The parkas were zipped and the hoods were up on the sidelines for an 8 p.m. Friday start at The Log.
With clear skies and a full moon helping out the floodlights the conditions were ideal for soccer and Sooke Celtic delighted its hardcore group of supporters with a well-earned 3-1 win over Gorge United.
Competent and energetic defensive play kept the visitors’ offensive chances to a minimum, and, but for a momentary lapse in concentration a shutout for Blake Ridley would have been a realistic expectation.
Celtic had just gone up by two after a sharp scoring effort by Paul Rudd who had put himself in position near the right post.
Less than a minute later Gorge hustled down field to get on the scoreboard.
Sooke had maybe not gotten the celebrating out of their collective system.
From then on, however, they barred the door on the way to their home win.
The opener was a thing of beauty as young Daniel Bergerud connected from about 25 yards straight in front of the Gorge goal. He hammered the ball high into the net to trigger a boisterous round of kudos from his teammates.
The goal looked like a carbon copy of his first goal with the Celtic team, one that came last fall in Langford.
“It was pretty similar,” Bergerud later said of the goal, “except it was with my left foot.” Right or left was a moot point when the ball bulged the top right corner of the net.
“Stevie (Scott) just gave me the perfect pass and I was able to put it in.”
The third goal which came in the second half was truly spectacular as Steve Scott curved a hard corner from the right side.
It got just about to the far side of the net where Josh Jenkins got his head on it, driving it past a helpless keeper.
Solidly in fifth spot with two league games left to play, Sooke prepares for another Jackson Cup game this Friday at home against Gordon Head’s div-2 squad.
Please note that this will be an 8 p.m. start, not 7:00 as listed on the VISL website.
Judging by recent outings it doesn’t seem like the later start is hurting attendance any.
Coach/striker Steve Scott, when asked about the extra hour before game time said,
“It’s great. It means Mooner (forward Mike Moon, who works off Island) can make it to the