Railway City Promotion on hold

Promotion will have to wait.

Woodbridge scored twice in a three minute span turning a 2-1 deficit in to a 3-2 lead and held on to defeat Railway City, in an Ontario Premier League (OPL3) men's soccer playoff match July 27 at 1Password Park.

Woodbridge earns the promotion to OPL2, while Railway City will wait for a second opportunity to move up to OPL2.

Woodbridge led 1-0 at half.

Damian McGregor-Wickham gave the home crowd life, tying the match nine minutes into the second half.

Fifteen minutes later Jack Owen put Railway City up 2-1, after D'Andre Williams raced down the sideline and crossed the ball to front of the net for Owen.

Railway City appeared to have momentum with 15 minutes remaining in the match , but instead laying down the hammer on the rails, the home side lapsed for a few minutes and it was costly.

Christian Getsos and Gabriel Ledo struck three minutes apart, just five minutes after Owen put smiles on Railway City fans faces.

"I told the guys after, it's a 90 minute game. We can't play 89. We can't play 87. Especially a semifinal game," Railway City coach Andrew Logue said. "We have to stay focused for 90 minutes, because we had a five minute span we didn't. That was the difference in this game."

Railway City took an entire half to show the game that got them to first place in the Southwest Division, with a 10-2-2 record.

"It took us 45 minutes to get us going. We were there, but didn't have the compete level they did," Logue said. "They out worked us. They were hungrier in the first half. The second half was a total 360. We wanted it. We worked for it. We out chanced them."

There were quality chances to score before McGregor-Wickham found the back of the net.

"We had chances to get a couple goals, but we don't capitalize. If we score on those chances we had, it's a 3-1 game," said Logue. "Our goalie came up big and made a few good saves. But he shouldn't have to make the saves to make a difference, if we put the ball in the net."

Railway City had a week long wait to hear confirmation of a second opportunity at promotion.

Now the men head to Kingston to face the host Sentinals, Sunday, August 9, at Caraco field, 5 p.m.

"It's been a good season and we've worked hard for this," Loague said. "I told them, don't hang your heads, feel defeated. There's still a chance for a game in two weeks. We just need to look at the second half and see where we were successful."

Owen and Hanz Soraca led Railway City in goals during the regular season with six each.

Williams and Franz Soraca had five a piece.

At the station

Railway City women finished second in the Southwest, with a 9-3-2 record, behind a St. Catharines team that dominated the division with a 13-0-1 record.

Kimee Liu led Railway City and placed third in the division with 12 goals. Sophia Lezizdis had seven and Raquelle Mitchell, six.

The U20 women placed fourth at 5-5-4.

Jordyn Sammut had five goals and Elise Neville, four.

The U20 men pulled in to second place, owners of a 8-3-3 record.

Marin Cela led with seven goals, while Camilo Venegas had six.