“It was just as I was starting to get going,” said Fordyce of the break. “When you get in a good routine, you don’t want it to end. But, for the three of us (Fordyce, Robert Garrett and captain Albert Watson, who all came to FCE from Belfast’s Linfield FC), it’s the first break we’ve had in a year. It was June of last year that we started training camp, went six to eight weeks, then the start of the season."

But, the reviews from FC Edmonton’s coach Colin Miller and the players weren’t all that positive. A day after the paint was applied to the test patch, the turf had matted down and become very hard — and sticky, too.

David Zaharija will try and take his game from the Vancouver Metro Soccer League to the North American Soccer League.

“Mallan Roberts had two or three chances from inside the box, open headers and a couple were put into the keeper’s chest,” said Miller. “Antonio Rago hit the post. I think they had two shots on goal for the entire game. I thought, overall, we did very well.

“Marcus Haber has said there was strong contact inside the box and I genuinely believe it’s a penalty kick. The big fella is very honest unlike the player on Thursday night,” Miller said in his post-game press conference referring to Mexico’s Marco Fabian. “He’s an honest player and he hasn’t done anything wrong. He’s been fouled inside the box, in my opinion, and I think it is a penalty kick and I said to the referee also after the game that I thought it was a penalty kick.”

“It’s not a penalty. I’m biting my lips here as hard as I possibly can,” Miller said, sporting a wry smile. “What I’m saying and what I’m feeling are two totally different things, I can assure you.”

The Canadian Soccer Association confirmed Tuesday that forward Simeon Jackson, who came on as a sub in Sunday’s shocking Gold-Cup opening loss to Martinique, has left the team. The former Norwich City striker, who is unattached, is off to Europe to pursue a “club commitment” there. Jackson’s departure has the blessing of current Canadian men’s national-team coach Colin Miller.

The incoming Canadian head coach Benito Floro, along with his son/assistant coach, was in attendance at Pasadena's Rose Bowl on Sunday and one can only wonder what’s going through his mind after seeing his team outplayed and, thanks to a last-second wonder strike, beaten by tiny Martinique 1-0 in the Gold Cup curtain-raiser.

The Atlanta Silverbacks now have the better part of four months to promote and sell tickets for the Soccer Bowl.

What Miller does now is that Martinique recently beat the Portland Timbers U-23 side by a 2-1 count, and that it is a good technical side. Steve Gustan and Stephane Abaul scored for Martinique against Portland’s youth side. Abaul plays for one of Martinique’s most recognized teams, Club Franciscain.