April 30 Island Invitational Cup

42nd Annual Island Invitational Cup

"Tournament of Champions"
U15 Gorge FC

Gorge FC 4 - 3 Oceanside




Bigger, stronger, faster, more physical and with more vision, Gorge FC took U15 Gold Island bragging rights and answered the question that many were wondering. Is Gorge FC the "best of the best"?

With no disrespect intended toward Oceanside, this was not a match that "on the day" the better team one. Gorge FC dominated long stretches of the proceedings and rightly deserved to emerge victorious.

All the players had a point to prove, but one in particular took the game by the scruff of the neck from the opening whistle and earned MVP honors - Jordy Wallace.

Jordy was a constant threat making runs through 3 or 4 players at a time and opened the scoring on a nice pass from Quinn on 9 minutes. Jordy dribbled up the right channel into the box and calmly shot past the keeper into the net.

Gorge FC's constant pressure brought about numerous corner kicks that although our big men got thier heads on the ball, could not bury it into the net.

On 20 minutes Jordy sent a pass near the top of the box for Quinn. The Oceanside defender got the ball and gave a pass back to his keeper. With Quinn bearing down on him, the keeper tried to play the ball up, but his pass deflected off another defender right to Quinn who had an easy tap in to go up 2-0.

Coach Danny made a couple of substitutions which saw Mark and Mohin enter the game up front. It paid immediate dividends as a couple of quick give and goes between the two had Mark in alone from the left of the box and he made no mistake shooting past the keeper for a 3-0 lead.

With Gorge FC carrying the play for long stretches Oceanside made good on the only break down Gorge FC offered in the first half and on 33 minutes from 25 yards out dead centre, the Oceanside striker had plenty of time to take a hard shot that went in over Mateusz's outstretched hands deflecting down and in off the underside of the cross bar.

Not a lot for Coach Danny to say during the half time, other than Oceanside is a team that does not give up, and for the boys to keep playing our game and try and keep mistakes to a minimum.

Gorge FC went up 4-1 at the 45 minute mark on a lovely chip from Quinn wide on the left, over three defenders to a streaking Jordy centre right of the field. Jordy was able to beat his man and again calmly shoot into the open side.

The half progressed with Gorge FC testing the Oceanside defence and keeper with free kicks and good rushes. A Quinn free kick landed in big Thor's path alone in the box, but he could not find the target and Mark fired WAY OVER the net from in tight.

Never giving up, Oceanside pushed forward in numbers and were able to claw back two (under some intense "encouragement" from the coaching staff) at the 65 minute mark and with just 1 minute left to play before the final whistle.

Pictures HERE.

Notes: Great defence, good communication and marking in the midfield with great passing up to the strikers. Josh's last game with the team. Gorge FC has now defeated the B Cup rep from the Island AND the Coastal Cup (B Cup Mainland rep) winner South Burnaby Metro Vipers.
Full squad with no injuries (first time in a long while). Great time at the hotel (don't take on Wayne in an arm wrestle! Or Brad for that matter.) Fantastic way to finish a stellar year. If only for the Cowichan game.....