Spencer Duncan collected a pair of goals, including the winner in the second half, as Salmon Arm Courvas brushed back North Enderby Timber 3-2 in the Gibson Cup soccer final Wednesday night at Marshall Field.
The defending champion timbermen, who won the North Okanagan Men’s Soccer League regular-season, controlled their share of possession, but just couldn’t bury their chances.
Duncan opened the scoring when he collected a cross, then turned and drove a low blast to the right corner.
Logan Abbott, a 17-year-old soccer whiz, made it 2-0 on a similar play, unleashing a right-footer from the top of the 18, again finding the low right corner past NET tender Danny Stein.
“We found ourselves down 2-0 in the first half, mainly due to a lack of communication between the defence to the midfield. Bad marking gave them two chances and they buried both,” said NET’s Andy Stein.
“At the half we were able to calm ourselves down and figure out what needed to be done.”
Brodie Couch put NET on the board 15 minutes into the second half, delivering a corner kick that was bobbled by Courvas’ keeper Jesse Wilbur and ended up rolling into the goal.
A few minutes later, the timbermen’s Brent Poulsen equalized after he controlled a through ball and ripped a cracker above Wilbur’s head.
After some good back-and-forth action, Abbott used a couple slick flicks to get past a few defenders and then set up Duncan for a drive to the top left corner.
“It was an excellent final. It was a fairly close game and the referee did a good job keeping it under control. Both teams put their heart and soul into this game. Definitely well-contested,” said Courvas’ spokesman Jeff Abbott.
Added Stein: “Their go-ahead goal was scored with 20 minutes remaining and we just couldn’t get the lucky bounces at their end. We had a number of opportunities but were unable to convert.
“Our team battled all season and our overall record (11-3-1 in the regular season) shows how strong of a team we are. We deserved a win last night but that’s how it goes, I guess. Always next year.”
