Squamish FC have returned to their winning ways after a resounding 7-3 win over Club Punjab 'A' at Quest University Field on Saturday (Oct. 30).
After starting the season with five consecutive wins, the team dropped their last two in a row to fall to second place in the Vancouver Metro Soccer League's Division 2A standings. However, with their most recent win, they've vaulted back into first.
According to striker Mark Sedgwick, aside from a slow start, it was a dominant win for the team.
"We had a 15 minute spell at the start of the game but after that we started playing our game," he said. "We started using a lot more one touch ball movement and spreading the field - it was a nice win for us after a couple poor weeks."
Sedgwick said the two losses were due to a lack of players showing up and low attendance at training.
"Last week we only had 11 players show up," he said. "But we had a good training session on Thursday (Oct. 28) and it was a good bounce back game for us."
Sedgwick pointed out that the team picked up two players from the recently eliminated Quest Kermodes men's soccer team and he thought both Will Robson and Jared Bir fit in nicely on the team.
It was a sluggish start for Squamish FC, as Club Punjab controlled the early going. As the game continued, Squamish began to get into rhythm and Sedgwick got the team on the board after a flurry of action following a corner kick. Club Punjab answered right back, as some deft passing saw Squamish's goalkeeper find himself out of position and the visitors scored an easy tap in to tie the game.
Squamish's Pete Cooper scored off of another set play minutes later after a nice set-up from the corner by Chris Rayner and then Will Robson headed one in to quickly put the team up 3-1. Sean Hughes added a spectacular bicycle kick goal near the end of the half to put Squamish up 4-1 and that's the way the first half ended.
The second half saw more of the same for Squamish FC. Sedgwick scored his second of the game on a header from a corner kick and Hughes also tallied his second with a long distance shot that fooled the Club Punjab keeper. Minutes later, Cooper joined the "two goal club" after a nice set-up by Robson to put Squamish FC up 7-1.
Club Punjab added two late goals to make the score more respectable but it was a strong showing from Squamish FC, who move to six wins and two losses on the season following the victory.
"Our set pieces really worked well today and we just wanted it more than them," said Hughes in a team huddle at the conclusion of the match.
The team will return to Quest University field for their next game, which takes place on Saturday (Nov. 6) against the North Vancouver Lions. It will be the first time that Squamish takes on the Lions, who currently sit in sixth place with a record of three wins and three losses. The game is scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m.
For more information on the team, visit www.vmslsoccer.com.
