The forecast last Wednesday called for rain. And it did. Did it ever. And the forecast for that night’s Borderland Soccer League action was that the number-one team in Gillons would trounce the third-place Taggs.
But Taggs brought a halt to that outlook as Mike Webb notched a hat-trick to give his team a 3-1 victory.
“We came out of the gates strong and if you catch a defense snoozing early, you can change the tempo of the game,” said Webb, who scored his three goals in the first 20 minutes of the match.
Because of a demanding work schedule, the game was only Webb’s third appearance for Taggs this season. His two previous outings were also against Gillons and he notched a goal in each of those games.
“I’m usually good for one against them and I came out of the gates well, but I faded because I’m just not in as good shape as I was,” he remarked. “The wind came out of my sails and when you’re not in shape, everything starts hurting.”
Also making an appearance for Taggs was long-time player, Thor Ruppenstein, who has been bothered with a leg injury all season long.
With Ruppenstein, his brother Olaf and Webb playing in the front, Taggs wreaked havoc in Gillons’ defensive zone, with Webb’s goals all coming off turnovers from a Gillons backline that wasn’t ready for Taggs’ quick start.
“If we get 20 minutes of that space we require and if they let us run those angles, we’ll make them pay every time,” said Webb. “If both Olaf and myself are here, we’re going to go for the throat early and all game if we can.”
This year has seen a changing of the guard, as the young and motivated teams of Gillons and Subway have been battling for the top spot in the league, while Taggs have been holding to the third spot in a league they once dominated.
“The pendulum is definitely swinging,” said Webb, who once was the league’s president.
“Taggs have been on top of the league for many years and that raised the calibre of other teams. Gillons and Subway have really put in a package to try to beat us, and last year, they came really close.”
Taggs, with the win, are 16 points behind Gillons, who currently hold first place, and Webb mentioned there are “a lot” people that would like to see Taggs not finish well.
“There are a lot of people around town that would like to see the changing of the guard,” said Webb. “But it would be good either way though (Gillons or Subway winning and Taggs losing, or Taggs winning with Gillons and Subway losing).”
“A lot of young up-and-coming players in the past few years don’t want to play for Taggs. They want to get on a team that is challenging us. We’ve had the opposite effect of the bandwagon effect.”
But Webb says that soccer in Fort Frances has come a long way from the past, when you could find the centre of the field by its two-foot crevasse. And that Taggs’ once dominant play contributed to other teams’ current success.
“I think it’s been for the betterment of the league. Soccer has come a long way in this town. The players have gotten younger and the younger players aren’t quitting and are sticking to it,” he noted.
“And then you end up with excellent teams like Gillons and Subway that can challenge us old veterans and give us a good run.”
The league’s playoffs begin August 11th (shortly after the Ball Blast tournament, which is held August 6-8) and while Taggs may be on the outside looking in, they are still, when their veteran players are fielded, a team that cannot be overlooked by a Gillons or a Subway.
“Once you get in the playoffs, it’s going to matter who shows up. We have enough old core guys that play a lot of soccer, but they still have to come out and play,” said Webb, who isn’t sure if he’ll be able to play because of his chaotic work schedule.
“We’ve got enough guys that can put it in the net, so when we show up, it can be pretty difficult to defend us,” he remarked.
“We’ll put her together on the right night.”
The only question now facing Taggs is which night?
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
