Match Report:

By Farhan Devji/whitecapsfc.com

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency (4W-9L-3D) ended their 2010 United Soccer Leagues (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) season in style on Sunday, as they defeated locals rivals Victoria Highlanders FC (7W-6L-3D) 1-0 on a beautiful summer's afternoon at Swangard Stadium.

Striker Caleb Clarke scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season, as the Whitecaps leapfrogged Yakima Reds FC and rivals Abbotsford Mariners into sixth place in the PDL Western Conference, Northwest Division standings, with their first home victory of the season. After a slow start, the young 'Caps finish their 2010 PDL campaign with three victories in their final four matches and an even .500 winning percentage since the midway point of the season.

Residency interim head coach Craig Dalrymple could not be more pleased with the way his group has developed over the course of the season. "It’s fantastic," Dalrymple told whitecapsfc.com. "In the second half the season, we've come out with wins and points and the personal growth has been fantastic. In the last half of the campaign, we've had probably one bad 45-minute performance. The rest I've been pleased with."

After a sluggish opening 10 minutes, in which neither side was able to manage any sustained pressure, the first scoring chance of the match went to the visiting Highlanders on 11 minutes. A long Victoria throw-in from the right corner and the ensuing scramble in the box resulted in a point-blank opportunity for midfielder Jordie Hughes, but goalkeeper Dan Pelc stood tall and made the save.

Dalrymple believes playing in front of 477 fans and the men's team's senior staff at Swangard played a role in the Residency's slow start to Sunday's match. "You could definitely see that in the first 10 minutes we were a bit shaky," he said. "The boys were certainly motivated, probably too much so because they were a little nervous at the start, but they responded well."

After the 10-minute mark, the pace of this British Columbia PDL derby picked up considerably for both teams. After Highlanders striker Craig Gorman and Clarke both missed the net on similar chances from inside the box on 18 and 21 minutes, Victoria's Jordie Hughes nearly opened the scoring on 29 minutes. However, the Highlanders striker's strong right-footed effort from 25 yards out just missed the left post, as the score remained 0-0.

Looking to extend his goalscoring streak to four matches, striker Doudou Toure had a point-blank opportunity on 37 minutes, but his nonchalant right-footed strike just missed the near post. Shortly after, however, the Whitecaps opened the scoring when Clarke let loose a low left-footed strike from the top of the Highlanders box that found the bottom right-hand corner of the goal on 39 minutes. After a short throw-in from the right by defender Brayden Gant, the Whitecaps striker jockeyed his marker and took two steps inside before firing home his fifth goal of the season to give the 'Caps a 1-0 lead. "Those are the special qualities Caleb has," said Dalrymple. "He can turn on either side and use either foot. That's probably the fourth goal he's scored from that similar position."

Victoria’s best chance to equalize came early in the second half when substitute striker Jamar Dixon sent a cross from the right corner to Steve Scott. However, the Victoria striker's left-footed volley sailed over the Whitecaps goal on 54 minutes.

The Residency squad's best chance to extend their lead came on 63 minutes when midfielder Russell Teibert sent a long forward ball to Clarke down the left wing before the striker’s left-footed shot was stopped by Highlanders goalkeeper Brandon Watson. On the subsequent rebound, Toure picked up the ball inside the box and skipped around his defender, but a sprawling Watson came out to challenge and grab the ball from the striker's right foot before the Mauritanian could get off another strike.

Three minutes of time added on led to nothing substantial for either squad, as the Whitecaps held on for a 1-0 victory in their 2010 PDL season finale.


As Dalrymple explained, Sunday's result exemplifies the improvements his group has made since the start of the season. "It was a disciplined performance," said Dalrymple. "We started our season against them in Victoria and they defeated us and won a lot of individual battles. We've come here and shown growth physically and tactically. They never really troubled us, so we've won a game that we fully deserved."

Scoring Summary:
39' – VAN – Caleb Clarke (Brayden Gant)

Match Stats:
Shots: Vancouver 12 – Victoria 8
Saves: Vancouver 3 – Victoria 5
Fouls: Vancouver 12 – Victoria 11
Offsides: Vancouver 1 – Victoria 4
Corners: Vancouver 2 – Victoria 4

Cautions:
30' – VIC – Jordie Hughes
49' – VAN – Tim Hickson
78' – VIC – Callum Harrison
85' – VAN – Russell Teibert

Victoria Highlanders FC
29.Brandon Watson; 7.Rob Veenhof, 13.Tyler Hughes, 14.Craig Robertson, 20.Chris Scott (18.Ben Green 74'); 4.Diaz Kambere, 8.Callum Harrison, 11.Craig Gorman (26.Andrew Ravenhill 69'), 17.Jordie Hughes; 9.Steve Scott (12.Matt Pele 69'), 19.Jared Stephens (22.Jamar Dixon 39')

Subs not used: 1.Elliot Mitrou

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
1.Dan Pelc; 6.Tim Hickson, 12.Brayden Gant, 20.La’Vere Corbin-Ong, 24.Tyrin Hutchings; 7.Russell Teibert, 10.Gagandeep Dosanjh, 13.Kevin Cobby (8.Charlie Trafford 67'), 14.Coulton Jackson (16.Nelson Castillo 62'); 9.Doudou Toure (26.Hector Garcia 74'), 11.Caleb Clarke

Subs not used: 3.Jason van Blerk, 18.Elvin Castillo, 22.Callum Irving