United Undefeated in Phase Two

Surrey United have continued their good form in recent weeks of the EA Sports BC Premier League.   After traveling to Kamloops and putting up six goals from five different goal-scorers in a 6-0 win, the Surrey boys hosted their first home date of phase two against the Magnuson Ford Mariners.  United were again strong and picked up three points in a 1-0 win; still not allowing a goal against after three games.

This past weekend, Surrey United hosted cross-town rivals, South Fraser FC.  The two sides had met a week earlier in exhibition play with United taking a 1-0 result, but South Fraser looked to be a much improved squad from phase one of league play.  The majority of the first half was somewhat inconsequential with neither team presenting any kind of real scoring threat.  The official did foreshadow some things to come as United was shown a yellow for a rather innocuous offense.  In the latter part of the first frame, Kerman Pannu displayed some excellent dribbling to find some space and caught a convenient deflection on his shot that handcuffed the South Fraser keeper to take a 1-0 lead into the half.

The second half would have a significantly different flair than the first and United looked much more threatening from the start.  It was South Fraser however that would give the game a real injection of life when Braden Owen got sent in clear on a breakaway and a quick decision by the United centre-back Liam Morrison had disastrous  results.  A slightly mistimed tackle took out Owen in the box for a penalty kick and straight red for Morrison, unlucky but unavoidable.  A man down, the home side responded beautifully and created a number of chances before catching South Fraser napping on a corner.  Luke Warkentin was allowed a free cross from inside the eighteen that was headed home emphatically by Will Grayson, his third tally of the season, to take the lead.  Shortly after, South Fraser midfielder Alexei Basziw was shown a very harsh yellow for a handball in the box, his second of the game, which led to a red and sending off.  Brendan Shaw converted the PK for a 3-1 lead.  Back on even terms, ten men apiece, United looked to be in firm control until Bradley Heffey was shown his second yellow of the game, again another apparently harsh decision and was sent off.  Down to nine, South Fraser unlocked United's back line and Michael Caldwell got on the end of a good cross to bring the visitors back within one but that would be a far as they would get in a 3-2 final.

United showed some resolve in earning 3 points and will be tested next week when they play Fusion FC in the first half of a double header on Saturday and Mountain United on Sunday (game times posted at right).  With a pair of wins, United can lock up the league with one game remaining.