Cosmos SC 0 - 7 Gastown F.C.

Gastown has always had strong ties with the water. As a large port and infrastructural hub, the people of Gastown have never been scared of getting a little bit wet. It would appear that this is still the case - on a torrential downpour of an afternoon, a much changed GFC ran riot in the rain against an under-par and understaffed Cosmos SC.

Injuries, absentees/excusees have ravaged the GFC barracks of late, the last 3 games being played without substitutes - Saturday's game was no different. Due to tempting heavy snowfall in Whistler, as well as various business commitments and injuries, GFC were down to the bare bones and expecting the worst. Fortunately for The Iron, their opponents were similarly depleted, arriving with only 9 players.

Gastown were able to dominate the opening exchanges, however it was Cosmos that were able to fashion the first real chance. A hopeful punt over the top stuck in the sodden turf, allowing their front man to ghost in for the one on one. His fierce drive was tipped onto the inside of the post by the outstretched Whelan. Minutes later, following the arrival of eleventh man (Greenpeace's), Alexis Lum, The Iron took the lead. A speculative drive from Ogasahara (back in his centre-back berth due to the absence of Stuart and Poulsen) was seemingly gathered by the Cosmos keeper - however an inexplicable fumble, seen only by Benguena, was punished ruthlessly by the Algerian; nicking the ball from the 'keeper, Benguena waltzed in front of goal, before mercilessly smashing it into the roof of the unguarded net.

Michael Hannah, making his first start, played a combative role in central midfield. His range of passing and snapped tackles were a joy to behold. Despite fading later in the game, he was a robust presence with which the Cosmos players could not cope. His assists for the second and third goals (both scored by hat-trick hero, Sivio Ruprah) demonstrated his sleight of foot. The second in particular was a joy for fans of football. Following some slick passing through the middle, Hannah burst into the box, however with the goal at his mercy he selflessly slipped the ball between two defenders into the path of Ruprah, who placed the ball into the gaping net. Before the half, there was still time for Whelan to prove his worth, saving superbly with his left boot following some pinball in the box.

The second half resulted in some positional changes, as Gastown looked to pass Cosmos into submission, and rest a few of the more weary legs. A clever reverse pass to Lex Lum from Ruprah gifted the activist with the perfect going away present (This blog hopes Lum has a whale of a time in Antarctica with Greenpeace!), Lum caressing his shot underneath the keeper and in. Ruprah grabbed his hat-trick, making the score 5-0 as Hannah found his well-timed run up the right hand channel, the winger passing the ball across the on-rushing keeper and in off the far post.

The sixth and seventh goals were testament to the qualities at Gastown's disposal, as well as restoring the belief that they can recreate their early season form that saw them race to the top of the table. Following a quick throw from Whelan, The Iron tiki-taka'd their way up the left wing before a flick from Ruprah was knocked-down cleverly by Lum into the path of Benguena. On the half-volley, 12 yards out, Ramy found the bottom corner with the outside of his boot. These goals were merely the amuse-bouches for the Ogasahara's Don Buri. After Lum had been felled 30 yards from goal, there was only one candidate for the long-range effort (despite the protests of serial-finesser, Amr Amin). Starting the ball 5 feet outside the right hand post, the Japanese maestro brought the ball back just inside the post, and clipping the crossbar - the keeper left motionless. A divine strike from a technically rounded footballer.

The game was ended early after an unfortunate and untimely injury to the opposition goalkeeper. Following a ball over the top, the otherwise superb Keller (deputising at centre-back for the first time) was over-zealous in his attempts to beat the charging guardian to the ball. Beaten to the ball, Keller was unable to halt his momentum, clattering into the goalkeeper after the ball had gone. Keller was (somewhat harshly) given his marching orders, and the keeper was carried from the field. Given the score, the lack of numbers (and the weather), both teams were happy to call it a day after 70 minutes.

This win leaves The Iron within touching distance of league leaders Ajyal, but time is running out for the first placed team to drop points.

Iron Man of the Match: Silvio Ruprah