RSSA soccer League Cup final Taylor-made

In 2010, Don Taylor presented the Richmond Senior Soccer League Cup named in his honour to Lulu Island FC.

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The top two teams in the Richmond Senior Soccer Association's Premier Division will play for its most prestigious trophy Wednesday, under the lights at King George Park.

Richmond All-Blacks take a one-point lead over the Athletics into the Don Taylor League Cup Final, scheduled to kick off at 9 p.m. The award, which was originally presented in 1968, was renamed two years ago after the RSSA's first president, who sat on the board for 25 years.

"This match promises to be a very good one," says current RSSA president Steve Valenzuela. "And these teams have an intense rivarly."

All 30 teams in the RSSA's Open divisions (Premier, First, Second and Third) compete in the league's largest tournament which begins annually in October. The table is seeded by random draw. The winner of Wednesday's final earns a berth in the Provincial B Cup in July.

In the tournament to date, the Athletics have outscored their opponents 16-1, while the All-Blacks have scored 10 goals and also given up just one. Longtime rivals, they have met three times in regular-season play this season with each winning once; All-Blacks by a 2-0 count and the Athletics 1-0. The other match resulted in a 1-1 draw.

The All-Blacks are led by 13-goal scorer Daniel Tait, while Steve Mathisen has tallied four times. Athletics' player-manager Macey ter Borg leads his club with 15 goals, while Tait Frier has four goals.

Longtime All-Blacks' manager Kyle Shury expects another "spirited match" Wednesday.

"The spread between our teams is minimal," he says. "They had the better of us a few weeks back when they scored a late goal to win a tight game that saw little for scoring chances on either side."

The All-Blacks have had a rash of injuries to deal with since the traditional holiday break, and lost two starters in their last outing against the Athletics. But that said, they've still been able to string together three league wins since.

"Our form is still a little off from where I'd like it to be at this point of the season, but I anticipate the lads will be up for the challenge (this week). I expect another close match with an up-tempo pace and neither team giving an inch. And I'm hoping a few of our skilled players will be the difference, with the balance of the squad able to match their grit."