BC Transit left at the bus stop........as Classics hit top gear
With an undefeated winter season behind them it was a case of can they keep up the good work in the summer? The task couldn’t have been harder with the first fixture being an away trip to BC Transit, a team who had been undefeated for over 60 games.

Under the new management of Hans Erker (or is it a case of Moore Hans make team work), the Classics had a good turnout with five substitutes. Bruce Cook was also returning to his roots and was given a starting place in the front line, obviously looking to regain his old record as the teams leading all time goal scorer. Chuck McGill was given a role in midfield alongside Tony Short who is still making steady progress on his road to recovery after a knee operation which has restricted his appearances.

The game started as an evenly matched affair with the first real chance falling to Bill McAuley after ten minutes. McAuley unleashed a rocket of a shot which rebounded off the corner of the goals and was unceremoniously cleared away. The first half was always going to be a midfield struggle with neither team prepared to give away any mistakes which could turn out to be costly. Dave Moore was floored in a cynical challenge from a Transit player, called Dennis, when he was sent sprawling after an elbow into the rib cage. After a few minutes to regain his breath he played on but the teams left the field at half time goalless with honours even.

The second half exploded ten minutes in after Tom Lowe send a pass from the left into the path of Billy Ranger, who unleashed an unstoppable volley which gave Harry, the Transit keeper, no chance. It went in at the speed of light and, on a dark night, that’s pretty fast. It was soon to be 0-2 after Chris Arcari headed in after a goalmouth scramble. The third goal for the Classics, and the turning point, was another Arcari effort. It came after relentless pressure in the Transit half of the field. Cook sent a decisive pass through which Arcari blasted past the hapless keeper and the Transit heads visibly started to drop.

Transit pulled out all the stops for the remainder of the game in an attempt to regain some pride but the Classics were in no mood to relinquish the lead they had worked so hard for. Chances were few and far between and Transit were limited to long range efforts which Gary Hackel handled without much effort. Gordie Robertson, ex-Classics player, took a wild swing from the back at Arcari after he thought he was fouled, but it was a case of mistaken identity as Doug Smith was the perpetrator. Arcari (pictured) laughed off the incident and it all ended amicably. Ten minutes from time the game was finished as a contest when Arcari completed his hat-trick. It was almost a carbon copy of his second goal. Again Cook was the provider, and man of the match Arcari made no mistake and ended any lingering hopes of a fightback.

It was a great team performance from the Classics and a 0-4 away victory at Transit was as unexpected as Chuck McGill buying a round! All credit to BC Transit who never gave up and kept plugging away. Transit have been a bogey side for the Classics over the years and although many games have been drawn, the last victory over Transit was the 5-1 hammering way back in the summer season of 1997 at Walnut Grove, when an Alfie Deglan hat-trick and goals from Ranger and Doug Roselund took the points. This win was long overdue.

Stats:

Hans Erker's first game as coach
MWG: B. Ranger
Hat Trick: C. Arcari
"You Were Crap" award: B. Cook