Match Report:

By Simon Fudge/whitecapsfc.com

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency completed a successful weekend of USL Premier Development League results with a 3-0 away win over Abbotsford Mariners on Sunday afternoon.

A winning strike from Randy Edwini-Bonsu and a pair of late goals from Marcus Johnstone took Thomas Niendorf's side to the top of the PDL Western Conference Northwest Division standings, with the young Whitecaps having games in hand on nearest rivals Tacoma Tide and Yakima Reds.

In overcast conditions at Bateman Park in the Fraser Valley, it was the visiting Whitecaps who had early opportunities in the opening ten minutes, but midfielders Ethan Gage and Devin Gunenc were unable to test keeper Tyler Baldock in the Mariners goal.

Much of the opening half remained even between the two clubs, with action only opening up in the final moments before the break. On 41 minutes, Abbotsford forward Spencer Schmidt tested Residency goalkeeper Simon Thomas with a strike, but the Whitecaps shot-stopper was equal to his effort before Edwini-Bonsu struck a fine shot that Baldock made an equally fine save on 44 minutes.

Three minutes after halftime, Abbotsford's Patrick Kelly made a run and shot from the left, but Thomas was again on hand to make the save for the visitors. On 51 minutes, Baldock was forced to save again from Edwin-Bonsu before denying defender Greg Smith just minutes after the hour mark.

Baldock remained the only obstacle between the Residency team and an opening goal in Sunday's game, with the Abbotsford number one stopping efforts from Edwini-Bonsu on both 64 and 67 minutes. Yet, as the half wore on, Abbotsford started to tire under the relentless pressure from Whitecaps Residency, with Alex Semenets striking a shot just wide of the target on 76 minutes.

A minute later, the Residency team finally broke the deadlock through Edwini-Bonsu. Gage played the ball to Gagandeep Dosanjh, who in turn, slipped a ball through to the Vancouver striker. Edwini-Bonsu beat the onrushing Baldock to the ball in the Abbotsford box before the Edmonton, Alberta, native was able to knock his shot into the net.

Two minutes later, substitute Drew Russell headed an Edwini-Bonsu cross wide of goal before another substitute in Johnstone scored the Whitecaps second goal on 84 minutes, as the forward steered home Antonio Rago's cross from the right.

Semenets was again unfortunate not to find the scoresheet on 86 minutes, as his strike beat Baldock but flew wide of goal.

The final goal came in the dying stages, as Semenets turned provider by playing a cross from the left to Johnstone before the striker was able to finish his second goal of the game from about six yards out.


The final whistle brought the Whitecaps third win of the season over Abbotsford, and three more points towards their aspirations of making the playoffs in their inaugural PDL season. The game was also the final league encounter for Gunenc, Smith, and captain Adam Straith, as the trio will be heading to Germany for a pre-season trial with Bundesliga club Energie Cottbus this month.

Residency assistant coach Steve Meadley was delighted with the youngster's work rate against the Mariners. "It was a really tough and hard first half, though we all thought we out-chanced them before the break," he told whitecapsfc.com. "I thought we had a great second half, as we worked really hard. Even when the substitutes came in today, they contributed to the performance, so that was big for us. In the end, I thought we got what we deserved."

The Mariners' win was the first of five away games that the Residency squad will play to complete their PDL regular season campaign, with the squad heading to Washington State next weekend for games against Yakima and Spokane Spiders. "We feel we are due against Yakima, as we weren't too happy with the game we had against them here," Meadley said of their 1-0 home defeat to the Reds last Sunday. "We're looking forward to this first road trip and trying to wrap up a playoff spot."

Goal Summaries:
VAN – 77' - Randy Edwini-Bonsu (Gagandeep Dosanjh)
VAN – 84' – Marcus Johnstone (Antonio Rago)
VAN – 90' – Marcus Johnstone (Alex Semenets)

Match Stats:
Shots: Vancouver 12 – Abbotsford 5
Saves: Vancouver 2 – Abbotsford 6
Fouls: Vancouver 9 – Abbotsford 9
Offsides: Vancouver 1 – Abbotsford 2
Corners: Vancouver 5 – Abbotsford 2

Cautions:
Vancouver: none
Abbotsford: Patrick Kelly 46', Israel Jones 66'

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
1.Simon Thomas; 2.Greg Smith, 3.Navid Mashinchi, 4.Adam Straith, 5.Anthony DiNicolo; 6.Ethan Gage, 8.Philippe Davies (15.Antonio Rago 73'), 10.Devin Gunenc (18.Drew Russell 73'), 14.Gagandeep Dosanjh; 9.Randy Edwini-Bonsu (16.Marcus Johnstone 81'), 17.Alex Semenets

Abbotsford Mariners
00.Tyler Baldock; 2.Adam Lang, 3.James Giebelhaus (22.Goran Vitic 67'), 4.Jason Gill, 5.Brad Peetoom; 6.Milan Francisty, 10.Mohammad Aziz (18.Israel Jones 62'), 13.Patrick Kelly, 17.Ethan Claibourne-Collins, 21.Justin Cordick; 11.Spencer Schmidt (23.David Vanderhoek 82')