Knox, who sported a large welt on his forehead, said, “Mikey [Hurren] sent a cross right on the six-yard box so I was clear for it. He came in and I came in and I don’t know what hit but we both bled.”
The physicality at the end of the first half set the tone for the second as the two teams battled back and forth.
Reese Unger was none too happy about a call on him at the four-minute mark which resulted in a penalty kick that put Saltspring up 2-0.
“We kicked foot on foot,” said Unger after the game, “but the referee didn’t tell me what the foul was.”
At the other end, Dylan McLean was the recipient of a couple of hard tackles and finally got the call that gave Villa its first goal.
Jordan Peters faked left and drifted in a nifty drive to the right of the helpless keeper at 73 minutes.
With the score 2-1, Villa tried to run down the Saltspring side but once again one of Saltspring’s big three strikers muscled his way in for a great shot that iced the game 3-1 with just 10 minutes to go.
“We definitely outworked them in the first half,” said a somber Unger, “but in the second we didn’t. It is hard trying to compete with a big team like Saltspring. They are not that fast but they can hold you off really well.”
Despite the loss, Taylor is optimistic that the young team will pull together.
“At least we’re scoring some goals this year and getting better each week,” he said. “We just have to put it all together in one game.”
Villa will have to do that without him when the team travels to Victoria on Sunday, September 25, to take on Gorge United FC2.
