This past weekend, the Div. 1 and Div. 3 Campbell River Cermaq men’s soccer teams were involved in cup play.
On Saturday, the Div. 1 squad was at a home for a game against Vantreights in the Jackson Cup while the Div. 3 squad travelled to Victoria to play Prospect Lake in the George Pearkes Challenge Cup. Should the Div. 3 team defeat Prospect Lake, the cup schedule called for them to play Cowichan away on the following day.
The CR Cermaq Div. 3 team rose to the occasion defeating Prospect Lake 4-3 in Saturday’s game and followed that up with a 1-0 win over Cowichan on Sunday. Against Prospect Lake, the game was tied 2-2 after 90 minutes and it required extra time to decide a winner. This was a tightly contested game in which every player made telling contributions.
Ultimately, it was the quality of finishing by James Kenny and Edgar Cramner that proved decisive. The following day in Cowichan, it was another fine finish by James Kenny that proved the difference as CR Cermaq held on for their second hard earned victory of the weekend.
Meanwhile on Saturday, the CR Cermaq Div. 1 team got off to a quick start against a Vantreights team that had suffered only one defeat all season in league play. In the second minute, an Eric Roberts’ cross was hammered home by Blaze Roberts who would then score his second of the day just before half time following a Rob Shaw corner.
Vantreights were competitive throughout the game and forced CR Cermaq to work hard, denying the home team the time or space to establish any free flowing play. Indeed it took a fine save from Wylie Roberts mid-way through the second half to preserve the 2-0 scoreline.
In the next round of cup play on March 4, both Campbell River teams are favoured with home ties, the CR Cermaq Div. 1 team will play Gorge and CR Cermaq Div. 3 team will play the undefeated Mid-Isle Mariners.
Next weekend, it is back to league action with the Div. 1 team in Victoria to play Lakehill on Saturday while the Div. 3 team has another double-header, Hellas FC on Saturday and Port Alberni Athletics on Sunday, both games scheduled for the Robron Turf Field.