The Smithers Men continued their Smithers Cup dominance last Friday night by defeating the Aspen Gunners 3-1 to secure the trophy for 2013.
Smithers Men netted one goal in the first half and a pair in the second to take a three-goal lead.
The lone Aspen Gunners goal was scored on a penalty kick with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game.
The Smithers Cup victory was somewhat of a Cinderella story for the Smithers Men as they lost the first four matches of the league season and currently sit at the bottom of the standings.
“They’re definitely improving since the beginning of the season, I think they just had a slow start,” said Smithers Soccer League player and commissioner Dominic Imhof.
“This win showed they are a team to be respected.
“They’re the most improved team for sure.”
But in Smithers Cup games, the team was unbeatable, Imhof said.
“Smithers Men are last place in the league but in the last two weeks they’ve been playing just Cup games and winning everything,” Imhof said, adding they are looking for a Bulkley Valley business to sponsor the Smithers Cup.
“They’re just a Cup team I guess.”
The Smithers Cup is a mid-season trophy whose games have no bearing on the overall league standings.
“They do it in Europe where they have a league champion and a cup winner,” Imhof explained.
Smithers Men’s League action continues tonight when the Aspen Gunners take on the SC Gunners Reds at 7 p.m. at Chandler Park.
The Aspen Gunners currently sit in first place with 11 points, followed closely by the SC Gunners Reds with 10.
Imhof said he expected whoever won the July 3 match to win the Smithers Men’s Soccer League title.
The men’s season wraps up on July 15.
The women’s league continues play throughout the summer.
