Powell River Villa FC would have liked to have won its way to a league championship but with the cancellation of its game against Lakehill Danger Police it will have to settle for the points and a cash settlement.
Vancouver Island Soccer League (VISL) fined Lakehill $1,000 for forfeiting its game on Sunday and awarded three points to Villa for the match.
It is embarrassing for the league and disappointing for Villa players who apologized to fans who showed up at the pitch saying the announcement came too late for them to get it out there.
“They just couldn’t field a team to come up here,” explained coach Chris McDonough, “and I got the call on Thursday that they weren’t going to make it.”
The points earned by the no-show give Villa a lock on first place and most likely promotion to Division Two next year with just a single game left on the schedule.
Villa’s remaining date is with Penelakut United 3B, a last-place team with a first-place fan base that will visit Cranberry Field at 1:30 pm on Sunday, March 22.
Villa would have to lose the game by something like 18 goals to allow Fernwood Town FC to catch up for the one and only promotion placing.
With the championship comes a spot in Provincial Cup play and there will be a live draw from the Sandman Hotel in Langley which will be broadcast live at Carlson Community Club at 7 pm on Monday, March 30.
“We’re going to put it on the big screen there,” announced McDonough, “and make a night of it. It’s available for anyone who wants to see it live, maybe make a donation to help us with travel expenses and get everyone geared up for a cup run. It’s a random draw and it’s quite a big event where they do all the cups at once. It’s only Lower Mainland and the island with four representatives from the VISL and we have no idea until then who or where we will play. It should be pretty exciting to watch.”
