Fort breached........
The fifth minute brought the first goal after a precise through ball from Warren Crowley let roamer Gordie Macklin in one-on-one to finish decisively with a powerful shot to the right of the keeper. Two minutes later it was the turn of Pat Rohla to do the feeding. He put Jimmy Butler through but his shot went across the face of the goal for a dead ball. In the 10th minute a left wing roam from Macklin resulted in a cross ball to the head of Butler but, again, his effort was just wide of the left upright. Macklin took his turn as provider on the quarter hour when he released Butler who finished well to the right of the keeper, despite looking in distress with a recurring leg injury. Brian Griffiths, having an astounding game, unleashed a long range missile in the 17th minute but he had to be content with watching it sail just over the bar.
Jody Nelson was released in the 23rd minute but he tamely hit his shot towards the keeper. Sherman Foster was looking for an assist minutes later but Daryl Lawrie headed his cross wide of the mark when he needed more conviction on his contact with the ball. Pat O'Krane was back to his usual self when his effort on the half hour mark was blasted well over the bar from a good scoring opportunity. With just over five minutes of the half remaining, W. Crowley went on a good run before releasing the ball to O'Krane. He, in turn, fed Rohla who grazed the top of the bar. Rohla made amends minutes later with a great free kick which fell to W. Crowley who cleverly laid the ball back to Lawrie who hammered the ball home for a 3-0 half time lead.
Five minutes into the new half, the visiting keeper did a bad kick out which brought a goalmouth melee. It was ended by Macklin who, with an impish flick, chipped the ball home for a convincing 4-0 lead. It was 5-0 with 27 minutes remaining. A left wing inswinging corner from Macklin was met by the head of Lorenzo Arcari who rose to flick the ball over the keeper although he did admit later that it went in off his nose! United mounted a rare attack minutes later and Jason Clegg and Larry Thorlakson both went for the ball and it was Thorlakson who headed to safety. The ball was cleared downfield and Macklin found himself in a race with the keeper for the ball. Mentally he wanted his hat-trick but financially he didn't so he placed the ball just to the side of the keeper which made an easy save. A good run followed by Macklin in the 65th minute and his right wing attack was crossed to Lawrie who tried to hit it. His sliced effort fell nicely for Foster who hit the ball over the crossbar.
Another attack ensued from the visitors who were taking more control of the match but their break-away attempt on goal was straight at Clegg. Clegg had to show his acrobatic abilities with 15 minutes remaining as he dived to his right to thwart a good goalworthy effort. Minutes later the opposing keeper had to show his mettle to deal with a great strike from outside the box by Nelson, which brought an equally good save as he tipped the ball over the bar for a corner. More pressure came from United as the time was running down. Thorlakson saved another effort while Chris Arcari stayed resolute at the centre of defence, constantly feeding the ball out to his array of constantly changing full backs to release the ball to safety. Clegg continued to play his part with more fine saves but was helpless to stop a great shot with gave United a deserved consolation goal. O'Krane got the assist for their goal. W. Crowley put Nelson away but his shot was too weak. He will be attending shooting practice school during the week.
Macklin provided the after match laugh of the day. For the write-up he stated, "Sherman called his goal from the corner. He said, 'Put it right on the keeper in the six-yard box and I'm putting it away!'" However, Lorenzo was listening to the conversation and he said, "Hey, I got that goal." Gordie called at Debbie Mozelle's in Langley on the way home to make an appointment.
Stats
MWG: Jimmy Butler
Crap Award: Pat O'Krane (by request)