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Premier [VMSL Premier] Predictions, Results & Banter 2019/2020

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KS9

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CCB played great with 10 players and was 1-0 until half time. Actually I would say they were 9 and half players because one of the defender looked injured to me
 

FC Red Star

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Paid Players 7-0 Not Paid Players
Premier league should have 10 teams (one relegated to Division 1; one promoted from Division 1 to Premier). Total of 18 games for each team.

Down the road, maybe, reduce Premier to 8 teams (teams playing 3 games against each other; total 21 games)
 

Leblue

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CCB 1-1 MetroFord
Croatia 2-2 Burnaby Selects
Rovers 2-1 Pegasus
Rino's 5-2 NorVan
Guilford 2-3 Columbus
WestVan 2-1 Inter EDC
 

Canucks4Ever

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One final week before the teams get a few weeks of to rest and evaluate where they stand in this season's marathon. The title race looks like it will go all the way to the wire sometime in March and the top six may take close to just as long to sort out. Suddenly it also looks as though we might have a relegation battle as well, however, that one could be snuffed out relatively quickly. Overall, there should be plenty of teams with wishes for Santa to deliver over the break...

Completely Baseless Predictions - Week 15

Rovers Hurricanes v SFC Pegasus
A Surrey derby to round out the year between these rivals and of the plethora of Surrey derbies that we seem to be survived up just based on the number of teams from the Province's fastest growing municipality, this one is usually the spiciest. Peg were the establishment, the old guard so to speak, out south of the river and once they sent Surrey United packing back off to the FVSL they looked to rule the roost once more. However, along came Rovers four seasons ago, spawned out of the various Sapperton, Langley, Delta, Hurricanes, Pacific, CCB on again off again relationships and this team, with their gaudy orange kits, were good. The new kids on the block even gave Coquitlam, who were in their hey day at the time, a run for their money at the top of the table before finishing third, two points ahead of Pegasus, the reigning Provincial Champions and beating them twice, including a 5-0 thumping. The next year Rovers would romp to the title, though the did not beat Peg along the way, losing 2-1 and drawing 0-0. However, that 0-0 was enough to clinch the title and Peg had to watch on as Ruben presented the VMSL trophy to their new rivals. The teams would meet again in the Provincial Cup quarters, amid all the ITC controversy, with Rovers winning on route the claiming the Provincial title and then the National title, becoming the first BC team to claim the crown since Peg back in 2004. Last season neither team was at their best, particularly Peg who missed the Provincials altogether, but that did not take the starch out of the rivalry with a 6-3 game ending early when Chetan "CJ" Jhooty refused to leave the field after being sent off. The return fixture was a straighforward 2-0 win for Rovers, but the teams met again in the Imperial Cup and Peg had three players, including CJ, sent off after 18 minutes. Two of those players were substitutes, so it was still 10 against 11 on the field and a last minute equalizer from Peg forced extra time where Rovers would win 2-1. This year the first meeting between the produced an entertaining 3-2 affair that saw Rovers come from behind twice to win. All the players on the two teams know each other well, many having played together over the years. It is sure to be a good one, especially with the two teams separated by just five points in the table. Rovers will be the favourites, but this is a classic derby where anything could happen!

CCB LFC v Coquitlam Metro Ford Wolves
Given the stakes this match has on the Provincial Cup race, this one is the MOTW. After winning the Provincial Cup and National Championship, it looks to be back to the same old same old for CCB. Reports suggest they turned up at home with only ten players to take on first place Croatia. They were duly beaten 4-0. This has been the story for CCB every year, save for this past season. Despite having an incredible amount of talent associated with the team, their "alleged" mercenaries quite often cannot be bothered to turn up. The official story is an abundance of ill timed hip flexor and other injuries, but all it seems rather hollow that a team with a roster of over 30 signed players cannot scrounge up even eleven guys to play on a weekend. Perhaps the in-fighting has started regarding who the best eleven players are and who should be starting week in and week out. It is well known that CCB do not practice and, while they deserve full credit for the titles they won last season, it seems this whole operation once more looks unsustainable. The loss to Croatia means that, even with their games in hand, CCB cannot climb into the top six, and the potential Provincial Cup berths that go with finishing that high up the table, on their own. They can regain that ability with a win this week over sixth place Coquitlam, but a loss would leave them with a mountain to climb in the New Year. At the other end of the pitch, after a slow start for the third season running, Metro Ford have once again got their house in order. Talisman Carlo Basso looks to be back to top form and the Tri Cities boys are unbeaten in six, with five wins. Fair to say they are rolling at the moment. CCB are not and, barring a miraculous recovery by their roster, it stands to reason they could be short bodies again for this one. Fingers crossed they can at least put eleven players on the field as it is embarrassing for the league as a product to have a team in its flagship division unable to field a full side. Coquitlam are definitely favourites here and could well leave CCB with the Imperial Cup as their best avenue for securing a chance to defend their titles.

Croatia v Burnaby Selects White Eagles
Things appear to have gone somewhat off the rails for White Eagles after a decent start. The former Serbians laid an egg against relegation threatened FASA two weeks ago and revived that team's survival hope. They followed that up by ostensibly not turning up at all to play Rino's as they were spanked 7-0 last Sunday. This has left the newly promoted side teetering on the edge of the relegation fight, which was not a position it looked like they would end up in a month ago when they were recording draws against the likes of West Van and Rovers. Certainly the Burnaby boys have proven so far this season that they can compete at this level, but they would be well advised to remember that the VMSL season is a grueling seven month grind that requires constant focus. Their opponents this week, Croatia, know that as they fought all the way to the end last season to become VMSL Champions. They are currently in a position to repeat that feat and will need a win over White Eagles in order to maintain their lead at the top with a pack of hungry challengers look to catch up to them. Croatia also demonstrated last week that they do not suffer fools as they put the sword to CCB who showed up with only ten players. This fixture really used to be a classic back in the Serbian White Eagles days, as matches against hated rivals Croatia brought crowds of hundreds out to the park. Police security was even required on occasion. The first meeting between these two teams resembled nothing of those great old battles and finished in a yawn inspiring scoreless draw. That is one of only four matches that Croatia have failed to win this season and once again points to the fact that Burnaby can clearly compete at this level. They will need to figure out just exactly where that form has gone to and how to get it back in a hurry or else their long awaited return to the top division may all of a sudden be over. Tough to see anything other than a Croatia win in this one at the moment though.

Rino's Tigers v NorVan
Another big scoreline for Rino's last time out, 7-0 over White Eagles, saw Golden Boot leader Farivar Torabi chalk up a hat trick to pad his stats. It also saw the return of Connor MacMillan to the Rino's lineup after he spent time abroad trying his hand at the professional circuit. Having MacMillan back among the ranks is a huge boost for a Tigers side that saw many of its veteran players leave the squad for various reason this past off season. Rumours are swirling that other top players with VMSL experience returning from abroad may soon be in their line up as well. It is all a boon for a Rino's team that looked to be needing that extra touch of class, beyond Torabi, if they were going to crack on and really make a run at the title. NorVan look as though they may well end up in a relegation battle, though it does seem one that they should be likely to win between themselves, FASA and White Eagles if it comes down to it. Not sure that this week will help in that respect, especially with leading scorer Yigal Bruk on the naughty list. Look for another straightforward win for Torabi and co.

Guildford FASA v Columbus
All of a sudden FASA are potentially just a win away from safety. After a string of seven straight losses where it looked as though they were resigned to their fate of being a Division 1 team next season. Now, the odds are that is still where they will end up, but with White Eagles and NorVan suddenly sputtering, maybe the door has just opened a crack for "Guildford". Four points from their last two matches has put them in a position to move level with White Eagles assuming they can beat last place Columbus and the former Serbians lose their match to first place Croatia. If neither team picks up another point the rest of the season, then they would get to playoff for a chance to stay in the division. After the stretch FASA have had since their shock Opening Day win over CCB, you the get the feeling that would bite your hand off if you offered them that chance. As for Columbus, just when it seemed like there might be some life in the Italians, discipline issues seem to have seen them come unraveled again. It all seems to have fallen apart late against Rovers over a penalty kick that was called against them. Whatever spirit they had been showing with a pair of solid draws and what was, by all accounts, a decent performance against Rovers up until the penalty incident, was nowhere to be seen last week. West Van pummeled them 6-1 and it might have been worse had West Van not been forced to play with ten men for the second half after an incident that granted Columbus their lone goal of that match. As it was, even with ten men West Van won the second half 1-0. This is truly "Last Chance Saloon" time for Columbus. Lose this match and they will have to make up at least ten points on not one, but two teams over their eight remaining matches in the New Year. While not mathematically impossible, its is beyond unlikely, especially for a team that will still have yet to win a match this season. Even if the Italians can beat FASA this week, their survival hopes are on life support at best. However, with matches against both NorVan and White Eagles still to come in the New Year, it might not be a totally lost cause. The first meeting between these sides provided FASA with their second ever VMSL win after Columbus, again, had a late discipline implosion. It has all gone wrong for the newly promoted side this season and there really is no reason to think that will change this weekend, especially with FASA coming into this one in good spirits.

West Van v Club Inter EDC Burnaby
Returning to the Provincial Cup via the league is starting to look like a tough ask for Chinter as they are now four points back of Coquitlam in six after picking up only two points from their last four games. Their 2-2 draw with Rovers last time out did more to benefit their opponents this week, West Van, than it did to help them in their pursuit of a Provincial Cup berth. West Van though were able to jump over Rover and into third place, three points behind Croatia in first. If EDC are going to climb back into the top half, they are going to need to pick up some surprise results and a win this weekend over the Amblesiders would fit that bill perfectly. Unfortunately for Inter, West Van broke out a run of three straight draws last week when they thumped Columbus 6-1 and are likely not in the mood to go back to surrendering points, especially at home. That run of draws threatened to suck the life out of their title challenge, but the former Trollers look to have righted the ship just in time. Assuming they can put together another winning run, the New Year should bring with it a chance for them to win their first title since 2015.
 

Ronaldo. 07

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One final week before the teams get a few weeks of to rest and evaluate where they stand in this season's marathon. The title race looks like it will go all the way to the wire sometime in March and the top six may take close to just as long to sort out. Suddenly it also looks as though we might have a relegation battle as well, however, that one could be snuffed out relatively quickly. Overall, there should be plenty of teams with wishes for Santa to deliver over the break...

Completely Baseless Predictions - Week 15

Rovers Hurricanes v SFC Pegasus
A Surrey derby to round out the year between these rivals and of the plethora of Surrey derbies that we seem to be survived up just based on the number of teams from the Province's fastest growing municipality, this one is usually the spiciest. Peg were the establishment, the old guard so to speak, out south of the river and once they sent Surrey United packing back off to the FVSL they looked to rule the roost once more. However, along came Rovers four seasons ago, spawned out of the various Sapperton, Langley, Delta, Hurricanes, Pacific, CCB on again off again relationships and this team, with their gaudy orange kits, were good. The new kids on the block even gave Coquitlam, who were in their hey day at the time, a run for their money at the top of the table before finishing third, two points ahead of Pegasus, the reigning Provincial Champions and beating them twice, including a 5-0 thumping. The next year Rovers would romp to the title, though the did not beat Peg along the way, losing 2-1 and drawing 0-0. However, that 0-0 was enough to clinch the title and Peg had to watch on as Ruben presented the VMSL trophy to their new rivals. The teams would meet again in the Provincial Cup quarters, amid all the ITC controversy, with Rovers winning on route the claiming the Provincial title and then the National title, becoming the first BC team to claim the crown since Peg back in 2004. Last season neither team was at their best, particularly Peg who missed the Provincials altogether, but that did not take the starch out of the rivalry with a 6-3 game ending early when Chetan "CJ" Jhooty refused to leave the field after being sent off. The return fixture was a straighforward 2-0 win for Rovers, but the teams met again in the Imperial Cup and Peg had three players, including CJ, sent off after 18 minutes. Two of those players were substitutes, so it was still 10 against 11 on the field and a last minute equalizer from Peg forced extra time where Rovers would win 2-1. This year the first meeting between the produced an entertaining 3-2 affair that saw Rovers come from behind twice to win. All the players on the two teams know each other well, many having played together over the years. It is sure to be a good one, especially with the two teams separated by just five points in the table. Rovers will be the favourites, but this is a classic derby where anything could happen!

CCB LFC v Coquitlam Metro Ford Wolves
Given the stakes this match has on the Provincial Cup race, this one is the MOTW. After winning the Provincial Cup and National Championship, it looks to be back to the same old same old for CCB. Reports suggest they turned up at home with only ten players to take on first place Croatia. They were duly beaten 4-0. This has been the story for CCB every year, save for this past season. Despite having an incredible amount of talent associated with the team, their "alleged" mercenaries quite often cannot be bothered to turn up. The official story is an abundance of ill timed hip flexor and other injuries, but all it seems rather hollow that a team with a roster of over 30 signed players cannot scrounge up even eleven guys to play on a weekend. Perhaps the in-fighting has started regarding who the best eleven players are and who should be starting week in and week out. It is well known that CCB do not practice and, while they deserve full credit for the titles they won last season, it seems this whole operation once more looks unsustainable. The loss to Croatia means that, even with their games in hand, CCB cannot climb into the top six, and the potential Provincial Cup berths that go with finishing that high up the table, on their own. They can regain that ability with a win this week over sixth place Coquitlam, but a loss would leave them with a mountain to climb in the New Year. At the other end of the pitch, after a slow start for the third season running, Metro Ford have once again got their house in order. Talisman Carlo Basso looks to be back to top form and the Tri Cities boys are unbeaten in six, with five wins. Fair to say they are rolling at the moment. CCB are not and, barring a miraculous recovery by their roster, it stands to reason they could be short bodies again for this one. Fingers crossed they can at least put eleven players on the field as it is embarrassing for the league as a product to have a team in its flagship division unable to field a full side. Coquitlam are definitely favourites here and could well leave CCB with the Imperial Cup as their best avenue for securing a chance to defend their titles.

Croatia v Burnaby Selects White Eagles
Things appear to have gone somewhat off the rails for White Eagles after a decent start. The former Serbians laid an egg against relegation threatened FASA two weeks ago and revived that team's survival hope. They followed that up by ostensibly not turning up at all to play Rino's as they were spanked 7-0 last Sunday. This has left the newly promoted side teetering on the edge of the relegation fight, which was not a position it looked like they would end up in a month ago when they were recording draws against the likes of West Van and Rovers. Certainly the Burnaby boys have proven so far this season that they can compete at this level, but they would be well advised to remember that the VMSL season is a grueling seven month grind that requires constant focus. Their opponents this week, Croatia, know that as they fought all the way to the end last season to become VMSL Champions. They are currently in a position to repeat that feat and will need a win over White Eagles in order to maintain their lead at the top with a pack of hungry challengers look to catch up to them. Croatia also demonstrated last week that they do not suffer fools as they put the sword to CCB who showed up with only ten players. This fixture really used to be a classic back in the Serbian White Eagles days, as matches against hated rivals Croatia brought crowds of hundreds out to the park. Police security was even required on occasion. The first meeting between these two teams resembled nothing of those great old battles and finished in a yawn inspiring scoreless draw. That is one of only four matches that Croatia have failed to win this season and once again points to the fact that Burnaby can clearly compete at this level. They will need to figure out just exactly where that form has gone to and how to get it back in a hurry or else their long awaited return to the top division may all of a sudden be over. Tough to see anything other than a Croatia win in this one at the moment though.

Rino's Tigers v NorVan
Another big scoreline for Rino's last time out, 7-0 over White Eagles, saw Golden Boot leader Farivar Torabi chalk up a hat trick to pad his stats. It also saw the return of Connor MacMillan to the Rino's lineup after he spent time abroad trying his hand at the professional circuit. Having MacMillan back among the ranks is a huge boost for a Tigers side that saw many of its veteran players leave the squad for various reason this past off season. Rumours are swirling that other top players with VMSL experience returning from abroad may soon be in their line up as well. It is all a boon for a Rino's team that looked to be needing that extra touch of class, beyond Torabi, if they were going to crack on and really make a run at the title. NorVan look as though they may well end up in a relegation battle, though it does seem one that they should be likely to win between themselves, FASA and White Eagles if it comes down to it. Not sure that this week will help in that respect, especially with leading scorer Yigal Bruk on the naughty list. Look for another straightforward win for Torabi and co.

Guildford FASA v Columbus
All of a sudden FASA are potentially just a win away from safety. After a string of seven straight losses where it looked as though they were resigned to their fate of being a Division 1 team next season. Now, the odds are that is still where they will end up, but with White Eagles and NorVan suddenly sputtering, maybe the door has just opened a crack for "Guildford". Four points from their last two matches has put them in a position to move level with White Eagles assuming they can beat last place Columbus and the former Serbians lose their match to first place Croatia. If neither team picks up another point the rest of the season, then they would get to playoff for a chance to stay in the division. After the stretch FASA have had since their shock Opening Day win over CCB, you the get the feeling that would bite your hand off if you offered them that chance. As for Columbus, just when it seemed like there might be some life in the Italians, discipline issues seem to have seen them come unraveled again. It all seems to have fallen apart late against Rovers over a penalty kick that was called against them. Whatever spirit they had been showing with a pair of solid draws and what was, by all accounts, a decent performance against Rovers up until the penalty incident, was nowhere to be seen last week. West Van pummeled them 6-1 and it might have been worse had West Van not been forced to play with ten men for the second half after an incident that granted Columbus their lone goal of that match. As it was, even with ten men West Van won the second half 1-0. This is truly "Last Chance Saloon" time for Columbus. Lose this match and they will have to make up at least ten points on not one, but two teams over their eight remaining matches in the New Year. While not mathematically impossible, its is beyond unlikely, especially for a team that will still have yet to win a match this season. Even if the Italians can beat FASA this week, their survival hopes are on life support at best. However, with matches against both NorVan and White Eagles still to come in the New Year, it might not be a totally lost cause. The first meeting between these sides provided FASA with their second ever VMSL win after Columbus, again, had a late discipline implosion. It has all gone wrong for the newly promoted side this season and there really is no reason to think that will change this weekend, especially with FASA coming into this one in good spirits.

West Van v Club Inter EDC Burnaby
Returning to the Provincial Cup via the league is starting to look like a tough ask for Chinter as they are now four points back of Coquitlam in six after picking up only two points from their last four games. Their 2-2 draw with Rovers last time out did more to benefit their opponents this week, West Van, than it did to help them in their pursuit of a Provincial Cup berth. West Van though were able to jump over Rover and into third place, three points behind Croatia in first. If EDC are going to climb back into the top half, they are going to need to pick up some surprise results and a win this weekend over the Amblesiders would fit that bill perfectly. Unfortunately for Inter, West Van broke out a run of three straight draws last week when they thumped Columbus 6-1 and are likely not in the mood to go back to surrendering points, especially at home. That run of draws threatened to suck the life out of their title challenge, but the former Trollers look to have righted the ship just in time. Assuming they can put together another winning run, the New Year should bring with it a chance for them to win their first title since 2015.
Ccb declining is not a surprise to me there's a lot of things that go on within the club that people here don't know. They are in a hard relegation battle and need to pick it up asap metro Ford should be able to win with ease.
 

Regs

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Weekend Results

Croats 5-2 White Eagles
Sapperton 5-1 Peg
CCB 2-2 MetroFord
Trollers 3-2 Chinter
Rinos 2-1 Norvan
Columbus 3-2 FASA

Going into the Xmas break, here's the table:

1576425200088.png

Top 4 looks set with 7 games remaining, can't see anyone below them at this point making a run to push one of them out.

Interesting to see that as a whole, teams are leaking at the back...
 

soccerstar

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Dealing with the likes of you for starters...
Running 2 premier teams from same club can be demanding both talents wise and club support. Although looking at CCB LFC roster the players are not from CCB club youth player pathway. The CCB Azad in FVsl are mostly from CCB youth club system.
 

Canucks4Ever

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After the holidays it is time for the stretch run. Good luck picking a winner from the current top four as it looks like that battle will go down to the wire. The biggest question is can CCB close the gap and get back into the Provincial Cup places? Or will they be forced to go all in on an Imperial Cup run to try and lock down the chance to defend their Provincial and National titles? We start finding out this week...

Completely Baseless Predictions - Week 16

Pegasus v West Van
One of a number of intriguing fixtures to welcome the VMSL's top flight into 2020, title challengers West Van will need to be up to full speed straight away for their trip to Surrey to face Peg. The Surrey side have played well so far this season and look to be set to stake a claim for a Provincial Cup spot. However, they limped into the break, well beaten by both Coquitlam and Rovers. That has left them on the verge of dropping out of fifth place for the first time this season. Coquitlam are breathing hard down their neck, only two points back in sixth, and with CCB representing a wild card, fifth is certainly the better place to be when it comes to trying to qualify for the big post-season tournament. The Horsemen have found it tough sledding against the top four so far this season, going 0-5 including a 5-1 hammering by Rovers to close out 2019. West Van need the points with Rino's and Croatia both facing bottom half teams. Round one between these teams gave us fairly little in terms of a contest with the North Shore boys cruising to a 5-0 win at Ambleside. Being in Surrey and being the first week back might make it a bit more of a toss up, but look for West Van to take the points here.

Club Inter EDC Burnaby v Guildford FASA
It is looking as though Chinter could be falling out of the race for a top half finish and a shot at the Provincial Cup based on their league placing. The took just two points from their final five matches to close out 2019. Inter sit five points behind Coquitlam who are sixth and, after this week's match against FASA, they play the top two in Rino's and Croatia, followed by what could be a make or break fixture for both teams against CCB. After that EDC might well be looking at trying to make a Hail Mary Imperial Cup run as a last chance to qualify for the big dance. For FASA their loss to last place Columbus was an absolute hammer blow to their survival bid. A win would have brought them level with White Eagles. Instead they stay three points back with seven matches remaining against all of the top seven teams. Making up ground against that caliber of opposition is not likely to be easy. FASA are going to have to try and stun someone in the top half if they are going to stay up and, based on their penchant for bleeding goals, that seems unlikely. The first meeting between these two teams gave Inter a chance to let off some offensive steam in a 7-2 thumping. Not sure it will be quite that one sided this time around, but there are likely good odds on another comfortable win for the "Italian"-Chileans.

Columbus v Rino's Tigers
Well they will not be going winless this season! That might be as good as it gets though for Columbus as the Italians look to be just about beyond saving. If they can manage to hang around, or even pick up another point somewhere along the way, then maybe their matches against White Eagles and NorVan at the end of the month might provide one final chance to stage an unlikely survival bid. If it comes off thenit would possibly leave then a shot of scooping some last minute points against Inter or CCB at the end of the season if those teams have nothing left to play for; it is certainly looking fairly bleak though. Discipline continues to haunt the Italians with a total of four players signed up for an extended winter break. A tough week then to see Rino's on the docket. The return of Connor MacMillan to add to the scoring threat of Golden Boot leader Farivar Torabi should add another element to Rino's attack as then look to push for the title. Not sure there is too much to analyze in this one though, as it could be a rather rough start to the New Year for lowly Columbus.

Coquitlam Metro Ford Wolves v Rovers Hurricanes
With the mid-table battle for Provincial Cup qualification heating up, this is the MOTW. Plus these two teams have never really cared for each other ever since Rovers broke into the league a couple of years back as the "next big thing" while Coquitlam were still the current big thing. Both sides have a central talisman in Metro Ford's Carlo Basso and Rovers Nick Soolsma and, over the years, this fixture has often been decided based on which of those two is able to have the bigger impact. After winning four straight, Coquitlam cooled off somewhat just before the holidays, registering a pair of draws to go with a win over their last three matches of the decade. Their unbeaten seven game run has put them comfortably into the top half of the table though, as they hold a five point cushion on Inter behind them and are looking up the table at fifth place Peg who sit just two points above them. The ten point gap between themselves and Rovers in fourth is likely too much to expect the Tri Cities boys to make up over the final stretch of the season, however, of the current top four, based on their results this season, Rovers look likely to be the one team that could possibly fall out of the race. Regardless, finishing fifth instead of six would mean that only one of the two finalist for the Imperial Cup would need to be from the top half of the table for Coquitlam to qualify for Provincials, so that should be plenty of motivation for them. Hurricanes are only four points off the pace and, with matches against their title rivals still to come, a title bid cannot be ruled out. Much of it will likely ride on veteran attacker Pavi Dhillon being in the line up and effective for the Surrey boys, but he will be suspended every time he picks up a yellow card in league play over this final part of the season. Any title bid would also need to include maximum points off of team like Coquitlam who are outside of the top four. It is all possible, and certainly with the roster Rovers can field when they are at full strength you would not bet against them, but so far this season they just have not seemed to demonstrate that championship cutting edge. Maybe that will change for this final push, and Rovers did win the first meeting rather handily between these sides, but that was before Metro Ford got themselves really up and running for the season so I think Coquitlam stay hot as they look to lock down a Provincial spot.

NorVan v Croatia
Surely NorVan are thinking that they have done enough to stay in the league. The chances of White Eagles and one of Columbus or FASA vaulting them just does not seem likely. Still, the North Shore crew are likely keen to pick up a few more points between now and when everything is all said and done. Priority number one for recruitment in North Vancouver for next season, assuming they stay up, and, quite frankly for the rest of this season if they can find it, has to be goal scoring. Their 19 goals for is tied with last place Columbus for joint lowest in the league. That kind of production is not likely to cut it in Premier, even if they do, as it looks like they will, get it over the line this season. Assuming they can find someone to put the ball in the opposition's goal going forward, they should have a decent foundation to build on given that their defensive record is on par with the other mid-table sides and perhaps they can then begin to look to climb the table and challenge for a Provincial Cup spot. NorVan are by no means a freebie and first place Croatia cannot afford any type of slip up whatsoever as they look to complete the defense of their first ever VMSL title. It was a close match the first time out between these two teams with Croatia snatching a late winner to claim all the spoils. It is like to be a similar story this time around, especially up on the North Shore with temperatures hovering around freezing. Croatia have time and again found a way to deliver the goods this season though, so there is no reason to believe that they will not keep that going into this new year.

Burnaby Selects White Eagles v CCB LFC
It is pretty much now or never for CCB if they are planning to climb into the top half of the table. They are eight points back so, assuming they win their two games in hand, they will still have ground to make up. Reports of a laundry list of injuries and playing with less than a full squad does little to instill any sort of confidence in the Provincial Champs, but, assuming they can call upon their full arsenal of weapons after some time off to get healthy, they should still be considered a legitimate threat to make a charge up the table. White Eagles, on the other hand, seem to have fallen off of a cliff. After a solid 3-3 against West Van that sent tremors through the title fight, they were stunned 2-1 by relegation threatened FASA. A 7-0 loss to Rino's followed and then they signed off 2019 by taking a 5-2 beating from rivals Croatia. Only Columbus earning their first win of the season kept FASA from pulling level with White Eagles and dragging them into the relegation battle with both feet. As it is the former Serbians are just one shock result away from being in the drop zone. True, FASA have an incredibly difficult schedule remaining, but that is hardly what you want to be relying on to keep you in the league if you are the Burnaby boys. White Eagles really looked as though they had what it took to be a Premier level team for most of the fall, but now that is up in the air. They will need to recapture that form over the final stretch and get back to picking up surprising "bonus" points against top sides if they are to pull clear of the relegation fight. At the end of November a match against CCB would have looked like the perfect chance for some of those "bonus" points, but now, given their form and combined with CCB needing a push to get back into the Provincials conversation, it looks like White Eagles are pretty solid underdogs in this one.
 

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Friday Night Lights 2020 Feast or Famine Edition

Peg 4-1 Trollups
MetroFord 6-1 Sapperton
Chinter 4-1 FASA
Rinos 6-1 Columbus
 
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