Ferry schedules caused a great deal of disruption for Powell River Villa and now the team is paying the price with a couple of very busy weekends.
Last week players travelled to Salt Spring Island, where they lost 2-1 on Saturday to Westcastle SSFC 3A, and then sprinted home to lose by the same score to number-one seed FC Sagres 3A.
Villa’s roster was stretched a bit thin with the pair of games and just 11 players made the quick trip to Salt Spring.
They got off to a good start when 20 minutes in Braxton Leask passed the ball to Billy Bagiopoulos who in turn got it over to Jake Kenmuir.
Kenmuir beat the only man between himself and the goal and then he tucked it in for the 1-0 lead.
Villa had a few more chances to add to it but lacked the finish and settled for the one goal lead at the half.
Westcastle got the equalizer 15 minutes into the second half and the score remained tied 1-1 until the 70-minute mark.
At that time Leask was hauled down in the box but, in very sloppy conditions, Jordan Peter’s penalty shot went wide of the right post.
Villa’s missed opportunity became Westcastle’s chance to win the game and it did that with a shot out of Matt Liknes’s reach with 10 minutes remaining.
Villa made every effort to get it back but tired legs and the mucky pitch took its toll on the young side and it lost 2-1.
Sunday at Timberlane Park, Villa added a few more players to the roster to take on the division leader, Sagres FC.
An early giveaway on the back line almost cost the game but the Sagres’ striker drove it over keeper Ross Fitzgibbon and off the crossbar.
Villa had its chances too, the first on a Bagiopoulos corner. The ball went to Kenmuir who fired a shot at the keeper. The keeper batted it out to Rob Devlin who in turn headed it back, but the keeper saved it from going in the goal. It served for wild action in front of Sagres’ goal.
When the ball went the other way, Villa committed a foul in its box that drew a penalty shot.
Sagres’ Vladimir Music stepped up to the ball and the league’s top scorer fired it into the low left corner at 23 minutes.
Just a few minutes later Sagres had a free kick from the 25 and from the left wing Music, with his second of the game, had just enough room on the short side to score the second goal.
Villa was pretty frustrated for the most part in the second half but with 15 minutes remaining Leask beat his man and scored to make it 2-1.
“I don’t usually do runs and dekes like that,” he said, smiling, “but I only had one guy to beat and although I’m not comfortable with my left foot it was a nice shot, I guess.”
It was actually a great shot but unfortunately it was the only goal Villa could get in a disappointing but gutsy effort.
“They are the league champions,” said coach Chris McDonough. “They’ve only lost twice this year—once to us down there and the other to Hellas.”
Next weekend will be the last in a long schedule so in addition to a pair of games Villa will also finish with a big fundraiser.
At 6 pm on Saturday, March 22, Villa is putting on a reunion with a burger and beer fundraiser at Carlson Community Club.
Everyone is welcome to join players, fans and alumni after the game, which starts 1:30 pm on Saturday, against the Lakehill Danger Police 3A, at Timberlane.
The second match of the weekend doubleheader is against SFFC Active Earth Engineering 3A at 1:30 pm on Sunday, March 23, at Timberlane.
