Surrey United Weekly Round-Up
By Marion F Dent Press Correspondent
May 12th
Ladies Premier
Surrey United once again had three adult teams in the Provincial Cup Finals which this year were held at Burnaby Lake on Saturday May 12th and it was only fitting that the 2011 National Champions Ladies Premier team set the tone for the day for our Surrey United teams by registering a comfortable 3-0 win over Columbus to secure their ninth successive provincial cup title. Columbus attempted to gain the early momentum but found like others before them that United would be a tough team to overcome and United gradually imposed themselves on their opponents. Surrey opened the scoring in the 14th minute when midfielder Arianne Adams hit a low right foot shot from the top of the penalty area into the bottom corner of the net. Twelve minutes later Surrey increased their lead when the Katie Thorlakson timed her run to perfection to head home a perfectly measured Kate Qually free-kick. Five minutes later Thorlakson was hit the target once again scoring from close range with a low shot to capitalize on some fine set-up play involving Rachael Pelat and Nicole Stewart. With a comfortable 3-0 half-time lead, massive experience and an unbeaten streak running at 32 successive provincial cup games since their last defeat there was no conceivable way that Surrey would let this one slip away and in the second half United’s defensive coverage and ball possession ensured Columbus would not be staging any comeback. Columbus worked hard throughout, but in truth they didn’t register a serious shot on target in the game to trouble Surrey United goal-keeper Devon Wharf who had a quiet afternoon in recording the shut-out.
BC SOCCER PLAYER OF THE GAME KATIE THORLAKSON SURREY UNITED
Ladies Classics
The Surrey United Ladies Classics team playing in their first season with the club were, by contrast to the Ladies premier team playing in their first ever Classics Provincial Cup Final where they faced perennial finalists Victoria Gorge. However, United had former premier team captain Megan Blaker in their line-up and Blaker brought her considerable experience to bear scoring the first goal of the game for Surrey just forty seconds into the game. Sandi Sparkes added a second for Surrey in the first frame to give them a comfortable 2-0 half-time lead. Fifteen minutes into the second frame United conceded a goal to the visitors but any thoughts Gorge had off staging a comeback were quickly dispelled two minutes later when Renee Brown headed home United’s third from a corner-kick to restore the two goal advantage. Three minutes later Robin Scott’s twenty five yard free-kick blew past the defensive wall and into the bottom corner of the net with the Gorge goal-keeper unsighted by her own players on the play. Blaker, after a customary rest on the bench re-entered the game as a substitute to add two more goals to complete her-personal hat-trick. The last goal was something special as she volleyed home a cracker from twenty five yards. So the Ladies Classics made an impressive debut in the Provincial cup-finals winning their first by a comfortable 6-1 margin. So now it was up to the men to round out the perfect day for the club.
BC SOCCER PLAYER OF THE GAME MEGAN BLAKER SURREY UNITED
Mens Premier
The Mens Premier team was appearing in their fourth Provincial Cup final since 1998, hoping to address their one and three record and had the added spice of facing local opposition, Delta Hurricanes, whose roster featured no less than six former Surrey United players. United had plenty of experience in their line-up and this paid dividends for them in the 10th minute when former Whitecaps veteran Jeff Clarke reacted the quickest to follow up team mate Ryan Reynold’s shot that Delta keeper Drew Smiley did well to get a hand on but could not control the rebound which Clarke slammed into the net from close range. With United’s defence firmly in control Delta were unable to create many scoring chances whereas United may have had less possession but looked the more likely to score which they did in the 20th minute when another veteran, Steve McAuley rose magnificently to head home a Vince Stewart free-kick. In the second half, Delta not surprisingly took the game to Surrey but had no joy in the final third as they were thwarted time and again by some great defensive play particularly by McAuley and former Whitecap Steve Kindel. Surrey continued to look dangerous on the break and another fine run by Clarke and fine cross were wasted as the United forwards failed to meet the cross. However, in a very similar play at the 65th minute mark Clarke’s run and cross was this time met by midfielder Angus Burke who steered home the ball from close range to give United a 3-0 lead. Delta threw caution to the wind pushing men forward and Harpreet Khakh had a great shot brilliantly tipped over the cross-bar by United goalkeeper Paul Shepherd and Delta reduced the deficit from the result corner-kick when veteran substitute Steve Millar out-jumped everyone to nod home from close range. Surrey should have restored their three goal margin when substitute Shawn Parkes was upended in the penalty area but United veteran Jeff Clarke hit the cross-bar with the spot shot. With five minutes of the game remaining Delta added a second goal to set the stage for a nerve racking finale but United defended superbly and Delta were unable to generate any further scoring efforts enabling Surrey to register the 3-2 victory and complete an absolutely glorious landmark day for Surrey United Soccer Club.
BC SOCCER PLAYER OF THE GAME STEVE McAULEY SURREY UNITED
A big thank you to all the many youth players and their parents who turned up in their red jerseys to support our senior teams.
