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Cowichan Red Arrow clinches first, not sure what’s next

Red Arrow tops Div. 4 pool B, but haven’t been told what league’s plans are going forward
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Matthew Archambault races a Bays United player to the ball during Cowichan Red Arrow’s 3-2 win at the Sherman Road turf last Saturday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Cowichan Red Arrow may not know what will happen next for themselves and the other teams in Div. 4 of the Vancouver Island Soccer League, but regardless, they’ve finished 2018 atop pool B.

Red Arrow defeated Bays United 3-2 at the Sherman Road turf on Saturday afternoon, improving their record to 10 wins, one loss and one draw, their 32 points good enough to secure first place in the pool after Castaways Invicta played to a tie on Sunday.

“It was a very fast-paced game to start, with both teams playing direct with long balls over the top,” Cowichan coach Will Chaster reported.

Red Arrow gave up two scoring chances on poorly considered passes back to the middle. Goalkeeper Tim den Hartigh came out to force the first chance wide, but the second one gave Bays a 1-0 lead.

Cowichan rallied back, completing a series of about seven passes before Matthew Archambault rolled the ball into the empty net. Jonas Golf-Myers gave Cowichan the lead when he netted his eighth goal of the season after a Bays player handled the ball in their box.

Red Arrow dominated possession after that, and Bays responded with harder challenges, which led to the quality of play going down. Bays ended up with a free kick from about 25 yards out that led to their second goal when a brilliant defensive effort by Matt Owen redirected the ball off the post and in for an own-goal.

Kaelin Leddy ended up with the game-winner for Cowichan.

“The second half was pretty much a chippy affair,” Chaster said. “And the final whistle seemed to take a long time to sound, after what was over 10 minutes of time added.”

Cowichan has a bye this weekend as the remaining Div. 4 teams wrap up the first portion of the season. The format and schedule for the second half leading into cup play has not yet been announced.