Dragons v Classics
Empire Stadium
10th. Nov. 2019

Conditions: Warm and sunny

Players on duty: Chris Arcari, Lorenzo Arcari, Judd Boxtart, David Breen, Jimmy Butler, Gene Crowley, Jeff Dickson, Willie Dixon, Wayne Ferguson, Randy Hosler, Dave Moore, Pat O’Krane, Pat Rohla, Jerry Szakun, Larry Thorlakson
Coaches on duty: Jeff Dickson & Randy Hosler
Dragons slain 'by George'...
The Dragons - another unknown opposition as this exciting season unfolds. New teams, new grounds to visit; it all adds to the adventure thrust upon us by a change in ownership of the league. The Dragons home field is at the Empire Stadium, built for the exciting 1954 Empire and Commonwealth Games, the Empire Stadium went on to play host to Elvis Presley and the Beatles, and later became the home of the BC Lions and the Whitecaps as Empire Field. The Whitecaps had a team in the North American Soccer League so the ground has hosted many household names, too many to mention.

The game started after the obligatory minutes silence for remembrance day. The match almost received a spectacular goal in the 7th minute after Jeff Dickson centred from the right. Jerry Szakun dived full length to power a header goalwards which, unfortunately for him, rebounded off the home goalkeeper to safety - it was a valient effort and would have been a memorable moment. The 12th minute witnessed a yellow card for Pat O'Krane who's vocal antics seem to be cropping up more on a regular basis - is he looking for some kind of record? Gene Crowley slipped a nice ball through for Jimmy Butler to pursue. As he headed for the net, he let rip with scorcher which was deflected for a corner. Butler turned provider in the 21st minute when he fed Dickson who shimmied a bit and then calmly slipped the ball to the right of the keeper to open the scoring. The lead didn't last long though as some misunderstanding, which started in midfield and spread like a plague through the defence, left a Dragons attacker unmarked in the box and he finished powerfully past Judd Boxtart, who couldn't be faulted for the slip in concentration. The score remained 1-1 at the half.

The Dragons thought they had taken the lead early in the second half but the effort was pulled back for an offside decision - no VAR was requested by the visitors. Play was pretty even for the first 30 minutes of the second half with the Dragons probably deserving a point at this stage although goal scoring efforts were severely restricted at both ends of the field. With 15 minues of the game remaining, the Classics took the lead. It came after a free kick was awarded to them just in their own half of the field. Szakun called for a high ball which G. Crowley supplied and Szakun deftly headed the ball on at which Butler gave chase. With a couple of defenders in his wake, he nonchalantly slipped the ball to the left of the advancing keeper to get the go-ahead goal which was so desperately needed at that particular time. It could have been the decisive goal and Butler made it look so easy. It was reminscent of former years as the ghosts of Kevin Hector and Trevor Whymark, with the flick-on from Whymark to King Kevin running through the box; the same spot on the Empire Field, circa 1978!

Five minutes later, G. Crowley began another attack by feeding Willy Dixon who, in turn, sent Butler off again on another of his 'highway to heaven' runs. This time the angle was more difficult as he had to cut in from wide but, again, he made the job look like a run-of-the-mill routine as he slipped the ball low and to the right of the keeper. This was the insurance goal from which there was no coming back from the Dragons. Another successful day.

Final Score: Dragons 1 Classics 3 (1-1)

Stats
MWG: Jimmy Butler
Crap Award: Pat O'Krane