Villa Soccer Club lost its first preseason game 3-2 to Comox United in a match held Saturday, August 10, at Timberlane Park.
“It went okay, it was the first game of the season,” said Villa coach Chris McDonough. “It was an exhibition game so a lot of it was getting the guys back together and playing again. We were trying people in new positions and things like that.”
While the team gave up three goals, Villa managed to score a couple, which was a positive component of the game.
“There was good and bad; we played well at times and at other times we looked a little rusty,” added McDonough. “It was reflected in the score. It was probably a fair result.”
In the competition, scorers for Villa were Richard Murphy and Nick Van’t Schip. Villa went down 2-0 in the first half and got one back, then Comox scored to make it 3-1 and Villa scored its second goal of the second half.
McDonough said Villa was up against a good side with Comox United. At the end of the season last year the visitors had some pretty good results and were close to staying in Vancouver Island Soccer League’s first division, he added.
“They gave us a good game and we struggled at times,” said McDonough. “In the second half we definitely played better. We’ve got a bit of work to do, I guess.”
On the positive side, McDonough said Villa created a lot of chances in the game.
“We had four or five solid chances that we didn’t quite finish,” he added. “We got to look at a lot of different players in different roles, and that’s always positive.
Caleb Vallance played his last game with Villa before heading off to the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy for the coming season. McDonough said Vallance had quite a good game against Comox.
On the need to improve side, McDonough said Villa probably came into the game against its Vancouver Island opponents a little too relaxed, especially in the first 20 minutes.
“We didn’t have that intensity we need, but we picked it back up in the second half,” said McDonough. “I guess that’s what the preseason is for.”
Villa will be facing Comox United again this weekend in a mini-tournament over in Comox. There will also be a team from Campbell River competing, so Villa will have some more preseason game experience in the near future.
“We can get the guys a little more game time before the season starts and work through some of the kinks,” said McDonough.
A little different lineup will be on the pitch this week. A few players who weren’t available for the match against Comox are expected to play in the tournament.
“It will be a good test,” said McDonough. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Villa's VISL Division 1 regular season schedule gets underway in September.
