Legion gets its revenge, 7-5

In the return match against Whitby Legion, Whitby Purple found themselves short-handed against a team determined to get some revenge. Both teams fielded 9 players, but Legion had an ace in the hole: a single substitute player to allow brief rest periods.

Legion started strong, scoring twice in the first fifteen minutes of play before Mark M. was awarded a penalty for a Legion defender's over-enthusiastic tackle in the 18-yard box. Mark fooled the keeper, who dove right, and put the ball into the upper left of the net. Randall S. levelled the score 10 minutes later.

The exhausted players dragged themselves off the field at the half, only to be met by clouds of mosquitoes around the benches (we've had plenty of rain recently, and the field is beside undeveloped land, with lots of temporary ponds).

After the break, Legion pulled ahead on a jail-break, as Purple's defenders were overwhelmed by a rush of almost the entire Legion team, gambling that they could score before Purple could regain possession. Purple keeper Pat C. got a hand on the shot, but was unable to deflect it far enough to prevent the goal. From the ensuing kick-off, Andrew S. levelled the score again, and then gave Purple their first lead of the night on a close-range shot that deflected off a Legion defender, leaving Legion's keeper no chance to save the goal.

Mark had another penalty goal, for a handball inside the box, to give Purple a brief 2 point lead. Just a few minutes later, Purple returned the favour as Mitch B. accidentally handled the ball while heading it away from the goal.

By this time, the substitution advantage was starting to pay off for Legion, as Purple's energy level began to drop. Legion gambled again, pushing everyone forward and again were rewarded with a goal to bring the score to 5-5, with eight minutes remaining.

Purple's defenders worked extremely hard, breaking up threats, and clearing the ball away, but the flow of play was becoming more and more in Legion's favour. On a Purple throw-in with five minutes remaining in the game, Jordan C. went down with a severe leg cramp, but the referee didn't notice the injured player down. Legion's forwards took full advantage of the reduced defensive line, scoring the go-ahead goal. Jordan was unable to return to play, which gave Legion an extra man advantage for the last portion of the game.

The final score was 7-5 for Legion, evening the head-to-head record between the two teams, and moving them back into a tie with Purple for first place in the division.