Another poor showing........
It was a dismal day which brought another dismal performance from the Classics. It started off okay in the third minute as Gordie Macklin put Pat Rohla away but the home keeper was quickly out to smother the attempt. Three minute later Macklin was the provider again after a great run, he crossed the ball from the right on to Daryl Lawrie's boot. With the keeper nowhere to be seen, Lawrie blasted well wide of the open net - to say it was on a plate would not be an exaggeration as it even came with the cutlery. It was a terrible miss which could come back to haunt the Classics! Lawrie later stated, "It happened so fast" but it was just a shame that he wasn't as fast as it happened. The visitors did take the lead after 12 minutes after a dazzling run from Macklin. Macklin showed so much close control he could play football in a mailbox and he finished off his half-field run with a delicate chip shot to the right of the keeper, who got a piece of it but not enough. The score remained at the half but from there it went drastically downhill.
In the second half, Aldergrove came out with all guns firing and had the ball in the net after three minutes but it was pulled back for offside. A 52nd. minute break down the right saw Aldergrove level the scores with a near post goal. Two minutes later it was 2-1 to the home side after a Gene Crowley slip let in an attacker who chipped Judd Boxtart, quite a feat! It was 3-1 in the 67th. minute after another right wing attack ended with the ball being blasted into the roof of the net. Macklin suffered the wrath of the referee and was yellow carded for showing his frustration. With three minutes remaining, the Classics won a corner from which David Breen scored his first goal from the club and, apparently, his first ever goal. It was well taken but too little too late. Aldergrove were full value for their win as they dominated most of the game. The Classics, once again, looked like they were playing on roller skates or wearing concrete boots. They didn't have the heart to get to the ball first so they came away with what they deserved - nothing!
The Classics have not lost three consecutive league matches since the 1998/99 season when defeats by the Richmond Islanders, BC Transit and Britannia did the damage. Fisher Crockett conceded a penalty in the first game, Larry Thorlakson conceded a penalty in the second game and Billy (the whiz) Smith was sin binned in the third match.
Final Score: Aldergrove 3 Classics 2 (0-1)
Stats
Yellow Card: Gordie Macklin
Crap Award: Gene Crowley then Chuck McGill fell on his own sword to claim it, Alan Massender (because he gave it to Pat Rohla), Daryl Lawrie deserved it but it eventually went home with Sherman Foster who will treasure it all summer.