Striker Gord Howard doesn’t need much time or space to find the net.
Howard fired his 13th goal of the season Monday night at the Leko Precast Camels clipped the Silver Stars 1-0 in Capri Insurance 45+ Soccer League action at Marshall Field #2.
The Camels (9-2) came out strong and controlled things for the first 15 minutes. Veteran Al Murphy won several air balls in the 18 but was unable to put anything on net.
The slumping 4-3-4 Stars’ defence of John Burns and Steve Coombs played well in keeping the Camel shooters to the outside.
Howard converted on a sweet through ball from Chris Reeves in the 30th minute. Reeve’s pass went right through defender Dan Ondzik onto Howard’s feet and he quickly slotted the ball to the right side past keeper Ted Lurkins.
Bill Graham almost scored a Mario Balotelli-like header near the end of the half for the Stars, but the ball just cleared the crossbar past Dave Dutcher’s outstretched arms.
In the second half, the Stars finally woke up and midfielders from both teams began to battle hard to control the play. Dan Zieske and Al Betton were strong for the Camels, while Mahmoud Abdel-Kader, Rob Bauml and Gerson Betman all knocked the ball around well for the Stars. Neither keeper was tested in the second half.
The Stars’ Steve Fitzpatrick was assessed a yellow card and Ondzik a red card, both for dissent, by referee Wayne Aasen.
Bosman boys hold off Pushor Mitchell 2-1
Bosman Accounting of Vernon put in a gritty showing as they held off Pushor Mitchell Advocates 2-1 at Parkinson 16 Field.
Strikers Henk Bosman and Carl McLennan worked gorgeous give-and-goes for goals seven minutes apart shortly after the Advocates went up 1-0 in the 10th minute.
Bosman (De Drie Fleschjes Pub man of the match) connected on a diving header for the equalizer, while McLennan nicely finished a rebound off a Bosman shot for the winner.
The accounting crew played with 10 men until standout midfielder Ian Murphy showed up in the 35th minute and played a stellar game.
Defenders Chris Nielsen, Gerry Geelkerken, Alex DeBoersap and Bob Fleming anchored a stingy back line, while Tom Ouchi was aggressive in centre midfield as Bosman improved to 3-8. The Advocates dipped to 3-7-1.
Penticton brushes back Ogopogos 4-0
League-leading Penticton United had to work extra hard to brush back feisty Big O Tire/Turn-Key Controls Ogopogos 4-0 at Dale Meadows Park in Summerland.
Although Penticton (10-1) got off to a early lead, the Ogogopos enjoyed several good chances, only to be denied by Penticton’s courageous keeper charging toward the high-scoring duo of Roland Riedstra and Mark Wasylyk.
Rueben Cerventez, John Garner, Henry Czerwonka and Gary Dill also created some offence, while midfielder Brad Conlin just missed on a rocket above the crossbar.
United made their chances count and Big O Tire (6-5) almost broke the shutout in the dying minutes when Dill took a back pass from Wasylyk but drilled it over the net.
North Country Appraisals Kickers stretched their winning streak to four games by shading host Lake Country 2-1 at Beasley Park.
North Country earned a penalty shot within the first 10 minutes but Mike Francis’s shot was saved by keeper Todd Ryder.
Wil Kruiper put North Country on the board with a nice breakaway effort. Glen Heagle scored on a controversial penalty kick for Lake Country just before the half. Kickers’ keeper Marty Vincze was busy in the half and made several big stops.
Play went back and forth in the second half before Greg Bevandick was sent in alone by Randy Boehm with about 15 minutes left and he calmly beat Ryder for the winner.
IGA crew bounces Brandt’s Creek 6-1
Kelowna Marketplace IGA bounced Brandt’s Creek 6-1 at Parkinson 9 Field.
IGA came out looking like Spain and went up 3-1 within 15 minutes on goals from Rich Woodhouse, Tony Gonzales and Lionel Hoffman. Grant Campbell and Dante Zanatta added 35-yarder each at 25 and 30 minutes, and Gonzales added one more just before the half to make it 6-0.
Brandt’s Creek came out for the second half looking shellshocked but rallied well to prevent IGA scoring any more goals. Brandt’s keeper Dave Gadd had an excellent second half saving numerous shots from the IGA forwards and midfield.
Ageless Reid Freeman scored a consolation goal for Brandt’s after a goalmouth scramble with 10 minutes remaining. IGA moved to 9-1-1, while Brandt’s slipped to 4-6-1.
The Rented Mules edged Cantinas 2-1, while Salmon Arm McIsaac & Co. won 1-0 by default over Rutland Spirit.
The Rented Mules are 3-6-2, while Cantinas fell to 2-9. Salmon Arm is 6-4-1, Rutland 0-10-1.
