Gillons’ wins men’s soccer title

Gillons’ came into this season motivated not to let what happened last year, in their championship game loss to Taggs, happen again this year.
And after a thrilling final against Subway, Gillons’ lay claim to their place as the Borderland Soccer League men’s champs with a 3-2 victory in extra time here yesterday afternoon.
“You can’t help but be pleased. Today we showed that if we stay positive mentally, then we can run with anybody and that showed today,” said Shane Beckett of Gillons’.
Gillons’ and Subway had finished first and second, respectively, in the regular season. And after getting past their semi-final match-ups (Gillons’ beating Rainy River and Subway ousting Taggs), they created a dream final that was everything that was expected—and then some.
Outstanding work by Subway’s Ryan Hampton in goal against an array of Gillons’ scoring chances kept the first half scoreless. But five minutes into the second half, Hampton wasn’t able to stop Jeremy Wilson when he broke through the defence and hit the mesh.
“He’s unbelievable. Simply unbelievable,” Duane Turriff of Subway said about Hampton’s play. “Hampton is the best keeper, and he knows where to be and he really knows how to play.”
Subway struck back with Jeff Savage knotting the game at 1-1, but Gillons’ was awarded a penalty kick shortly after as Wilson—a constant threat up front—was tripped in the penalty area.
Matt Basaraba, who had a strong game at the midfield for Gillons’, converted on the attempt.
“There were a couple of mistakes. A couple of defensive breakdowns and that’s all that Gillons’ needs and we just couldn’t give them that,” said Turriff.
Subway fought back to tie the game at 2-2 as Savage netted his second of the afternoon with 10 minutes left in regulation time, which sent the game into extra time.
Extra time features two 15-minute halves, with the “golden goal” (i.e., sudden death) observed. If no team scores, the game then goes to penalty kicks.
The first extra frame saw no scoring but plenty of opportunities by Gillons’.
“I knew it was coming,” said Wilson, who scored the game-winner with 10 minutes left in the second extra frame. “Hampton played really well, but I just knew that we could eventually get it.”
The goal came from a well-placed touch pass by Adam McTavish at midfield, which found Wilson streaking down the middle. He was able to control the ball and then boot a strike that Hampton had no chance on.
“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, and that’s my favourite type of shot because you can put so much more power on it, and it’s hard to stop when you get it accurate,” Wilson said of the game-winner.
“It was a good finish and I was glad that it was done because I was tired and I wanted to go home,” he added.
The goal gave Gillons’ a perfect end to a season (in which they won the annual “Ball Blast” tournament here earlier this month) and left Subway with a sour after-taste to what was still a successful season.
“Unbelievable. We had them. We should’ve had them,” said a dejected Turriff, who was the vocal leader for his team.
“It could’ve went either way today. It really could’ve,” he remarked. “I mean, I’m crushed. I really am. I played my heart out and my legs are dead.
“I can barely walk and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”