A quirk in the Pacific Coast Soccer League schedule has Chilliwack’s U-21 reserve men in the midst of 20 days of inactivity.
The local squad hasn’t played since the first week of May and won’t play again until the last week of May — a break that’s aggravating, but easier to take with them coming off a win.
Chilliwack last played May 6, shutting down the Mid Isle Highlanders 1-0 on a trip to Vancouver Island.
The Nanaimo team is new to the league this year, and came at Chilliwack with physical play.
Chilliwack coach Garry Moffat has been trying to instill a European style possession game to suit his small front line (no one over five-foot-seven) and big back-line. His crew did as expected, countering Nanaimo’s size with speed and skill.
Chilliwack’s small strikers gave the Nanaimo defenders fits.
The Highlander keeper made several stellar stops, but one ball snuck past.
Near the end of the first half, Connor MacMillan was dragged down inside the 18-yard box.
He hammered the ensuing penalty kick into the top left corner of the net for the game’s lone goal.
Nanaimo pressed in the second half, but Chilliwack keeper Jackie Tang kept them at bay.
Chilliwack’s next two games are on the road, at TSS Academy May 26 and at West Van FC May 27.
The team doesn’t play a home game until June 3 when they host the visiting Kamloops Heat. Home games are played at Townsend Park.
Follow Chilliwack’s PCSL men online at pcsl.org.