It was a week of highs and lows from Simcoe County Rovers, Barrie’s League1 Ontario side this week.
Simcoe County Rovers Women’s side went into the week knowing that nothing but wins would give them the advantage going into the play off race. On Wednesday they faced Electric City and, despite dominating for most of the match, they only managed to pick up a 1-1 draw thanks to a Michelle Plowman (pictured) equalizer. The upside of the draw was that it enabled the club to lift the Trent Severn Cup 3-2 on aggregate following the men’s 2-1 win earlier in the season.
This result meant that on Saturday nothing but a win against hosts BVB IA Waterloo would do and then they would have a nervous wait for Tuesday’s FC London v Electric City match which is to be played on a neutral ground following the abandonment earlier on in the season.
A short handed Rovers went to Waterloo missing some key players including Captain Cloey Uddenberg, who’s season ended with a nagging knee injury progressing, striker Courtney Chochol who was called back to NCAA Quinnipiac earlier than planned and Algerian call-up Soumaya Bouak who was stuck in transit somewhere between Montreal and Toronto after a disasterous flight back from their training camp. Waterloo played a very disciplined match and ran out comfortable 3-0 winners ending the season on a very low note.
The Men’s side played their last home match of the season against 3rd place Guelph United knowing that a win would put them in a good position on their way in to their last 5 matches all away from home against some very tough opposition. Captain Justin Earle (pictured) thundered in a 1st half header to give Rovers the lead and that was the way it stayed.
Guelph came out better in the 2nd half but couldn’t break through a very disciplined defence. That win has put them into 3rd place and in with a great shout for the play offs. But with the standings being so tight and some very tough matches ahead it is still very much in the balance.
The men’s next match is on Friday night when they face a tricky match at North Mississauga.
Pictures courtesy of Simcoe County Rovers and Samuel Menendez of SS Visuals
