It certainly wasn’t the ending the Cowichan 49ers had hoped for or even expected.
On Sunday, April 14, the Masters men held their provincial quarter-final game against Surrey FC Pegasus at the Sherman Road turf and fans will agree Cowichan held the balance of play during the match.
Before ending in heartbreak for the home side, it had been a strong defensive battle by both teams, despite an early chance by Cowichan’s Gjoa Carr whose breakaway attempt was stymied by the opposing keeper.
Pegasus managed two near-breakaways, but were unable to convert on them thanks to a solid effort from Darian Achurch in goal.
In a heart-breaking turn of events, however, a Pegasus forward slipped by two defenders and found the back of the net as the final seconds of the game ticked down, leaving Cowichan zero time to get the ball back to half let alone mount any type of comeback.
Surrey won 1-0 to advance to the provincial semi-finals, leaving the 49ers to pack up their gear for the season.
“The 49ers want to thank their fans for their support on Sunday at the game and all year,” Achurch said on behalf of the team. “We are already looking forward to bettering our result next year in our quest for a provincial title.”