Powell River Villa extended its undefeated streak to seven games on the weekend with a convincing 2-0 shutout of Cowichan United FC2.
During this 13-point run Villa has averaged more than two goals a game, outscored the opposition 15-10 and moved from the cellar to sixth in division two of the Vancouver Island Soccer League standings.
On Saturday, Villa got a lift with the addition of Scott Hobson, Reid Philip and Brandon Knox, who was serving a two-game suspension, to the roster.
Their presence and the Villa regulars went right to work against a bigger but slower Cowichan side.
Possession and control led to a free kick for Villa just inside of centre where Hobson sent a long ball toward Cowichan’s goal.
Knox jumped up to get his head on the ball and direct it to Dylan McLean who put Villa’s first goal inside the left post.
The 1-0 tally was scored at 22 minutes and held up until the half-time break at which point Villa’s coaches stressed the importance of a few things.
“We wanted to make sure we didn’t give them any set pieces,” said Kye Taylor, “because they’re a big team and anything close in they just wanted to put in the box. That’s their style, to make trouble playing an ugly, scrappy game just like they did in Powell River earlier this year.”
Taylor said Cowichan’s plan was for “long throw-ins and slowing the game down...but we wanted the opposite and for us to possess the ball so we could dictate the pace of play.”
Cowichan came out with much more pressure in the second half and started to get some chances to even the score but Villa held strong and pushed back.
On one of Cowichan’s rushes Villa was awarded a free kick and the shot taken by Hobson from off to the sideline bent in
toward the Cowichan box.
This time Knox took it on his foot and directed the ball cleanly into the net with 20 minutes to go in the game.
From there Villa defended beautifully to preserve the 2-0 shutout for Matt Liknes and the three points elevated their status to where division leaders have to be looking over their shoulders.
Villa is finding that, due to the difference in pitch size, playing on the road allows players to use their speed more.
“Our smaller home pitch doesn’t do us too many favours,” said Taylor referring to, “our ability to pass the ball, ability to possess and use of space and speed.”
Villa has tried to make the less expensive Brooks Turf field work but Saturday night games haven’t drawn large crowds and the small gate has hurt them financially.
“Getting on the grass would be a benefit for the rest of the league play and Jackson Cup,” he explained, but it is very expensive to pay the field user fees for four or five games.
“If we could have a large field, say Sunset or something like that, with the home field environment it would probably be the best of both worlds.”
In the meantime Villa continues to find ways to pick up points and its next opponent is Gorge United FC2 at 5:15 pm on Saturday, February 11 at Brooks.
