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Div 1 [VMSL Div 1] Predictions, Results & Banter 2019/2020

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Canucks4Ever

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Well it looks like results are going Greencaps way along with picking up 2 big wins. I would have to believe inter and Santos will get relegated. Pretty impressive Richmond still unbeaten they will be a tough team to beat in the premier next year.
I would agree that it looks most likely to be Inter and Santos going down. However, Santos still have to play NorVan and Greencaps, so they are not entirely toast just yet. Inter, on the other hand, play Burnaby Metro, Westside, Rino's and Sierra. Maybe they get something out of that Rino's match, but in the other three they will be massive underdogs. It also looks as though they have transferred their two top goal scorers to their Premier team which is obviously a hammer blow to their Div. 1 side's prospects of beating the drop. It does not seem like the club puts much value on having this B team so it will be interesting to see if they continue with it should they drop into Div. 2 or if they look to "restructure."

As for UBC's chances in Prem, it is tough to say. Again, next season they should be moving some of these players, like leading scorer Sebastian Dzikowski, into their full time varsity set up and will have a new crop of first year recruits looking to get game time in the VMSL. Perhaps with some players having been a part of the VMSL squad this season, and with it now being in Premier, some of those players will look to join up with the side after the varsity season. Also unknown is if they will continue to have VMSL veterans involved in the squad to prop up the young guns such as goalkeeper Colton Cook and second leading scorer Zach Karmel. Expect them to be competitive next season, as any well coached team is, but, beyond that they are likely to be a bit of a wild card given the expected large amount of player turnover.

This week's game against Inter's Prem side though should be a fun test and measuring stick for that group.
 

Canucks4Ever

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The top five sides are all trying their hand in the Imperial Cup this weekend meaning that it is the relegation scrap squarely in focus this weekend. The league has got three matches on the slate and, after last week's results, the battle to beat the drop looks finely poised.

Completely Baseless Predictions - Week 20

VAFC Santos v NorVan Storm
With the big boys otherwise occupied this weekend, the bottom sides take focus and with this fixture guaranteed to have an effect on the relegation battle it is the MOTW. After a brief uptick in form, VAFC have lost three straight and now are on the verge of being cut adrift from the rest of the table. In reality, even though this is not mathematically a must win, a loss here pretty much seals their fate. A win, though, and suddenly they are level with the Storm and have a match with Greencaps still to come that could see them climb all the way to safety. Also with a match against Greencaps to come, next week in fact, are NorVan who are surely thinking that a pair of wins might just about do the job for them. They come into this weekend in the drop zone after their late 1-0 loss to Westside combined with Greencaps picking up a win. Unlike VAFC, a loss here, while inconvenient, is not yet devastating for the North Shore boys as they still have a date with Rino's that could well bear fruit as well as a match with GN in which the Surrey/Delta boys could have little for which to play. This game should pit two desperate side against each other, hopefully producing a cracking encounter for the neutrals. VAFC won the reverse fixture, but, overall, NorVan just seem to have a bit more quality in their side, particularly at the back where they have allowed 23 fewer goals against than Santos. NorVan also have the best goal difference of the four sides in the relegation battle and it is stats like that which usually come good by the end of the season. Look for them to pick up a crucial win here.

Vancouver Greencaps v Westside Sierra
As the rest of the top half of the table are involved in the cup, Sierra are left to be the big man on campus, as it were, this weekend. The former BMSL side have yet to be scored on in the New Year, notching an impressive 1-0 win over over second place Coquitlam Metro Ford Lupi last time out. Their peak form looks to have come just too late for them to make a last gasp promotion charge, but the newly promoted side are now mathematically assured of another season at this level. While that will certainly feel like mission accomplished for Sierra, of all the mid-table sides they look the most motivated to continue to see just how high in the table they can climb. Also motivated, albeit for different reasons, are Greencaps. The Irish lads pulled off a bit of a smash and grab away to GN last week, winning 3-2 on a last minute penalty kick, despite having had a man sent off. That is just the sort of never say die attitude that the Vancouver boys will need to maintain if they are going to beat the drop and stick around in Division 1 for a third season. The GN win made it back to back wins for the Green men for the first time this season and they have taken points from three straight matches. It has taken some time for this version of the Greencaps to resurface after they managed to stay up comfortably last season, but one assumes it is a case of better late than never. They will be in tough this week against an in form Sierra side though. Fortunately for the Vancouver side, they still very much hold their fate in their own hands with matches against fellow relegation sides Santos and NorVan on the docket in the coming weeks. These two teams split the points in a 2-2 draw in their first meeting, but Sierra are hot at the moment, so expect them to take all the points for themselves this time around.

Vancouver Strikers v Rino's Fury
The final match being played in the league this week is a mid-table "Who cares?" showdown between Strikers and Rino's. Both teams drew byes in the Imperial Cup, but, realistically, will have a tough time progressing far in that competition. Based on their seasons to date, about all they have left to play for is the chance to mess with either the promotion of the relegation race and each of them did just that last time out. Strikers snapped out of a stretch of rather ambivalent form to beat Chinter 2-1 and leave the "Italian"-Chileans in real trouble at the bottom of the table, while a last minute penalty saw Rino's throw a wrench in Burnaby Metro's promotion hopes, holding them to a 1-1 draw. Neither of these teams is technically mathematically safe, but, realistically, they will both be back again next season. That is certainly job done for newly promoted Strikers and a win here would gurantee them no worse that a playoff to avoid relegation. Based on recent form though, if either side is going to emerge as a winner from this match it seems likely to be Rino's. Neither side has much to play for, however, so it would not surprise me in the slightest to see them split the points and call it a day.
 

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Santos 3 NorVan 3. Evenly matched game with plenty of goals. Thought both teams attacked quite well but defences were shaky at times. The ref seemed to influence the game in hindsight. Both teams battled until the bitter end. Overall a great watch on a cold evening.
 

Canucks4Ever

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This looks set to be the final weekend in Division 1 where everybody plays. From here on out various makeup games will be scheduled depending on who is available and still needs to play whom, as well as whether any of the five remaining lower league sides can progress further in the Imperial Cup. Both the promotion and relegation races on on a knife's edge and just about every team still has something left to play for, which makes this part of the season more compelling that in other years when things are basically already decided by this point.

Completely Baseless Predictions - Week 21

Richmond Hibernian v Coquitlam Metro Ford Lupi
If UBC can win this match they will move eight points clear of Lupi with the Tri-Cities boys having just three matches left. This would all but end any title hopes that Lupi might be holding onto. However, with matches against Lupi, Burnaby Metro and Westside still on their schedule, there still exists a set of circumstances wherein UBC could actually wind up fourth and not even promoted, let alone champions. This, or course, would involve "Richmond" doing something that they have yet to do this season though, which is to lose. That being said, all three of those teams just mentioned held UBC to draws in their first meetings, so if anyone in this division can beat them, it stands to reason it would be one or more of those teams. If they all pull off the feat, well then that brings into play the scenario where UBC are back again next year at this level which, as mentioned previously, might actually be their preference given what they seem to want to use this team to accomplish. Realistically, though, that seems like quite the long shot. Lupi have been good all season but might just be losing a bit of their spark. They have lost back to back games for the first time this season after they were beaten 1-0 by Sierra in their last league game and were then dumped out of the Imperial Cup 3-2 by Westside, in a match where they conceded their most goals in a game all season. A Friday night trek to nearly the farthest part of the Lower Mainland away from Coquitlam is likely far from top of the priority list for Lupi, especially with the reality of not being able to be promoted due to league rules. If they field a full squad you would fancy them to have a chance in this one, but there are plenty of reasons to doubt that they will. Plus, given their form and the fact they just beat Chinter's Premier team, albeit on penalties, in the Imperial Cup, there is simply no betting against UBC at the minute.

GN Sporting v Burnaby Metro Athletic
We have officially reached last chance hotel time for GN Sporting. A loss here would mean that GN would have to win out and hope Burnaby do not pick up another point the rest of the way in order to earn a playoff to have a chance at promotion. Given its weight on the promotion battle, this one has to be the MOTW. A win for GN, conversely, would bring them within six points of Burnaby and, while still an uphill battle, it would keep them in the race. Giving them reason for hope in this match is the fact that Metro will be without leading scorer Tipo Conteh after he was sent off in Burnaby's penalty shootout loss to Premier side Columbus last weekend. Additionally, coach Houman Taba will unable to participate in the match having also been ejected from that game. Working against GN will be their dismal home record with only two of their eight wins on the season having come at home with their last game at Delsom seeing them go down 3-2 to relegation threatened Greencaps. Metro might be in the drivers seat for promotion, but they do have a tricky schedule left with Sierra and UBC still to play. Westside are breathing hard down their neck and there is simply no room for further error after they conceded a last minute penalty to Rino's and dropped two precious points in their last league outing. It is pretty much a must win for both of these team, with Burnaby having potentially slightly more of a cushion that GN but not much. Metro have come up short for in both their previous attempts at promotion, but look as though they just might hold their nerve this time around. Add in GN's woeful home form and I think the Burnaby boys should have enough to get the points they need.

VAFC Santos v Westside FC A
A point out of their big relegation showdown against NorVan last week left Santos still with a chance of making the great escape. However, surely they will be ruing the two goal lead they let slip away over the final seven minutes of that 3-3 draw. If they do go down, they can pretty much look back to that collapse as why, given that holding on for a win would have moved them level with NorVan and brought them within two points of safety. With only three matches remaining, time is of the essence. Their final match is against Greencaps, which might well be winable, but if they do not get something out of either this game of their match with GN next week, it will be a moot point as Santos will already be down. In fact, if they lose and both Inter and Greencaps win, then their relegation will be official this weekend. Westside, of course, cannot concern themselves with such things as they are the team trying to make up ground in the promotion race. They hold a game in hand, so, ostensibly, if their rivals drop points Friday night, then they would be in the driver's seat. Dropping any points at all to Santos does not factor into that equation one bit and would pretty much doom them. There is also the subtle undercurrent in this match that Santos are now run by Burnaby Metro, Westside's chief promotion rivals, so one would expect that Stanos will surely want to try to do their parent club a solid in this one and deal a blow to Westside's promotion challenge. So Westside will be the favourite, but this should be a well motivated Santos side and not entirely straightforward.

Westside Sierra v Vancouver Strikers
Two of the teams with nothing much to play for are promotion cousins Sierra and Strikers. Strikers, it seems, got that message weeks ago and have rather listlessly been coasting towards the finish line, as evidenced by their rather placid 1-0 loss to Rino's last week. On the other hand, no one seems to have told Sierra anything about the season being over for them, for all intents and purposes as they rattled off a fourth straight clean sheet victory when the edged Greencaps 1-0 last time out. They beat Coquitlam in their prior match, sending the top of the table spinning, and still have a date with Burnaby Metro to come that could well influence the promotion race. Technically speaking, Sierra could still earn promotion, but with only three games left on their schedule, they cap out at 39 points, meaning that just one more win for Burnaby Metro would officially consign them to another season at this level. Hey, though, you never know, and you certainly get the feeling that Sierra intend to push on right until the end, even if it looks as though their surge for the top has come just barely too late. On the flip side, Sierra are mathematically safe from relegation while Strikers technically could still go down, but it would require an unbelievable set of circumstances in which three teams overtake them over the final few matches of the season. It is certainly highly improbable and if Chinter or Greencaps lose this weekend, Strikers will be guaranteed of at least a playoff to stay up should disaster actually befall them. Basically you have two teams with nothing to play for, but that are approaching that scenario very differently. Looks like a slam dunk for Sierra here.

NorVan Storm v Vancouver Greencaps
This is the big match up at the bottom of the table this week. NorVan fought back to get a last ditch point with two late goals in their 3-3 against Santos last week, but, really, three points would have surely been their aim in that one. Instead, the draw leaves them still on the wrong side of the line, but they can fix that with a win this week as they would leap frog Greencaps in the standings. There are actually half decent odds on both these teams beating the drop and with Greencaps still having a date against Santos on the calendar, they might well have another bit at the cherry if things go awry in this one. Of the four teams in the relegation battle, these two look to be the most up for it, showing character in their recent outings, nearly taking points off teams in the top half and finding ways to get points off the teams around them in the bottom. Despite having that Santos card in their back pocket, Greencaps will surely want to get this one over the line sooner rather than later. Both teams also still have to play Rino's who should be safe by then with little to play for and likely with one eye already on the summer. This one should be a proper battle between sides fighting for survival. It is never easy to go to the North Shore, but Greencaps do look likely to be the team in slightly better form at the moment. The lost narrowly 1-0 to Sierra last time out and, before that, had points in three straight games, including a win of GN. They play Burnaby Metro close and have not lost a game by more that a goal since the second to last week of November. NorVan, on the other hand, even though they played both Westside and Sierra close, they were edged 1-0 in both those matches, and, after they nearly bottled it against Santos last time out, they actually have yet to win a game in 2020. Could easily go either way here, but I will back the Green men in this massive six-pointer.

Rino's Fury v Club Inter EDC Burnaby
It is beginning to look quite dire indeed for EDC in terms of relegation. They have the toughest schedule of the four relegation candidates, with matches against Sierra, Westside and Burnaby Metro on the docket to close out the season. Other than potentially this week against Rino's, it is tough to see where they might pick up points the rest of the way. The 13 they have amassed so far do not look like they will be enough to keep them the right side of the line, though Greencaps could really do them a favour by beating NorVan this week to give Chinter some hope. NorVan do not have an easy schedule either with UBC, GN and Lupi left to play, but they also have a game against Rino's that is shaping up to mean far more to them than it is to the Vancouverites. As it is, Rino's can put a bow on a rather forgettable season by their standards with a win in this match as they would be mathematically safe from any chance of relegation. The Fury have not been great this year, but my goodness Inter look a mess at the moment, having lost eight straight games. Ironically, their last win was against Rino's back on November 9, so perhaps this is the perfect game for them. I would not bet on it though.
 

Canucks4Ever

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Half of Division 1 are playing Imperial Cup matches this week, but that does not mean that we cannot enjoy the matches between the rest of the sides with the relegation race entering its final chapter. At the top, the promotion race took an unexpected turn this week when promotion hopefuls Burnaby Metro became the latest team punished for their inability to count to five, as the league has docked them three points for using too many subs in a game. This is a devastating blow to Burnaby's promotion bid as they now no longer hold their fate in their hands. They will try to move on from that disappointment this weekend.

Completely Baseless Predictions - Week 22

VAFC Santos v GN Sporting
This is officially last chance hotel time for Santos as they mathematically must get at least a point for this match or they will be relegated. Fortunately for them, GN might not have much reason to be motivated in this one. After a stunning finish to their tilt with Burnaby Metro in which both teams traded injury time goals take those in attendance on a emotional roller coaster ride, GN's promotion hope are all but toast. While mathematically they could still accumulate enough points, the teams competing with them to go up would essentially have to lose out while they won out. The Surrey/Delta boys have lost all four of their matches in all competitions in the New Year and, if you add in the two draws with which they closed out their pre-holiday schedule, it means they are without a win in their past six games. With little to play for and a trip to Burnaby on a long weekend, fielding their best possible squad might be a tall order. If that turns out to be the case, Santos are certainly not in a position to refuse an potential charity and should be keen to take advantage. GN probably still have enough to get this done, but those final death throws are always unpredictable and officially relegating a team is never easy. I'll say Santos go kicking and screaming, as opposed to gentle, into that good night and scratch out a life support sustaining draw.

Burnaby Metro Athletic v Club Inter EDC Burnaby B
After the stunning revelation this week that Burnaby used an extra sub in their game against Westside back in October, Metro's promotion bid has just been thrown into upheaval. Westside now control their own fate with Metro needing them to drop points in order for the door to be opened for them once again. Westside still have to play league leaders "Richmond", but so too do Burnaby, meaning that the season could well come down to who can get a better result against the UBC boys. That is for the future though, as Westside will not be dropping any points this weekend while they are involved in Imperial Cup play. Burnaby cannot possibly afford to be dropping points to the likes of relegation threatened Chinter if they are to recover from their administrative error. The good news for Metro is that Inter are on a woeful nine game losing streak and their only hope for survival seems to be relying on the two teams behind them to not pick up any further points. Their one point cushion looks tedious at best and barring a stunning win against Burnaby, Sierra or Westside, it seems unlikely that they will accumulate enough points to stay at this level.

Coquitlam Metro Ford Lupi v NorVan Storm
It is now three losses on the spin for Lupi in all competitions after they failed to hold onto an early lead in a 4-1 loss to UBC. They had conceded a season high three goals in a match when they were dumped out of the Imperial Cup by Westside the week before and then UBC went out and topped that by putting four passed them. While they persevered near the top for much longer this season than last, it appears as though the reality of not being able to be promoted has finally set in, and priorities are starting to drift elsewhere with the season winding to a close. NorVan, on the other hand, do not have that sort of luxury as they find themselves in one of the two relegation positions, a point away from safety with four matches left on their schedule. A demoralizing 2-0 loss to fellow relegation battlers Greencaps was certainly a dent to the Storms chances, especially with the loss coming at home on the North Shore. If they are going to find a way to stay up it appears likely that the necessary points will have to come on the road given that their lone remaining home fixture is against first place UBC. Ironically, with apathy seemingly filtering into the Lupi side, a home game on a long weekend might have been the perfect recipe for NorVan to get something out of this match. As it is, it is them who must travel on a holiday weekend, which I think tilts the scale further in Metro Ford's favour.

Vancouver Greencaps
v VAFC Santos
Things could well be settled by the time this game rolls around on Wednesday night, on the off chance Santos are still alive, this it the MOTW. Regardless of what the situation is for Santos, Greencaps will be hopeful of being able to guarantee themselves no worse than a playoff for survival should they be able to pick up a win here. With a date on the following weekend against first place UBC, Greencaps will want to bank those points now and not have to rely on their final match of the season against Rino's to save themselves. Even in the best case scenario, a loss in this match will spell lights out for Santos. Assuming they have been able to get something out of their weekend encounter against GN, they will have a pulse in this match and will surely throw everything they have at it as they will have nothing else to save it for with this being their last game of the season. Greencaps are notorious for wanting to enjoy their long weekends off, so they have presumably moved this match to mid-week in order to field the best possible squad. They have won three of their four matches in the New Year after a win by Santos on the final day before the break meant Greencaps spent the holidays in the division cellar. They have emerged renewed though and, even though mid-week games often lend themselves to draws, I think Greencaps take all the spoils here and set themselves up to complete an impressive escape act.
 

Canucks4Ever

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One half of the relegation puzzle has now been confirmed with Santos heading down following their 3-0 loss to GN at the weekend. The side formerly known as Campo make it back to last places and demotions, despite a pair of mid-season realignments, the second of which, a merger with Burnaby Metro, did appear to give them some increased stability. They closed out their season with a midweek loss to Greencaps that moved the Irish lads far enough from the relegation race that their survival should be confirmed this weekend. It will be interesting to see what the future hold for Santos with a team now in Division 2, along with two more in Division 3. As part of Burnaby Metro, perhaps some of it still depends on whether or not their flagship team can, in fact earn promotion. It is tough to see them returning with all these teams, but that is a matter for the off season, for right now it is time to focus on the aforementioned promotion race as well as which of NorVan and Chinter will be joining Santos in Div. 2 next season.

Completely Baseless Predictions - Make Up Games

Vancouver Greencaps v Richmond FC Hibernian
Their mid-week win over Santos has all but guaranteed Greencaps safety for another season, which is a decent accomplishment when one considers that they were propping up the table at Christmas. As it stands now, Greencaps are guaranteed a playoff with Inter at worst for a chance to stay up. Realistically, though, as soon as Inter drop another point, or if NorVan drop two points, or if Greencaps themselves pick up a single point, they will be officially safe. Speaking of "official", a win in this one will clinch promotion for UBC and, in a similar situation as Greencaps, all but guarantee them the league title. Technically Westside could still catch them for top spot, but that would involve "Richmond" not earning any further points this season, a scenario that seems unlikely given their unbeaten record. UBC were always going to be favourites in this one, but after their big mid-week win, Greencaps could well find it tough to get motivated for this one.

Westside FC A v Club Inter EDC Burnaby B
The math is simple for Westside as they return to league play after learning prior to be eliminated from the Imperial Cup that they now hold their fate in their own hands thanks to an administrative error by Burnaby Metro. The irony abounds as well, given that the game they used the sixth substitute in was actually against Westside. Nevertheless, the path is clear for the Vancouver boys, win their final four games and they will return to Premier. That is likely easier said that done given they still have a date with UBC to come, but there is no sense in them looking that far ahead if they bottle things against Chinter. It is tough to imagine based on the "Italian"-Chilean side's current form, but one of their four wins on the season did come against Westside. That success was in the middle of a three match point streak for Chinter, and the first of two wins on the spin, in what was easily their best stretch of the season. Since that run, though, they have lost ten straight games, conceding 39 goals while scoring just 11. As they have been dragged further and further down the table and into the relegation fight this has not seemed to inspire an sort of survival instinct as performances have not improved. Inter taking their B side's two top scorers to Premier, Hugo Silva and Andres Mauricio Rojas Rodriguez, certainly has not helped. The odds are stacked again Inter here, though every game starts at 0-0 so they will be in with a chance.

Burnaby Metro Athletic v Westside FC Sierra
Despite no longer being able to earn promotion, Sierra look as though they will push right through to the end of the season without letting up. That is less that desirable if you are Burnaby Metro in the promotion hunt but, for the neutrals, it makes things entertaining and makes this the MOTW. Burnaby responded following their points deduction by taking Chinter to the cleaners in a 5-1 win. All they can do is keep winning and hope that Westside slip up somewhere along the way. Sierra can do their loosely affiliated friends quite the favour by potentially taking points off of Metro and, given their current form, you would not bet against them getting something out of this game. They were unbeaten in 2020 with no goals conceded before yet another last minute meltdown against Strikers and then their trip to Premier side CCB. This should be a decent contest after their first meeting ended as a 1-1 draw. I think there are decent odds on another draw here as well but, with this game meaning so much to Metro and with their last game coming against UBC, I think they find a way to scrape all the point from this match.

Coquitlam Metro Ford Lupi v GN Sporting
It stands to reason that both these sides will be back next season. Barring some kind of mathematical miracle, GN are not getting promoted and barring some sort of unforeseen VMSL rule change, Lupi cannot go up. The Tri-Cities boys look to have taken their foot off the gas over the last month, as they had lost three straight before they snapped that run with a narrow 1-0 home win over NorVan last time out. GN have generally been better away from home this season and showed that again with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Santos who were in a fight for their lives at the time. Should be a decent tilt for both these teams as they work towards closing out the season, probably a toss up here, call it a draw.

Rino's Fury v NorVan Storm
This is just about it for NorVan in terms of opportunities to save themselves, as they are rapidly running out of bullets in the chamber. Rino's have absolutely nothing to play for in this one, other than trying to ruin the season for the North Shore boys. It is now a simple distributive problem between NorVan and Chinter, there is only room in Division 1 for one of them. Inter play promotion hopefuls Westside this weekend before closing out the season against Sierra. The Storm have a game in hand and play Rino's, GN and UBC. GN and Sierra are essentially in the same boat in terms of being top half teams, but with nothing to play for, but still, relying on points from either of those games seems like a losing proposition for both EDC and NorVan. Even though UBC will be home and dried by the time the come up against NorVan, they are in first place for a reason and it is tough to see them getting anything out of that game. The Storm have to hope that is a similar situation for Inter this week against a Westside team that seimply must win to keep pace at the top. That leaves the North Shore boys with this game against Rino's to more or less get it over the line. The North Shore boys gave another good account of themselves in a 1-0 loss to Lupi in Coquitlam last time out. They have been playing well enough, but that crucial goal just seems to be hard to come by. Rino's do not keep a ton of clean sheet, just three on the season, and with nothing on the line you have to think that defensive resoluteness is perhaps not at the top of their priorities. I think NorVan will score goals in this one and, with so much at stake, find a way to get the win.
 

Canucks4Ever

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The first promotion spoke is now officially spoken for and the second relegation place is down to a two horse race. Four teams reach the finish line this weekend as the 2019/20 season draws to a close. It has been an interesting and unpredictable season and there are still a few more twists remaining!

Completely Baseless Predictions - Make Up Games

GN Sporting v NorVan Storm
Having pulled off a crucial win against Rino's last week with the help of several Masters Premier players and a clutch of HPL call ups, NorVan are probably safe. A win in Delta against GN would make certain of it, while a draw would guarantee them at least a playoff with Chinter for survival. The Storm do still have another game to play after this one, although it is against UBC. That said, by that point it is likely that "Richmond" will have already secured first place, so perhaps they will phone that one in. It is certainly not something that NorVan will want to be relying on though. They will want to try and put this to bed this week, but they will not be able to rely on their Masters call ups with their Over 35s occupied concurrently with cup play. Now that they no longer have a shot at promotion, GN seem to have rediscovered their best form. The Surrey/Delta boys smashed VAFC Santos to relegate them two weeks ago and then followed that up with an impressive 2-1 win away to Coquitlam. Away days seem to be the preference for GN, compared to playing at Delsom and that will surely buoy NorVan ahead of their journey south of the river. Decent odds on a draw here, but I will go with the hot hand and say GN edge it.

Westside FC A v Vancouver Strikers
The math is very simple for Westside in their request to return to Premier. Win their final three games and they are up. Their next match, though, is against undefeated league leaders UBC and is set to be quite the clash. If Westside are already looking ahead to that one it could be the perfect opportunity for Strikers to trip them up. The Jericho Beach Boys have looked like a team on vacation since the calendar turned over a new page. Other than a narrow win relegation fodder Chinter, they really only have a late fight back to earn a point against Sierra to show for their efforts in 2020. After scoring 33 goals in the 15 games before the Winter Break, they have netted just six time in their five matches since. The last time these two teams met the Strikers potent offense was on fully display when Westside fought back in and then held on to win a 5-4 barn burner. If Strikers can rediscover that kind of attacking prowess this could prove to be a fatal trap game for Westside, despite them being the clear favourites.

Club Inter EDC Burnaby B v Westside Sierra
According to sources, Chinter could not even make it the full 90 minutes away to Westside last week. Evidently they turned up with nine players and called it quits at half time. If that does not scream of a team that deserved to go down then I do not know what does. Still, relegation rarely comes down to who "deserves" it and, pending the outcome of NorVan's game in Delta on Friday, Inter will still have a chance to save themselves. Nothing less than a win against Sierra will do and given Inter's struggles to even field a team, combined with the fact that they have lost eleven straight games, it is hard to see their path to glory in this one. Perhaps they will be able to field a squad know that they are back at home and maybe they can catch Sierra short staffed with the former Burnaby Leaguers having no less than five players unavailable through suspension. Sierra were beaten 2-0 by Burnaby Metro last time out and this is also their final match of the season. They will no doubt want to finish the campaign on a high so, short of the stars aligning, it seems that EDC are likely to occupy the second relegation spot when their season ends on Saturday.

Rino's Fury v Vancouver Greencaps
With Chinter not managing to take anything off of Westside last week, Greencaps saw their fight for survival officially crowned a success, despite their 1-0 loss to UBC. It is a fairly remarkable turnaround for a team that did not earn a point until the second week of October and did not win a game until the final day of the first half of the schedule in early November. Greencaps were bottom at Christmas, but are safe now with one game left to play. This is for all intents and purposes a kick around with Rino's also having nothing left for which to play. The Fury did their Good Samaritan work last time out when they spotted NorVan the points that are likely to keep them in the division in a 3-1 loss. It is a classic Div. 1 end of the year "Who Cares?" match. Call it a draw.

Burnaby Metro Athletic v Richmond Hibernian
This is by far and away the MOTW and possibly even the Match of the Season. UBC have clinched promotion and need one more point, or for Westside to drop points, to be crowned Division 1 Champions. Of course, "Richmond" are still undefeated on the season, a record that they are surely hoping to hold onto. For Burnaby, this is their final match of the season. Westside are breathing down their necks and can catch them regardless of what Metro do in this game. However, Westside also have to face UBC so if Burnaby can pull off the win and then have UBC beat Westside, suddenly the math changes. What is for certain is that the 43 points that Burnaby have currently amassed seem unlikely to be enough to go up. Ironically, had Burnaby not been penalized for their oversight in regards to substitutions, they would actually be playing for a chance to clinch promotion with a win. As for "Richmond" if they want an undefeated season, these two games, against Burnaby and Westside, are their gauntlet. Both teams earned draws against them in the reverse fixture, so there should be decent confidence in this Burnaby Metro side, not to mention some desperation. Plus, they are at home on a Sunday night which might be somewhat of a tricky away day for the college kids. It is nigh on impossible to bet against UBC after the season they have had, but I like Burnaby's chances here. I will split the difference and say this one ends as a tie between these teams for the second time this season.
 

Sunday League Gaffer

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Oct 23, 2016
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West side a lose and the league doesn’t update the web page .... any surprised ? Maybe they will find a way for BMS to get hammered for another 3 points. F”@cking embarrassing
 

Canucks4Ever

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Sure they do ... hearing Westside a lost 4-1 ...
Again...you're implication is what? The league is trying to somehow prop Westside up?? Because "delaying" the posting of the score does that how exactly.....?

FYI Excellent Site now reflects your intel: 4-1 Strikers

Burnaby Metro with a chance to seal promotion with a win over UBC.

One more time though...your point is what exactly???
 

SmartCoach

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the league can only update when they receive
Refs report
Not all refs do it right after the game
Depends if they are wet and very cold or had dinner yet had to drive a long way home
Human factors
The league administrator is independent of all men’s league clubs
Unlike the Fraser valley
 

Canucks4Ever

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I noticed this too. Appears to be a bit of bias toward Westside in gernal. Stinks of corruption.
Just to clarify one more time: The league does not update the website. Each individual referee logs in and enters the score after their game. That's when it appears on the website.

Also, still not sure how "delaying" the posting of the score would "help" any team. It's not like the score changes...

Happy to discuss any other potential issues surrounding bias etc. from the league but they really should be founded in fact before we get into them.
 

machel

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There's a chance that BM,Lupi, and Westside all finish on 43. I guess Lupi is out of promotion talk because of Wolves. Fairly competitive table from an outsiders view.
 
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