Gillons’ grab soccer crown in thriller

After the game, the sensation was unmistakable, like the words of a favourite song that come flooding back and the byproduct of emotions that follow.
The quick breath. The pacing heart. The goose bumps. The flushed face.
Gillons’ had felt this way earlier in August after winning the annual “Borderland Ball Blast” tournament—and they were feeling it again after their thrilling extra-time win over Subway in the championship final of the men’s Borderland Soccer Association here Sunday afternoon.
“You can’t help but be pleased,” Shane Beckett of Gillons’ said after his team’s triumph. “Today we showed that if we stay mentally positive, we can run with anybody.”
Gillons’ and Subway had finished first and second, respectively, after the regular season. Then, after getting past their two-game semi-final match-ups (Gillons against Rainy River and Subway versus Taggs), they created a dream final that was everything to be expected—and then some.
What was expected was an intense match—check. A see-saw affair between two stacked teams—check. Outstanding performances by individuals on both sides—check. Grumblings over missed calls and frustration from squandered chances—check.
Oh, and a spectacular finish that would bring one team to the heights of ecstasy and the other to the depths of solitude—check.
Subway’s keeper Ryan Hampton made a numerous brilliant saves in the first half to keep the game scoreless, but he wasn’t able to stop Gillons’ Jeremy Wilson at the start of the second half.
A breakdown in the defence left Wilson in the open, with no chance for Hampton to make the save.
“That first half we could’ve had three or four goals and he [Hampton] came up big,” said Beckett. “He’s always an aggressive keeper in the box, so any ball that gets in there, he’s hungry for and he’s a great shot stopper.”
Jeff Savage struck back for Subway to square the game at 1-1, but that was quickly answered by Gillons’ as a tackle on Wilson in the penalty area was whistled down by the referee and brought a penalty kick.
Matt Basaraba converted on the penalty, which seemed to have broken Subway’s hopes, but they still managed to regroup with 10 minutes left in the match with another goal by Savage.
A miscommunication between Gillons’ keeper Dan Poperechny, who had a solid game, and teammate Rick Chambers on a cross from the left-side caused a loose ball that found Savage’s boot to send the game into extra time.
Gillons’ had the best scoring chances (extra time consists of two 15-minute halves decided on a “golden goal,” i.e. sudden death), with Adam McTavish having the best opportunities as one shot hit the post and another whistled a foot over the crossbar.
“I knew it was coming,” said Wilson, who was the leading scorer in the regular season. “The middle was working all day today. That’s how we got the two goals leading into extra time, so I was like, ‘Guys, send it to the middle.’”
And it was message received by McTavish, who found Wilson screaming down the middle with 10 minutes left in the second extra frame before penalty kicks would have been needed to decide the victor.
“It just kind of came in and I tried my best to trap it and I just stopped, gave it a little bit of a volley,” Wilson said of the game-winning shot that came from 15 yards out.
“And that’s my favourite type of shot because you can put so much power on it, and it’s hard to stop when you get it accurate.
“It was a good finish and I was glad that it was done because I was tired and I wanted to go home,” added Wilson.
The deciding goal brought smiles of triumph from Gillons’ and looks of rejection from Subway.
“Unbelievable. We had them. We should’ve had them,” said a dejected Duane Turriff of Subway, who was the vocal leader for his team. “There were a couple of mistakes and a couple defensive breakdowns and that’s all that Gillons’ needs.
“It could’ve went either way today. It really could’ve. I mean, I’m crushed. I really am,” Turriff added. “I played my heart out and my legs are dead. I can barely walk and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
As Turriff sat on the field with his jersey folded over his head, Hampton also felt disappointed by the narrow defeat.
“There’s disappointment for the loss, but that comes with playing the game,” he reasoned. “We got this far and it was good that we got to double-overtime, [but] it’s too bad because it could’ve been a little better outcome.
“We kind of got on each other’s back a bit and we try not to do that,” added Hampton. “Our ball control could’ve been a little better, but we still played a hell of a game.”
The two teams were notorious for their rough play in previous years. And though this game was intense and aggressive, the players believed a respectful rivalry has now been brewed.
“Last few years, there was a little bit of the bad blood between the two teams because we play so hard and we play so similar,” said Beckett, who acted as the association’s president this year.
“And both teams really grew up this season, and we both ended up here and this was the result—an overtime championship game.
“I think instead of being enemies battling on the field, it’s now starting to become friends battling on the field and that makes the rivalry that much more fun because now we can go and shake hands after the game,” Beckett added.
After a bitter loss to Taggs in the championship game last year, Gillons’ and the rest of the league were happy to not see the once dominant team in the final again.
“We wanted to win so bad to get Taggs out of the spotlight and they won again last year, and we’re losing some players next year, so this year had to be it because we might not get another chance at it,” said Wilson.
“I think the whole league is happy that somebody else other than Taggs won it,” echoed Beckett. “You got to break it up sooner or later, and it’s good for the league that it happened because now everyone knows they have a shot.”
In the end, Gillons’ made the most of their chances in a league that was wide-open. They wrapped up the season with all their goals checked off and nothing else left to prove.
“It was a great year and the season was just awesome. I’m super happy and that’s what a final should be all about,” said Wilson.
“I’d rather play this way and lose than win 6-0 or something stupid like that,” he added. “So I’m really happy and the guys worked hard, and we just played better than them, that’s all.”