It took Comox Valley United about half the game to find their rhythm, but once they did the South Burnaby Fighting Irish never stood a fighting chance.
The Vancouver Island Soccer League Div. 3B champion United blanked the Burnaby Men's Soccer Association side 2-0 Sunday at Mark Isfeld field to advance to the quarter-finals of the Keith Millar Men's B Provincial Cup.
United hosts Port Moody SC Blues (Fraser Valley Soccer League) this Sunday at 2 p.m. at G.P. Vanier.
Comox Valley player-coach Carey Cordocedo said his team came out a little sluggish to start against South Burnaby. "It took us about 20 minutes to get into the game," he said. "In the second half our intensity definitely cranked up a bit and that's what made the difference in the game."
Graeme McNeil netted the only goal United needed in the 65th minute, cracking a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that sizzled past the keeper's outstretched hands and into the top corner.
Defender Tom Butcher added some insurance 10 minutes later as he stripped a defender of the ball, cut in from the right side and slipped a low shot into the near post corner.
Tyler Salmond, while not severely tested, was his usual steady self between the posts to record the shutout. Cordocedo said the win was a good team effort, with kudos going to game MVP centre-back Dakota Garrett.
Cordocedo said the team appreciated the good crowd turnout at Sunday's game and hope the support will be equally strong this Sunday.
United is hoping to have Jeff Howe in the lineup against Port Moody. He was the victim of a hard tackle this past Sunday and is nursing a sore knee.
THROW INS United won the 10-team VISL Div. 3B title with a 12-2-4 record while the Blues were second in the 10-team FVSL Div. 2 with an almost identical 11-2-5 record ... United scored 49 goals and allowed 12 against for a goal differential of +37 while the Blues were 54-18 for a goal differential of +36 ...