Ali’s hat trick paces Plainsmen past Spartans

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This article was published 30/04/2025 (366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ousman Ali’s work rate was rewarded with a hat trick in the Crocus Plainsmen’s 7-1 victory over the Neelin Spartans in Brandon High School Soccer League boys’ action on Wednesday afternoon.

The fleet-footed winger made the first outstanding run of the game as the 30th minute approached, and it was the length of the entire left side of the field, but wasn’t rewarded for his efforts on that play.

It wasn’t long before the football gods rewarded him however, as an errant clearing attempt out of the Spartan box landed on his left boot minutes later, where he potted his first goal of the fixture.

His next run up the flank resulted in his second goal of the game, although not quite as quickly, but ever determined. The forward sprinted into the Spartan box before calmly picking a target in the goal and precisely hitting it, but he was far from done there.

His third massive run up the left wing resulted in beating the defender in a foot race, before rolling a soft shot in for his third of the game.

“I feel so happy, I wish I can do this next time as well,” Ali said, still catching his breath after being subbed out in the 87th minute.

His mantra is simple.

“Just never give up. Even when you’re tired, just keep trying,” Ali said.

His reward isn’t only his first hat trick of the season, it’s a critical win in the short season.

Ali enjoyed his team’s first game at home, and for more reasons than the aforementioned hat trick – he appreciated Neelin’s compete-level and ability to keep working together for a full 90 minutes.

“I’m just happy. I want to (play) them again. They’re a good team, and I hope the next time we play them they have more luck.”

One of the most impressive plays of the game came from the hard work of Grade 9 Neelin student Robinson Diaz.

The midfielder outmuscled an opponent for the ball in the 32nd minute before a hard run of his own up the left side.

With two defenders in tow, Diaz worked his way into a strong position before finding Lekan Omojowo in the box who floated the easy tally in to make it a 2-1 game.

That was the only bright spot the Spartans could muster, as the compete-level was there, but the goals didn’t follow.

The Spartans now sit at 0-2 while the Plainsmen improved to 1-1.

Crocus lost to Vincent Massey 3-2 in the first meeting of the league calendar on Apr. 23.

The two teams meet again on Monday, back at Crocus.

“We lost that last one to them, but I think we got them next time,” Ali said. “We just have to practice every day and keep getting better. If we do that, we’ll get the next one.”

» mpackwood@brandonsun.com