Despite an undefeated season, United have been somewhat less than spectacular in their BCSPL season displaying an ability to dominate games but lacking the pace and style expected of the talented squad. This contest against the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency squad was going to be a real test of what the Surrey United group is capable of. The Whitecaps are loaded with British Columbia's top talent and this would be their first contest against a same-age BCSPL team.
The game had a fantastic pace right from the openening whistle and Surrey United settled into the game immediately and were able to press the Whitecaps back into their own end for much of the first ten minutes. Scoring chances were hard to come by but United were able play their possession game at a much higher pace than they had shown in previous matches and were very sound defensively. Near the 20 minute mark the Whitecaps cut in off the left flank near the top of the box and let fly a good shot that deflected off a centreback's leg enough to elude the keeper and put them up 1-0.
The Surrey boys showed resilience and pushed back but had trouble finding a way through to create better scoring opportunities. United's defending from the front caused the Whitecaps trouble all game long and it was one of these occasions that United picked off a poor pass and put the scoring chance off the crossbar keeping the score 1-0 at half. Going into the break United were confident from not only competing with the Whitecaps squad but at times looking like the more dominant side.
The second half saw the Whitecaps continue their high quality play and they began to interchange some quick passes that was causing confusion amongst the Surrey United defenders. United were able to hold them off for some time but eventually the Whitecaps stretched their lead on a good shot in the aftermath of a corner kick to go up 2-0. Before full time United gave up a couple more to go down 4-0. In a hole, the Surrey boys showed some pride and some fight and battled to final whistle. Their effort resulted in several scoring chances in the final ten minutes but they were left with nothing to show for it on the scoreboard.
Even in the loss, Surrey United proved themselves to be very competitive and the game, purely as a spectacle, was entertaining, high paced and overall a pleasure to watch for fans and coaches.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
All Possession, No Finish
The inaugrual derby between Surrey franchises South Fraser FC and Surrey United couldn't have asked for a better matchup with both U-15 squads going into the match undeafted. United were a bit overconfident after thumping South Fraser 6-0 in the pre-season but since then have had trouble asserting themselves on the scoreboard.
From the outset United displayed their typical confidence in possession but had much more difficulty breaking down South Fraser; crosses were getting into the area but were being turned away with ease. It wasn't until South Fraser got penalized for a pass-back that United were able to find a way through. The home side jumped on a rebound off the initial kick and the ensuing cross was headed home for the 1-0 lead.
Leading into, and coming out of, the halftime break, South Fraser seemed content to allow United to hold possession and wait for the counter-attack. Unfortunately, it was United that were able to find a way through first when a striker swiveled at the top of the box tucked a well located shot through a crowd to the bottom corner. In the dying minutes United got called for their own pass-back, offering a sliver of hope to South Fraser. The strike on goal demanded a spectacular save from the United keeper who was rewarded with a well earned shutout in the 2-0 win.
From the outset United displayed their typical confidence in possession but had much more difficulty breaking down South Fraser; crosses were getting into the area but were being turned away with ease. It wasn't until South Fraser got penalized for a pass-back that United were able to find a way through. The home side jumped on a rebound off the initial kick and the ensuing cross was headed home for the 1-0 lead.
Leading into, and coming out of, the halftime break, South Fraser seemed content to allow United to hold possession and wait for the counter-attack. Unfortunately, it was United that were able to find a way through first when a striker swiveled at the top of the box tucked a well located shot through a crowd to the bottom corner. In the dying minutes United got called for their own pass-back, offering a sliver of hope to South Fraser. The strike on goal demanded a spectacular save from the United keeper who was rewarded with a well earned shutout in the 2-0 win.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Waves Crash on United Breakwater
Surrey United have been steadily improving and were hoping to really assert themselves against a Vancouver Island squad that was worn down from a heavy schedule that has a included a trip to Nationals in the past two weeks while a well rested United squad has played once in the last three weeks. Surrey was also getting bodies back in the line-up with players returning from injuries.
As in previous weeks, Surrey was very confident and dominant in possession of the ball but unlike previous weeks United was able to turn the possession into excellent scoring chances. Vancouver Island struggled to defend quickly enough as Surrey penetrated in behind their back line repeatedly and were getting into dangerous areas. Inevitably, United found a way to convert some of the chances putting up three and save for some good stops by the Waves keeper, it could have been several more. Before the half, Van Island cut the lead on a good strike from distance that found the top corner.
Surrey adjusted tactics and began working on some alternate formation play in the second frame and as expected saw some mixed play. The Waves did manage to create some dangerous chances as United tried to adjust however, Surrey were able to get their fullbacks forward into the open wings and stretch out the Island defensively. Surrey drew a number of corners and were able dribble at the Waves back line from centrally which ultimately created United's fourth marker of the day. It was a combination of dribbling and passing combinations that got a United midfielder one-on-one with the keeper only to be hauled down earning a well deserved penalty kick. Unfortunately for the Island defender, he was, rather harshly, shown a straight red for the offense. For the fifth straight game United has earned a PK (all of them warranted) and have finished the opportunity. In this day's contest it restored the three goal lead and capped off a good 4-1 win.
United again saw improvement from previous weeks and the on-field performance reflected the player's strong training ethic. The Surrey boys now have another bye week before the inaugural BC Soccer Premier League local derby between Surrey franchises, Surrey United and South Fraser.
As in previous weeks, Surrey was very confident and dominant in possession of the ball but unlike previous weeks United was able to turn the possession into excellent scoring chances. Vancouver Island struggled to defend quickly enough as Surrey penetrated in behind their back line repeatedly and were getting into dangerous areas. Inevitably, United found a way to convert some of the chances putting up three and save for some good stops by the Waves keeper, it could have been several more. Before the half, Van Island cut the lead on a good strike from distance that found the top corner.
Surrey adjusted tactics and began working on some alternate formation play in the second frame and as expected saw some mixed play. The Waves did manage to create some dangerous chances as United tried to adjust however, Surrey were able to get their fullbacks forward into the open wings and stretch out the Island defensively. Surrey drew a number of corners and were able dribble at the Waves back line from centrally which ultimately created United's fourth marker of the day. It was a combination of dribbling and passing combinations that got a United midfielder one-on-one with the keeper only to be hauled down earning a well deserved penalty kick. Unfortunately for the Island defender, he was, rather harshly, shown a straight red for the offense. For the fifth straight game United has earned a PK (all of them warranted) and have finished the opportunity. In this day's contest it restored the three goal lead and capped off a good 4-1 win.
United again saw improvement from previous weeks and the on-field performance reflected the player's strong training ethic. The Surrey boys now have another bye week before the inaugural BC Soccer Premier League local derby between Surrey franchises, Surrey United and South Fraser.
Good Performance = Good Result
United was looking forward to this contest against long time rivals Coquitlam Metro Ford Euro. Although this years version of Euro, much like United, is very different with few familiar faces given the heavy turnover on both team's rosters. Nonetheless both squads were undefeated going into the contest and were looking to end their opposition's streak.
Surrey United got off to a very rocky start nearly kicking the ball in their own net after some decidedly casual play; once they had settled in, they looked far more composed than previous weeks and had little trouble maintaining possession. With United's renewed spirit in defending, CMF struggled to build forward as the Surrey boys were organized behind the ball and very difficult to play through. Surrey opened the scoring on an excellent ball into the box that was easily nodded home to go up 1-0. Despite several more chances and very few against, the score remain 1-0 at the break.
In the second frame the home side continued to press forward and on a nice build up, Surrey sprung their winger free one-on-one with Euro's keeper. With a chip Tiger Woods would be proud of, United's winger used a gorgeously deft touch to lift the ball up and over the goalie and tucked it neatly under the bar to go up 2-0. The game was sealed later when, for their fourth game in a row, United drew a no-doubt foul in the box and converted the PK to make it 3-0.
Surrey United is starting to look far more comfortable with each other and are beginning to work well together. Next week United take on the Vancouver Island Wave.
Surrey United got off to a very rocky start nearly kicking the ball in their own net after some decidedly casual play; once they had settled in, they looked far more composed than previous weeks and had little trouble maintaining possession. With United's renewed spirit in defending, CMF struggled to build forward as the Surrey boys were organized behind the ball and very difficult to play through. Surrey opened the scoring on an excellent ball into the box that was easily nodded home to go up 1-0. Despite several more chances and very few against, the score remain 1-0 at the break.
In the second frame the home side continued to press forward and on a nice build up, Surrey sprung their winger free one-on-one with Euro's keeper. With a chip Tiger Woods would be proud of, United's winger used a gorgeously deft touch to lift the ball up and over the goalie and tucked it neatly under the bar to go up 2-0. The game was sealed later when, for their fourth game in a row, United drew a no-doubt foul in the box and converted the PK to make it 3-0.
Surrey United is starting to look far more comfortable with each other and are beginning to work well together. Next week United take on the Vancouver Island Wave.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Out-of-Sync Atop the Table
Going into week three United were tied at the top of the standings, still undefeated but not performing anywhere near peak form. Surrey United were hoping to take some big steps forward in their home opener against the Thompson Okanagan and assert themselves as the league frontrunner.
From the opening whistle TOFC struggled to gain possession from United as the Surrey boys comfortably knocked the ball around. Although there was a real pedestrian pace to their play the home side did create scoring chances and, like last week, scored early. Unfortunately for Surrey United, like last week, they also failed to finish a number of chances that could have demoralized the visitors and put a stranglehold on the final result. Before the half United tallied again to go up 2-0 but shortly after surrendered back-to-back fouls that gave TOFC their only real shots on goal in the game. The first free kick from 20 yards was struck well and saved well but the ensuing scrambled on the rebound saw the second foul, this time in the box and Thompson Okanagan finished their PK to cut the lead in half. 2-1 at half time.
The second half saw United continue to dominate possession but continued to be somewhat uninspired when they did go forward. Thompson Okanagan were put under enough pressure that they were forced into a foul in the box on one Surrey chances and they scored the PK to go up 3-1. Through the remainder of the game TOFC slowly tired and Surrey managed possession quite well to run out the clock against fading Okanagan boys. Final score 3-1.
Although the Surrey boys still looked rather ordinary, it was an improved performance over the previous week and they now have nearly two weeks to prepared for their next contest against Coquitlam Metro Ford.
From the opening whistle TOFC struggled to gain possession from United as the Surrey boys comfortably knocked the ball around. Although there was a real pedestrian pace to their play the home side did create scoring chances and, like last week, scored early. Unfortunately for Surrey United, like last week, they also failed to finish a number of chances that could have demoralized the visitors and put a stranglehold on the final result. Before the half United tallied again to go up 2-0 but shortly after surrendered back-to-back fouls that gave TOFC their only real shots on goal in the game. The first free kick from 20 yards was struck well and saved well but the ensuing scrambled on the rebound saw the second foul, this time in the box and Thompson Okanagan finished their PK to cut the lead in half. 2-1 at half time.
The second half saw United continue to dominate possession but continued to be somewhat uninspired when they did go forward. Thompson Okanagan were put under enough pressure that they were forced into a foul in the box on one Surrey chances and they scored the PK to go up 3-1. Through the remainder of the game TOFC slowly tired and Surrey managed possession quite well to run out the clock against fading Okanagan boys. Final score 3-1.
Although the Surrey boys still looked rather ordinary, it was an improved performance over the previous week and they now have nearly two weeks to prepared for their next contest against Coquitlam Metro Ford.
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