The wait is over for Richie Fast and Bays United.
The former player turned coach lifted the Vancouver Island Soccer League's Jackson Cup tournament trophy in his 18th season as Bays United won 2-0 over the Lakehill Reds at Royal Athletic Park on Sunday.
Game MVP Greg Fiddick scored the first goal eight minutes into play. Paul Van den Boomen scored the Bays’ second goal in the 59th minute.
The 2-0 deficit was too much for the young Reds, a Div. 2 side that made it to the Jackson final against the odds, knocking out a string of Div. 1 teams along the way.
Bays’ goalkeeper Dominic Butcher earned the shutout, added bliss for the veteran of 16 Bays seasons. 
“We just wanted to win one (Jackson Cup),” Fast said. “(Dominic and I) were zero-for-17.”
The Bays were Jackson finalists last year, losing to Cowichan FC. That was Fast’s first appearance as a coach. Previous to that the Bays fielded a younger, much different looking team than Sunday’s roster in a losing cause against Gorge Utd. in 2006.
“We were an upstart team (in 2006). We just started to develop in the last seven years, signing some key players and having (Butcher) come out to turn the corner of our club,” Fast said.
Those key signings included both of the Bays’ goal scorers on Sunday, as Fiddick and Van den Boomen won multiple Jackson Cup and provincial titles with Gorge for the better part of the past 10 years.
“Gorge raised the bar pretty high. Now we believe we’re competing for championships every year, which is where we want to be,” Fast said.
Speaking of upstarts, Lakehill didn’t give Bays too much in the way of defensive lapses, though Van den Boomen’s goal, which came on the rebound of a free kick, could certainly have been avoided.
Lakehill’s offence had its chances but for the most part was stymied by the solid Bays defensive line.
“Lakehill will be and are a very good team, they’re going to surprise some Div. 1 teams (next year). They defend really well and are a well-managed, good young team that’s very difficult to play against, Give their coach (Paul Cringle) full credit. By no means was it easy,” Fast said.
This Friday (March 29) the Bays face Gordon Head in the first of two meetings to finish the Vancouver Island Soccer League regular season. All the Bays need is a tie in either game to finish first. 
The win qualifies the Bays for the A Cup provincials, hosted in Victoria this year.
In the earlier game on Sunday the Mid Isle Highlanders edged Westcastle (out of Juan de Fuca) 3-2 in extra time for the George Smith Under-21 Cup. Conor Williams, Mike Moore and Tyson Kushnier scored for the Highlanders, with teammate Blaise Roberts named MVP. Adam Almeida and Etienne Boisvert responded for Westcastle.
RAP also hosted the Tony Grover Cup and Challenge Cup on Saturday.
Castaways FC defeated Powell River 2-1 for the men’s over-35 Tony Grover trophy. Matt Green was named MVP and scored a goal for Castaways, with Jeevan Manhas getting the Castaways other goal. Dean Piccanin scored for Powell River.
Comox Valley lost to Campbell River 4-3 in penalty kicks for the Challenge Cup (teams below Div. 2), in a game that was 0-0 after regulation.
Prospect win Terry Price Cup
Prospect Lake won the Terry Price Cup 3-0 over Castaways FC.
Jane Travers scored first and Daniella Corrazolli scored the second and third goal to give Prospect the premier championship.
Olivia De Goede earned the shutout for Prospect while Sam Behn was strong for Castaways despite the loss.
It’s the first Terry Price Cup win for Prospect Lake.
Vic West FC recaptured the Doug Day Cup in a rematch of last year’s final, winning 2-1.
Gurinder Hundal scored both goals for Vic West inlcuding the the winner in the 85th minute. Alynn Dagg scored for Castaways.
In provincial B Cup qualifiers Prospect Lake defeated Bays Utd. 1-0, on a goal by Kristy Mcgeough. Sam Schroeder earned the shutout.
Juan de Fuca (Div. 3A) will meet Juan de Fuca (Div. 3B) in the Frank Leversedge final on April 7. Juan de Fuca (Div. 2) will play Gorge FC in the Stephanie Shergold final, also April 7.
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