Give the Royal City Westminster United a challenge, and chances are you’ll get pushback – in a big way.
The West Coast Juventus found that out last week, as the Royal City boys surged to a 2-1 victory in under-18 boys Coastal B Cup’s opening round of play.
Westminster started the game well, with a handful of scoring opportunities getting turned back only to see West Coast take a loose ball and convert it to a 1-0 lead just 16 minutes into the contest.
“We had a good start with three or four quality chances, but what sometimes happens is the other team comes down and puts one in,” said coach Ed Zacharuk. “That’s what they did.”
Royal City wasted little time in responding, tying the game at the 25-minute mark when Craig Tillotson bent a 25-yard free kick around the wall and into the net.
“My son (Markus Zacharuk) usually takes our free kicks but this time he told (Tillotson) to take it… It was a beauty,” he said.
Then, with five minutes left in the first half, Tillotson took a pass down the left side and from 20-yards out buried a cracker of a shot to give Westminster the lead.
It’s an advantage they’d make stick.
The best scoring chance in the second half would have given the home team a two-goal lead. Tillotson played to Ryan Hayes off a corner kick, only to see the shot rise over the net.
Nailing it down was a standout performance from the team’s backline, featuring Naoll Degife, Josef Finlay, Taylor Jensen and goalkeeper Matthew Buchanan.
The team of mostly graduating players finished fourth out of 10 during the regular season, shaking off a cool start which saw them notch but a couple of ties over the first month.
Royal City now draw Central City in its second Cup game, this Saturday in Surrey.
