Comox Valley United’s poor run of results continued on Saturday night with a 3-0 home defeat to the league-leading Cowichan FC.
The loss means the Comox Valley’s top soccer team is without a win in eight games, with their last victory coming all the way back on Sept. 30. The team is currently in ninth place in division one of the 10-team Vancouver Island Soccer League.
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With the bottom two teams being relegated to the second division for next season, it means Comox Valley United has their backs to the wall for the last six games of the regular season.
“We started off well this year, but it seems we can’t get stuff done,” said United coach Carey Cordocedo after the game. “We either play defensively and can’t score, or we commit going forward and then we get caught defensively.
“We need to find the right balance.”
Cowichan — which won the league last year and currently tops division 1 with 28 points from 12 games — came out strong from the offset.
Earlier this season, Comox Valley United earned an upset win over Cowichan, beating the league champions 3-1 at their own field. This time around, the Cowichan side was reinforced with some players who finished their university seasons.
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“They’re the top team in the VISL and I have a feeling they came out here looking for revenge,” said Comox Valley United defender and vice-captain Graeme McNeill. “They were a stronger team than when we played them the first time and I think they were out for blood tonight.”
After controlling most of the possession in the first half, Cowichan made it 1-0 with a headed goal 10 minutes before halftime. Forward Cooper Barry rose to send a looping header into the back of the net.
The second half began much like the first. Cowichan earned a penalty shot 15 minutes into the half, much to the chagrin of the Comox Valley defenders, who felt the call was soft. Midfielder Patrick Nelson stepped up and fired his kick into the top left corner to double the away team’s lead.
Down by two goals, Comox Valley pushed ahead, but Cowichan earned yet another penalty shot halfway through the second half. Nelson stepped up yet again and made no mistake, slotting the ball into the bottom right corner.
“I thought we worked hard and we were in the game for 60 minutes,” said McNeill. “I hate to blame the officiating, but it was against us for sure.”
Comox Valley United’s next game is on Sunday, Dec. 3. They will play away to Vantreights FC, who they previously beat 3-2 back in September. Vantreights are currently the bottom dwellers of division one.
“It’s crunch time. We do need to get some results, for sure,” said Cordocedo.
