Skip to content

Powell River Villa sets up to take division title

Final two games of regular season are must-win contests

With two games remaining in Vancouver Island Soccer League Division 3A season, Powell River Villa soccer club must win both to secure its destiny.

Villa is set up for a chance to win its division after a big 1-0 win over Bays United in Victoria on January 20. James Timothy scored the winner with a hard shot into the top corner of the net with about 10 minutes remaining in the game.

“It was like a rocket,” said head coach Chris McDonough. “It was a fantastic goal and he's a fantastic player."
McDonough singled out centre-back Jarek Long for an outstanding game.

“He stopped all of their strikers, especially in the last 10 minutes," said McDonough.

Goaltender Matt Liknes recorded his fifth shutout of the season for Villa.

With three points for the win, Villa’s 37 points put the club alone in second place behind Victoria’s Gorge with 39.

The last home game of the season at Timberlane Park is the showdown against Gorge, which has won both games the teams have played this year.

McDonough said the game will pit Villa’s attacking offence against Gorge’s defence, and his team will have to find a way to break the opponents down.

“They play a real tight defensive game,” said McDonough. “They have a really good goalkeeper and they don't give up a lot of goals; they also don't give up a lot of chances and they counterattack well.”

If Villa beats Gorge at home and Victoria West in the last game of the season, the team wins its division and will move up into Division 2 next season.

“If we want to control our own destiny, we need to win these last two games,” said McDonough.

The game against Gorge, Villa’s last home game of the regular season, takes place at Timberlane Park on Sunday, January 28, at 1:30 pm.