Powell River Villa’s winning streak was broken but it remains undefeated with a 1-1 result against Alberni Athletics on Sunday, October 19.
This was the match fans were waiting for as the two highest scoring clubs in Vancouver Island Soccer League’s division 3B met for the first of two meetings this year.
Just 11 Athletics made the trip but it appeared that the side was a good one and included the league’s top two scorers.
Villa, on the other hand, was missing two important pieces, defender Dean Thorsell and captain Kye Taylor, for the second straight game.
“It started out with the head and that seems to be on the mend,” reported Taylor, “but I’ve got a knee issue that seems to be ongoing. We’ve got this game, then Penelakut and a bye, so hopefully back after that.”
Happily, Villa’s depth this year is such that Taylor doesn’t have to hurry his return.
“It’s not as much of a concern as before,” he explained, “because we’ve got guys who can step in and fill the shoes.”
In the game, both sides looked a little tentative early as they went through the “feeling out” process.
Athletics fielded a young side with speed that presented a different challenge for Villa who, this year so far, has had success running by or through its opponent.
Each team had a couple of shots on goal in the first 20 minutes but gradually Villa started to get stronger.
Jake Kenmuir had a couple of chances from long range and Brody Harry was his usual aggressive self but the first goal came on an innocent looking play.
At 32 minutes Bo Kwan crossed the ball from deep in the corner and Billy Bagiopoulos got the deflection that bounced in off the far post.
Up 1-0 Villa kept the pressure on and a high corner kick by Bagiopoulos was bobbled by the keeper.
Harry was right there for the rebound but in a flurry of action his shot was turned away by the keeper. Kenmuir started to give chase and in the process took a shove in the back which was somehow missed by the official.
Nonetheless, Villa players took the 1-0 lead into the second half with a warning from coaches not to let a fluke or missed call cost them.
They started play aggressively and created a lot of chances but couldn’t manage to get the elusive insurance goal.
That proved costly when into injury time on a corner, the ball went in and then out to centre but back into the box.
Waiting there was Andre Andrews, the league’s leading scorer, who brought it down and tucked it into the corner for the 1-1 final.
Although the tie was somewhat of a letdown after holding the lead for so long, Villa’s coach saluted the visitors.
“They were a team that could hold the ball,” complimented coach Chris McDonough. “They would have it for a while and we would struggle to get it back. These guys came ready to play and they are a decent squad.”
Reality has begun to set in. “It’s a little bit of a wake-up call for us,” admitted McDonough, “that the rest of the league isn’t going to be a cakewalk for us. It’s not that we played bad today, it’s just that we weren’t our best. But, you’re going to have off games and today was one of them.”
Villa has a long travel day coming up with a visit to play Penelakut United at 1 pm on Saturday, October 25.
