After nearly a three-month break from the snow-covered fields at Brennan Park, the Howe Sound Men's Soccer League resumed play on the all-weather fields Sunday (Feb. 10).
The cratered, drenched gravel fields looked more like No Man's Land than a place for sport, and the players' bloody limbs only made the scene look more like a battlefield. In the pouring rain, the league-leading United FC and third-placed Villa FC competed for momentum in the season's second half.
Both teams struggled to move the ball over puddles using chip shots more than direct passes. It became quickly obvious that actually putting shots on net was going to be enough of a challenge, let alone getting enough boot under the ball to beat a goalkeeper.
The game remained scoreless through most of the first half until Villain Gary O'Neil received a pass inside the box from Chris Golaiy. Showing patience one-on-one with the United goalie, O'Neil managed to control the ball long enough to reveal an open section of net and thump it in to go ahead 1-0.
Bodies continued to battle and fall in the penalty-filled second half as substitutes tried to keep warm on the sidelines. Midway through, a United player fanned on a shot deep in enemy territory but it didn't become a wasted ball. Teammate Russell Adams gained possession and moved in on net, blasting it by Villain keeper Allan Carson to tie the game 1-1.
United and Villa exchanged scoring chances throughout the final minutes. Villa had the best chance to move ahead with a series of passes in close that opened a lane for a Villa player to send a one-time from the top of the 18-yard box. However, the ball sailed just wide of the United net.
The game finished in a 1-1 draw, allowing United to remain one point ahead of the pursuing Brew Pub. The brew gathered three default points on Sunday because Tantalus Toner couldn't gather enough players to play.It's no surprise Tantalus couldn't rally enough manpower considering some of those who played perhaps wished they didn't by the end of it.
"I definitely say waiting for another month would definitely be necessary to play on this stuff," said Golaiy. "It's the most disgusting field I've ever had to play on. It's very difficult to move around, you can't do anything as far as ball control. Everything comes into factor - it changed the game completely. This is sloppy soccer."
At the same time, others said they're anxious to enough to start playing again that they didn't mind the conditions."It just makes it a little more interesting," said Adams. "We're already a week behind, might as well just get it over with. Sports work both ways, right. But there's still lot of bloody legs, a lot of frustration just trying to kick the ball, that's for sure."
