BRANTFORD GALAXY EDGE CLOSER TO PLAYOFF SPOT WHILE ST. CATHARINES ALSO WIN WEDNESDAY

Brantford Galaxy nudged closer to a playoff berth with a 3-2 victory over York Region Shooters, while St. Catharines Wolves with just a slim chance to make the top eight, defeated North York Astros 2-1, two games in the Canadian Soccer League Wednesday night.


 


The defending CSL champions struck early when forward Ranko Golijanin found the net after just two minutes at Lions Park in Brantford. The former FC Hercules of the Spanish first division striker collected a cross from Dalibor Mitrovic to make it 1-0.


 


Golijanin scored his second to make it 2-0 at 28 minutes, he took a pass from Sasa Vidovic to score from 15 yards. York Region Shooters reduced the lead to 2-1 when Kadian Leckie scored from the penalty spot at the 33rd minute mark, the score at half time.


 


Mitrovic found the net past Shooters’ goalkeeper Camilo Benzi at 53 minutes for a 3-1 Brantford lead and Rick Titus, the York Region defender cut the lead to 3-2 at 88 minutes when he took the ball on the right of goal to beat Brantford ‘keeper Vladimir Markotic and the 3-2 score held to the final whistle.


 


It was an important win for the Galaxy with an improved 9-10-3 WLT record for 30 points. With four games remaining in the regular season, the champions are in ninth position in the First Division standings – the top eight earn a playoff berth.


 


Matthew Contino with two goals sparked St. Catharines Wolves to their home victory over still winless North York Astros at the Club Roma ground in St. Catharines, he found the net at 26 minutes following a defensive slip by the visitors and scored his second at 72 minutes when he closed in to beat Astros goalkeeper Damon Naghavi.


 


The two goals followed an opening goal by North York Astros, an own-goal when St. Catharines defender Geoff Attard put the ball into his own net following a goalmouth scramble from a corner kick.


 


St. Catharines Scott MacLennan was shown the red card by referee Steve Senderovich who judged the midfielder committed Violent Conduct in an altercation with Francisco Mendez of the Astros. The ejection occurred at the 82nd minute mark and the game ended 2-1 in favour of the home side.


 


St. Catharines have 19 points from 21 games played with five games remaining.