A strong start and a spectacular goalkeeping effort in the second half propelled Cowichan LMG to a 2-0 victory over Gorge last Friday, keeping the team's perfect record intact.
Cowichan started the game well, getting their first goal, the eventual game-winner, from Tyler Hughes on a free kick at eight minutes, and adding some insurance at 28 minutes when Paddy Nelson scored his league-leading 10th goal of the season on a breakaway.
"We were doing really well," head coach Glen Martin commented.
So well, in fact, that Martin made just one change at halftime, opting to keep things consistent after the strong first-half performance.
All the momentum from the opening 45 minutes was lost, however, and Cowichan struggled to hold on to the lead.
"I don't know what happened, but we let them off the game," Martin said.
The only saving grace was goalkeeper Joel Wilson, who didn't miss a beat in his return after serving a one-game suspension the week earlier.
"Joel was great in the second half," Martin said. "If it wasn't for him, things would have been different. He earned the shutout."
Now 8-0, Cowichan leads second-place Saanich Fusion 24 points to 17. The club will play host to third-place Bays United in Ladysmith this Friday at 7:30 p.m. "We have to be better," Martin said. "We have to play a complete game against Bays."