For the first time this season, the defending Premier Division champions are back on top.
The Surrey United Firefighters blanked ICST Pegasus 2-0 in a Vancouver Metro Soccer League contest Saturday afternoon at Cloverdale, a victory which allowed United to vault past the Coquitlam Metro-Ford Wolves into first place. Coquitlam was upset 2-0 by 10th place Croatia FC.
Surrey scored once in each half last weekend, taking the lead when Cam Wilson headed in a cross for his sixth goal to the season, then adding an insurance goal on a blast from Angus Burke early in the second half.
Burke’s goal was his league-high 13th of the season.
Andrew Proctor assisted on both scores for United, which improved to 13-2-2 (won-tied-lost), one point better than 12-4-2 Coquitlam.
Paul Shepherd earned the shutout, stopping Jag Gill of Pegasus on a breakaway just before half time, one of several key saves from the Surrey netminder.
Surrey is in Vancouver Sunday to face fourth-place Columbus FC.
Pegasus fell to 7-3-8 with the loss, and are currently in eighth place. They kick off tonight (Friday) at 8:30 p.m. at Newton Athletic Park against Columbus FC.
The two other Surrey teams in the 14-team Premier Division continue to battle to avoid relegation. The Punjab Hurricanes moved out of a relegation position with a 4-2 victory over ICSF Inter Friday night at Tom Binnie Field in Whalley.
Bobby Jhutty netted a pair of goals for the Hurricanes, including the winning tally with just three minutes to play. Pami Birring late in the first half, and Ryan Dhillon in injury time completed the scoring.
The Hurricanes are 4-4-10 on the season, a point up on Akal FC.
Akal fell 4-1 to Delta United Sunday night at Newton Athletic Park, Emmanuel Ayiku getting the lone goal for the Surrey side.
Harpreet Khak, Gibson Bardsley, Mike Gomes and Oscar Jiminez were the Delta goal scorers, all four finding the net in the second half.
Akal’s record dropped to 3-6-9, dropping them into 12th position.
The Hurricanes are at home tomorrow (Saturday) evening at 6 p.m. against Croatia SC, while Akal will be in Coquitlam to face the first-place Wolves.
Delta, which moved into third place at 11-1-5 with it seventh win in eight starts, is at home against the last place Serbian White Eagles Sunday at 2 p.m. at John Oliver Park.
– North Delta United dropped a 4-1 decision to the Abbotsford Mariners, with Dylan Meyers notching the lone goal.
North Delta, in seventh place at 5-1-8, plays away from home tonight against the Port Moody Gunners.
