A pair of 3-2 home-field wins for the Penticton Tim Hortons Pinnacles, but two very different storylines.
Randy Hubber scored midway though the second half as the Pinnacles edged Vancouver FC 3-2 in a game in which they squandered several quality scoring chances and a pair of one-goal leads on Sunday afternoon.
On Saturday afternoon, Jacob Canziate scored late in the game as the Pinnacles overcame a 2-0 deficit and numerous injuries to beat Chilliwack FC 3-2.
When all was said and done, the Pinnacles improved to 2-1-0 in the Pacific Coast Soccer League Reserve Men‘s Division and had one more win than they had all of last season.
“We‘ve got the monkey off our backs, but we‘ve still got a long way to go in a lot of areas,” said head coach Chris Bennett. “We‘re still giving up too many goals, but at the end of the day it‘s a sore bunch of lads who took a lot of knocks and have given me everything they had. I‘m very pleased for them to come out of it with two wins.”
In Sunday‘s game, the Pinnacles got first-half goals by Canziate and Jeremy Pereira, but the game was tied 2-2 at the break. Pereira‘s goal was an early candidate for goal of the season, as he weaved his way to the middle and, despite not having much space, unleashed a blast from 25 metres out that curled inside the far post.
“(Pereira) has got a lot of potential,” said Bennett. “He‘s not a young guy anymore by this league‘s standards, but he‘s still capable of becoming a very good player.”
Hubber‘s goal was also impressive as he speedy youngster surged into the 18-yard box and blazed a low, hard shot past the Vancouver goalkeeper, who was deputizing after the starting goalkeeper was hurt in the first half.
“We should have killed the game off a lot earlier,” said Bennett. “I know those (Vancouver) guys well and they will be a much different proposition when we play them down there.”
It was a reunion for Bennett and Vancouver‘s player-coach Jason Jordan. Jordan was an A-League player of the year and MVP for the Vancouver Whitecaps, and also played for Bennett on the Canadian team at the Under-20 World Cup.
“We go back a long ways,” said Bennett. “He‘s older and maybe not as pacey now, but he‘s still a handful out there.”
In Saturday‘s game, the Pinnacles shrugged off a 2-0 halftime deficit as Hubber and then an own goal off a Penticton throw-in tied the contest 2-2. Canziate got the winner as the Pinnacles registered their first home win since 2008.
“It was a bit of life lesson on being down and out and watching so many guys limp off with injuries,” said Bennett. “They showed a lot of character coming back.”
Bennett said the Pinnacles have to be stingier defensively in the coming weeks.
“We‘re going to concentrate on defensive positioning and making certain everyone knows their role,” said Bennett. “I‘m not upset … I know it‘s going to take time to get things the way we want them.”
The Pinnacles got a boost this weekend with the debut of goalkeeper Mike Maloney from Vancouver.
“He‘s really fit in nicely with the team,” said Bennett. “I knew his personality would be a perfect fit for the Pinnacles.”
The Pinnacles don‘t have any league games this weekend, but they will be playing in the 49th annual Pacific Western Brewery May Classic tournament in Penticton.
“It‘s going to give us a chance to try new things and different players in different situations,” said Bennett. “Obviously we‘re going to be trying to win it, but playing these extra games together will help us in the long haul.”
