The Impact head into the Christmas break feeling a lot better about their game after unwrapping a 2-0 win in the cold at QB Rec Fields Sunday morning.
The lone game of the day in these parts was called at the break and the win awarded to Oceanside, as the visiting Nanaimo #4 side, who had just enough players to start the game, had a player injured in the opening half so they had to forfeit.
It was “a much needed boost” for the old confidence and lifts the Impact to 3-1-2 behind Nanaimo who sits middle of the pack in the eight team league.
All Oceanside from the opening whistle, the locals carried the play and led 2-nil at the half off goals from Rebecca Edge and Joy Carson-Austin.
“Even though the other team was short-sided it was pretty much an all-round team effort. That was the plan,” said assistant coach Kevin Spicer, who was filling in for head coach Dan MacKay, adding “my instruction was to pass the ball around, practice the angles and plays we’ve been working on. It was nice to help them with their positioning. It was a good effort — they were keen to play,” he said, adding “any colder and it would have been unplayable, the ground was very hard and really tough on the keepers.”
Earning props from her coach was Impact keeper Emma Orrick who made a dandy diving punch-save about 25 minutes in off a penalty kick that, had it gone in, would have tied the game 1-1.
TURKEY TIME OUT
The Impact are off for the Christmas break and return to action Jan. 13 on the road against league-leading Ladysmith.