The sky was temporarily red on a number of occasions this past Sunday, as we welcomed our friends from Kamloops United, formerly knows as Rivers FC. (Evidently, they finally got the message that they were spelling ‘Rovers’ wrong for the past number of seasons and made the change).
When red wasn’t wafting across the pitch at Swangard Stadium, we were greeted by blue skies and plenty of sunshine. ‘Perfect footballing weather’ (say it with an English accent). Meanwhile, on the pitch, Kamloops United was greeted by a Red Menace.
Our women kicked the afternoon off, with the girls in red looking to make a climb up the table against the bottom ranked side in black and green hoops. Before Adam could even arrive at the stadium, KUFC got Merk’d. Jessica, specifically, only 12 minutes in, gives us the lead. Red smoke. Just before the break, Sophia Faremo, who is ONE of the Soph’s we know, doubled the lead with a roof shot. Our man Residual Image, doing his job, got a fan-freaking-tastic photo of the shot. We head to break with a 2-0 lead and the sun shining overhead.
Second half, the Red side comes out looking to put things away, with a great run by Elyse Beaudry ending up on the foot of Goal Scoring Machine Delana Friesen for the easy finish. That’s 3 straight games with a tally for D, and that’ll about do it for….
Whoops. Speaking too soon, as Kamloops gets some life from a long-range goal only 6 minutes later. Holding on to leads hasn’t been the biggest strength for our women, so while the collars weren’t tightened, they were starting to feel a little more snug. But time ticked, and tocked, and we’d occasionally glance back at the scoreboard wondering why this was all taking so long. Finally, at the 90th minute, some action. Friesen is brought down in the big box, which as far as I know is still a penalty. Referee confirms my suspicions, and it’s ANOTHER one of the Soph’s we know, this time Sophia Kramer, who steps up and gives us back our loose collars. It’s 4-1, smoke is flowing, and we’re all having a laugh. Let’s have a final whistle now, Mr. Refe…..
Ugh. Stoppage time goals suck. Kamloops, never saying die, finds the back of the net at the 3rd minute of discretionary make-believe time, and it’s a 2 goal game again. Just blow the whistle already….
Something really cool happened next though. Rather than kill out the clock, our Rovers women marched the ball back to the centre spot, eager to get going again. No way was old Rivers going to go out with the last word. So, in the dying moments of the game, Sasha Doleman fired in her first of the year in her first game of the year to make it a 5-2 final. If you don’t like the smoke…..
On to the men, looking to take over top spot from the Kamloops crew. I can’t say for sure what happened between the two games, but someone decided to tilt the field somewhat. At about the 25 minute mark of the game, I asked out loud if Kamloops had even touched the ball on the Rovers side of the field. The only play we could remember is Kian Proctor shielding a ball rolling out to the end line, and a Kamloops player kicking it in desperation off his own teammate’s shin pad for a goal kick.
Despite being 1 way traffic, it wasn’t until the 31st minute that Shaya Zarjampour scored what seemed like his 50th goal in the last few games. (It wasn’t really that many. But if your team doesn’t have a CB who can score buckets of goals, consider finding one like Shaya). And that means more red smoke, and a 1-0 lead at the break that feels like it should have been 5-0.
Around this time, we were joined by a bunch of young lads from the Academy, all in their black and white Rovers tops and jackets. They sheepishly hung out near us, staring at the drums and the flags. Our rule is, pick up the sticks, pick up a flag, and get after it. Which they did with great enthusiasm for the rest of the afternoon. Some will become future Swanguardians. Others, we’ll be singing for in a few years. We love it when they visit.
Apparently, the field tilt in the second half was over-corrected, because all the play was at the other end now. We had plenty of time to make friends with KUFC keeper Logan Pierce, who Callum Weir told us was a very nice fellow. He wasn’t wrong, but it wasn’t Logan’s day on Sunday. Not long after the break, he gave the ball away to Tristan Otuomagie, who scored while I wasn’t even looking. More red smoke as we lose Logan in the haze for a moment.
One would like to think that at 2-0 you should be home and free, but Starman Ivan Mejia, who only 1 week ago scored one of the goals of the season, reminded us of his presence. From the edge of the box, he hit a looping, curling spinner that juuust cleared the head of a leaping defender while also juuust going under the bar. Most normal humans would have needed a protractor to figure that angle. Picture perfect placement, and we’re jumping and singing once again. Ivan continues to pump in goals at an almost nonsensical pace. After the goal, new buddy Logan glanced over with a resigned look at our group, and I helpfully encouraged him by telling him nobody was getting to that one. He nodded and replied “you guys are just too good today.” It’s 3-0. Sadly, that was the end of the day for Logan, as he was replaced in goal for the rest of the day.
Apparently, the lads in red didn’t want the new keeper to feel left out. He was forced to make a couple of saves, but then Kian Proctor, who came close on a couple of attempts, finally buried one late to seal the deal, for real. 4-0 as the sun began to set behind the trees. 6 points to the Rovers. A fine Sunday.
Next up for our gang in red is a trip to Coquitlam for a second meeting with Evolution FC Presented by Metro Ford (or something like that). Last time, our women understood the substitution rules better and got 3 points by league decision, and our men walked away with a draw. We invade City Centre Field starting at 6pm. Join us, won’t you?
