Leaving home at 6 a.m. and getting home some 16 hours later, it’s nice when a soccer team can get a win as part of the deal.
That’s how it worked out Sunday for the Vancouver Island Soccer League’s div-1 Sooke Celtic.
The local squad took a brief hiatus from its regular season schedule – making a trip to Powell River for a Jackson Cup-related match which it won by a score of 3-0.
Coach/striker Steve Scott was credited with the the three goals although he said one was scored by Mike McKay.
Shutouts aren’t likely without decent goaltending although Scott said ‘keeper Blake Ridley, so often outstanding, did not face a lot of work.
Ridley did, however, foil a Powell River breakaway chance and was in the right spot on a penalty kick which ultimately sailed wide.
Other than that Scott described a game which was most memorable for the big time spent getting to and from it.
The next test along the way in terms of Jackson Cup play will come against the div-2 Gordon Head team. As this level of competition includes the top two VISL tiers it is simply the luck of the draw that has Celtic playing div-2 opponents in consecutive games.
Celtic will have its hands full this Friday night at The Log as it hosts the ever-challenging Gorge FC group in a resumption of league play.
As it stands, Celtic is in the middle of the 10-team div-1 pack with three games to go on the season schedule.
Sooke’s div-3b and 4c squads, Sooke FC and Loggers, are in ninth of 10 and seventh of eight in their respective divisions, with FC set to play 10th place Vic West Green this Saturday at Finlayson.
Sooke Nation, the U21 graduate B entry was slotted in seventh ,ahead of last place Bays United FC Fury with each team having played 13 of 14 games.