[JAGS]

PAU 3 - Peg 2 with the winner coming in the 119th minute ........... where does one start on a game report??? I had thought 5BigToes might have had a report that I could reply to, but nothing yet. Hopefully we will have one from him.

A number of comments have been made about the officiating at our match (and the Norvan v. Malone's match) and they are all correct. How does BC Soccer assign three incompetent officials to a couple of Provincial games? I can safely say that none of the three officials were qualified to ref an U10 game.

We had a very good lineup to start the match and had a solid bench on the day. A good crowd started to gather for our match and it made for the makings of a good day of football. Both teams were a little tentative early on having never played against each other before. On balance, PAU had the better of the play early on, but we picked up our game and started to knock the ball around, which would prove to be our best strategy. PAU played a lot of long balls and we chose to keep things short and look to the corners. We opened the scoring with a great ball from Kenny Harris out on the left flank to Dennis Accili at the far right post. He skyed over the defender for a great goal. 1 - 0 Peg. The momentum had clearly shifted and we were pressing, then against the run of the play, a ball was knocked towards our 18 and our keeper yelled for it, but our defender headed it back towards him. Our keeper tripped on the transition from the goalmouth turf to the grass and it trickled into the corner. 1-1. We still kept pressing and about 10 to 15 later a ball was knocked from the PAU backline to a midfielder that made a very good run. I was side by side with him ......... he pulling my shirt and me returning the favor. I though of pulling off my patented scissor slide tackle, but knew a card (probably red) would be gifted to me. I had hoped that our battle might cause the PAU player to lose control of the ball, but as he toe poked it forward, our on rushing goalie could not reach it and it again slid into the corner netting. 2-1 PAU.

In the second half I felt that we dominated and it showed within 15 minutes of the break. Jua chased a ball down and the big defender (most people who saw the game are saying, Jags, which one do you mean) ...... I mean the really big defender, took the ball off him and slotted it home. 2-2. We had a number of other quality chances, but no such luck to take the game. It was with about 10 minutes left ....... after losing Fin to a pulled quad, Jua with a rolled ankle, but still playing with Rude with a hamstring issue and Dixon to a variety of injuries and Hillbilly with a busted hand from it being stomped on .............that Denis (now playing up front) chased the ball down shoulder to shoulder with the defender and pulled off a great slide tackle ........ all ball ......... pulled it into the 18 yard box and scored. The linesman (wearing some North Star black runners and shorts from American Eagle) hesitantly raised his flag and called a foul. The ref probably would have let play go on, but there is this idiot waving his flag, so I guess he felt obligated to blow the play dead. I think even the PAU players felt it was very questionable, but what were they to do. They too were the victim of a number of calls or non-calls that were more than questionable ...... but none the severity of this goof. Anyway, off it was to Golden Goal. Couple chances each way in OT, but everyone was getting tired and seemed to be focused on PK's. In the 119th minute, another questionable call on Rude about 35 yards out. PAU player took the freekick and it was knocked twice in the box to an unmarked player, who finished nice. 3-2 win for PAU = season over for PEG.

PAU were a good side and a bunch of good guys. They appreciated the effort of both teams and a pint or two were shared after the game. Class act on comments and condolensces from the PAU group towards a tragedy that struck one of our players wives mid last week, when she passed away very very unexpectedly. Our whole teams thoughts are with Big Parkie during this very very difficult time.

Season over and now onto golf and some casual soccer in the summer. Good thing about golf is that I don't have to rely on idiots like the officiating to ruin a good game ........ I am quite good at ruining the game myself.

Best of luck to PAU and Norvan on the next round.

I have many many more comments on the officiating, but they are a waste of time and good to see that a number of unbiased people on this thread agree with the tragedy of the officiating on this day.

JAGS