DurhamRegion: Flames Playoff Hopes Snuffed Out
Flames playoff hopes snuffed out
Despite posting its
best record in four years, Durham won't qualify for the post-season
Brian
Mcnair, Staff Writer
Sep 25, 2002
OSHAWA
- The Durham Flames have flickered out.
After dropping a pair of games
this weekend at Civic Stadium, the Flames have been eliminated from playoff
contention in the Canadian Professional Soccer League for a fourth straight
season.
But, with a 7-9-2 record and one game remaining in the season,
the Flames have guaranteed the best result in their four-year history.
"I'm quite satisfied. We've got a building block now," says head coach
Steve Hamill, who signed an unprecedented three-year contract at the start of
the season after the Flames had gone through three coaches in as many years
previously. "We know we've still got some work to do... Overall I'm pleased."
After getting drubbed 5-1 Saturday by the Ottawa Wizards, the class of
the league at 14-1-1, the Flames were officially eliminated following a 2-1
defeat to the Montreal Dynamites Sunday, a game which was delayed about a
half-hour because a football game had been mistakenly scheduled at the Civic.
Jamoh Welch scored late in Saturday's game and Jamal Jupiter late in
Sunday's game to account for the Flames' offence.
"I was disappointed
not so much in the Saturday game, but I was disappointed in the Montreal game,"
Hamill says of a game that could have kept them very much in the playoff
picture.
"I'm proud of how they played throughout the season considering
they're a young team."
Hamill started pretty much from scratch this
season after a number of players decided to move on from last year's club. He
had the team on a serious roll at one point, but lost six starters late in the
season when they had to return to school.
Hamill filled the gaps using
young players called up from various local clubs and was generally pleased with
what he saw.
"Most of them have never played at this level... It's tough
to come into a situation like that," he says.
"We've got a good core of
guys now. Hopefully we can keep them all."
The Flames close out the
season against the Metro Lions on Oct. 9 at Birchmount Stadium.
The
Lions (9-5-0) and York Region Shooters (8-7-3) are currently tied in second spot
with 27 points, followed by the Montreal Dynamites (7-4-3) with 24 points. Only
two of those three will move on.
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