For just the second time all season, the Cowichan 49ers masters soccer team found themselves having to come from behind in a game, this time in their quest for the B.C. championship title.
In front of a solid home crowd on a drizzly Sunday, April 16 afternoon, Cowichan played host to PCOV in the Deryl Hughes Provincial A cup quarterfinals.
PCOV knocked the 49ers out of the provincial tournament in overtime on their way to winning it all back in 2019 so Cowichan knew they were in for a battle.
“PCOV came out strong,” said Cowichan’s Neall Rowlings. “We were very flat and they capitalized early.”
Standout goalie Darian Achurch made a diving save to stop the initial shot but couldn’t quite reach the rebound and the resulting goal put PCOV up 1-0 and Cowichan behind the eight ball.
“For the second time all season the 49ers had to come back from behind to rally,” Rowlings explained.
Just before the half, Cowichan’s Tyler Hughes powered a wonder-strike with his left foot off the crossbar from 30 yards out to even the score. Jesse Winter followed in to ensure Hughes got the goal.
“This and some strategic substitutes gave us the boost we needed,” Rowlings noted.
From there it became less about rallying and more about keeping their cool.
“We were pressing hard and they just didn’t have the substitutes to keep up the pace,” Rowlings explained.
A handball in the box on a shot from Stuart Barker didn’t just oust the PCOV player from the game due to yellow card accumulation, it offered Cowichan a chance to gain the upper hand after being awarded a penalty kick. Hughes stepped up and made no mistake, converting the penalty shot into a 2-1 Cowichan lead.
PCOV further unravelled.
Their goalie took a needless late tackle and the 49ers were given a second penalty shot that Brad Thorne pounded home to advance the lead.
Rowlings said the fans were the difference maker in the home side’s hard-fought 3-1 victory.
“You could feel the mood shift when PCOV scored but they never gave up their cheering,” he said. “We need them one more time at home as we now host VMSL champions, Inter FC, in the semi-final game.”
Inter FC visits the Sherman Road turf for a noon kick-off on Saturday, April 22.
“Thank you to the Valley for your support, and we hope to keep this dream alive together,” Rowlings said.
