Gastown F.C. 0 - 3 Astros F.C.

Whelan is unsettled by a marauding ball from an adjourning pitch. Gastown FC ran into their first slippery patch in their 2012 title defense as they ran afoul of two seperate beachball-gate-esque decisions and weren't able to recover, dropping the game by a final 3-0 scoreline. The Iron ran into a motivated third placed Astro F.C. squad kitted out in Spain's 2010 away kit seemingly dead-set upon dethroning the current table-toppers, though without the tiki-taka played by their Spanish heros. Unfortunately Gastown weren't able to produce answers to the questions Astros were asking on the night and will now need to re-group and re-focus before their next fixture.

Starting brightly, The Iron would have felt that Astros were there for the taking. Chances were fashioned in the opening 15 minutes, but were unfortunately spurned by Mah and Alves. Caliskan was also played through on goal, only to be given offside in a somewhat contentious decision. After the opening quarter of an hour, Astros took a strangle hold on the game that they never relinquished.

On the half hour mark, as Astros surged down the left wing, the games first real moment of controversy appeared. As the ball was swung into the box, another ball (and chasing member of the public) crashed into the Gastown penalty area. Momentarily distracted by the second ball and Joe Public, Whelan was aghast to turn back around only to see that the (match) ball had broken kindly for Astros after a wild clearance from Paulsen. With a bouncing ball only 12 yards out, the Astros frontman was able to get his first of the night with a neatly taken side-footed lob over the scrambling Whelan.

The second half continued in suitably depressing fashion for The Iron. Misplaced passes were common, hurried possession was far too consistent - it was, in many ways, like watching England. The biggest problem is a worrying inability for The Gastown players to find space after they have played the ball - one of the most important techniques in football , it is a flaw that his reared its head once The Iron are ahead, however this time it was present from the off. Obviously, they were unable to compete as a result.

More slack defending allowed Astros to claim their second goal of the night. A throw in near the goal was not properly defended, as The Iron allowed one Astros attacker to loiter on the corner of the six yard box completely unmarked. After controlling the throw on his knee, the attacker pirouetted before lifting the ball over Whelan into "the mixah." The Astros striker doubled his tally, out-jumping Paulsen to head the ball into the empty net from a yard out. Salt was rubbed aggressively into the wound as Astros grabbed their third of the night, a hattrick. Having latched on to a through ball, there was one probable outcome. However; Whelan came speeding off his line to challenge the Astros' striker's poor first touch, only to be hit on the leg. Another ball from another field had struck the Gastown goalkeeper, somewhat confusing him. He kicked the ball out from under his feet, only to look up to see a (grudgingly, perfectly executed) chip already on its way into the top corner from 20 yards. The Iron's goalkeeper was understandably furious, earning himself a yellow card for his stern words with the referee.

The Iron now have a ten day gap until next game against mid-table Rangers FC, Gastown will be looking to retain their hold on the top spot and quickly reply to their first slip-up of the season.

Ironman of the match: Cesar de la Fuente (absent).

Next match: vs. Rangers FC - June 27th, 20:00 Point Grey Secondary. Form Guide: LWWLL