The Vernon Square Liquor Store Celtics booked their second consecutive Okanagan Men’s Over 35 Soccer League victory with a 5-1 grounding of Vernon’s Bosman Accounting Monday night at Marshall Field #2.
Backed by a strong wind and an early goal, the Celtics stormed to a 4-0 lead by half time. The first goal fell in the fifth minute when a spinning ball landed in front of Celtics’ Ian Chernenkov, who quickly chipped it over the stretching arms of Bosman’s stand-in keeper Shaun Wiebe.
Ten minutes later, a well-measured cross by Rod Valdivieso was headed into the top corner by Kriss Yargeau to make it 2-0. Just before the break, the Celtics scored twice after Bryan Schenker and Yargeau fed each other with through balls.
The second half saw a more even game with the wind favouring Bosman Accountants. Schenker scored on a solo run to make it 5-0 before Bosman got a consolation goal well into stoppage time when Carl McLennan scored on a dribble after an assist by Mike Barrajon.
The Celtics improved to 6-5-2, while the accountants dipped to 4-10.
In 45+ league play, Rick Raber delivered his second straight two-goal outing as the Vernon Hi-Pro Sportswear Camels brushed back Brandt’s Creek Pub of Kelowna 3-1 at Marshall Field #5.
Raber jumpstarted the Humpbacks’ offence with a 30-yard free kick – awarded after defender Reed Freeman used his hands to knock down an air ball headed for a on-rushing Gord Howard – which was neatly nodded in by Mike Daly at 12 minutes.
The Camels went up by a deuce 15 minutes into the second half when Raber converted a cross by Daly. Brandt’s Creek pressed hard and were rewarded when Lloyd Pendleton headed in a corner by Andy Walker with 15 minutes to play.
Raber – named the Budweiser Man of the Match – sealed things when he took a feed from Rob Hulstein and did some riverdancing deep in the Brandt’s Creek zone before unleashing a bullet high left corner.
Camels’ striker Gord Howard was thwarted on two or three solid scoring chances after some good runs. Al Betton and Brad Hansen enjoyed strong showings in the midfield.
The second-place Camels went to 11-2-2, while Brandt’s Creek fell to 4-9-2.
League-leading Kelowna IGA slammed Okanagan Spring Brewery 7-2 at City Park.
IGA jumped to a 4-0 lead at the half, Tom Ouchi and Mike Lloyd pulled Spring within a pair before IGA wore out the shotstaffed Brewers, who lost Roger Irving and Jeff Vest to injuries in the opening 10 minutes. IGA is 15-0, while Spring is 4-8-2.
The Silver Stars fielded just nine players and bowed 5-2 to Penticton United at City Park.
John Burns and Steve Coombes scored for the Stars (6-5-4), who held Penticton to a 1-1 tie at the half. Penticton went to 10-4-1.
In other action, the North Country Appraisals Kickers stopped Salmon Arm 4-1 on goals by Will Kruiper, Ken Wither, Fritz Berenyi and Jamie Macpherson. Keith Chancellor replied for Salmon Arm (8-6-1). North Country is 10-2-3.
The Cantina’s Pub of Kelowna shut down Vernon Big O Tire Ogopogos 4-0, while the Pushor Mitchell Advocates trimmed Lake Country FC 2-1 and the Rented Mules mauled the Rutland Spirit 5-0.
The Ogopogos (6-9) hit a handful of posts and crossbars, missed a few breakaways and Ruben Cerventez was stopped on a penalty kick. Cantina’s (3-10-1) scored once on a penalty kick after keeper Yogi Kongsdorf was yellow carded for obstruction.
