Evolution get first L1BC victories after Nanaimo double

Evolution FC got their first League1 BC victories this past weekend after wins in both the men’s and women’s divisions against Nanaimo United at Q’unq’inuqwstuxw Stadium on Saturday.

Here’s how the action played out:

Nanaimo United FC Women 1 – 3 Evolution FC Women 1

The recently renamed Nanaimo United (last year’s Harbourside FC) hosted expansion team Evolution FC on a beautifully sunny, but chilly spring day and it didn’t take long for the visitors to open the scoring for the second week running.

Zoe Black intercepted a poor clearance in the first minute and drilled the ball into the bottom right corner, leaving Nanaimo keeper Brooke Ingram no chance.

This appeared to be a wake-up call for Nanaimo United and the remainder of the first-half became an end-to-end tussle, with neither team able to break through.

The second-half started more positively for Evolution, when Isabelle Dobbin managed to put the visitors up by two goals in the 53rd minute.

Nanaimo head coach Bobby Taylor appeared to make an inspirational substitution, bringing Niobe Darku into the game and she managed to pull a goal back for Nanaimo with a sensational 25-yard lob over the Evolution keeper with 15 minutes remaining.

Nanaimo’s joy was short lived and just three minutes later Dobbin got her second goal of the game, after Keeper Brooke Ingram hesitated going for the ball on the edge of the box.

That wrapped up the game, giving Evolution FC their first win of the season.

Did Evolution head coach Liam Carter feel that his players did what was asked of them and what improvements will be needed going forward?

“For the most part, we are missing players and we haven’t had a training session together,” Carter told AFTN after the game. “I think they held their own, there were mistakes, but they did well.

“With players coming in, we need to maintain consistency and build a standard. We know what’s required to improve.”

Speaking with Harbourside coach Bobby Taylor, I noted that it was an unfortunate result, but were there any positives from the game that she could take forward?

“Yes, there are positives,” Taylor told us. “They bought into what our intention were. We could have been tidier, but we have a lot of young players and they are getting exposure in League 1”.

When Darku pulled a goal back in the 75th minute, it looked like they were getting back in the game, before Evolution’s quick restoration of their two-goal advantage put the game to bed.

“We had that opportunity,” Taylor agreed. “But there were a couple of disruptions that flattened us out. That’s soccer!”

You can find John and Hazel’s photos from the match on AFTN’s Flickr page HERE.

Nanaimo United FC Men 0 – 1 Evolution FC Men

Evolution FC’s men team appeared to start this game in much the same way that their women’s team had, getting on the scoresheet with a early goal after Frixos Petsas scored what would be the only goal of the game in the 2nd minute.

Despite both teams having chances, they appeared to neutralise each other.

Nanaimo United had some near misses in that last 10 minutes, but Evolution killed off the game and eventually time ran out for Nanaimo to equalise.

Not the most inspiring game, but both teams have players missing at this stage of the league competition.

A first win for Evolution, so was head coach Les Krivak happy with the structure and the way his team played, considering they are still missing some crucial players?’

“Yes, most of the time,” Krivak mused. “We were organised, we played to our potential, we created a lot of chances, we just didn’t put the away.

“We should expect our current players to be able to put the ball in the net. Their goalie has quick reflexes and made some good saves, but I was happy how we opened them up and got behind. Yes happy with our performance.”

For his opposite number, could Nanaimo head coach Kevin Lindo take a lot from the game?

“Yes, but it’s pretty obvious we are still in pre-season mode,” Lindo noted. “We needed that game to figure out what direction we are heading in, how we are going to play, and fitness levels. Game conditioning and readiness, we are ready intensity wise, but work is needed.”

You can find John and Hazel’s photos from the match on AFTN’s Flickr page HERE.