At 47, Brad (Fat Head) Hansen is showing no signs of pre-booking a room at Schubert Centre.
The veteran, stocky midfielder pulled his first career hat trick as the Hi-Pro Sportswear Camels rallied to stuff the Big O Tire Ogopogos 6-2 in Okanagan Oldtimers 45+ Soccer League play Monday night at Marshall Field #3.
Standing on the sidelines with two goals already in his pocket, Hansen – named the NDP Party Man of the Match – was subbed in to take a late penalty kick and he went top shelf with authority past Paul Hunter.
“It was a great night for Brad,” said Camels’ veteran playing-coach Ron Krause. “His son, Connor, was on the sidelines, and when we told Brad to take the penalty kick, Connor said: ‘My dad’s going to get a hat trick.’”
Big O grabbed an early 2-0 lead as Rueben Cervantes clicked on an incredible 25-yard free kick over the Camels’ wall and past keeper Dave Dutcher to the top right corner under the bar.
Cervantes clicked again with a low far corner shot before Gord Howard put a ball off the post and in after a mad scramble which saw Hunter make two saves, Big O clear the ball off the line once and the Camels strike the post twice.
Rookie Mike Daly buried a penalty kick to equalize just before the half for the 3-1 Camels.
After Dan Zieske headed in an Al Betton corner to open the second half, it was all the Hansen show as the hospital chef converted a volley from Daly and then knocked in a cross by Al Murphy.
The Silver Stars remained unbeaten (3-0-1) by settling for a 2-2 draw with host Salmon Arm.
Kevin Cowley headed in a Rick Danyluk cross in the 20th minute from in tight to open the Stars’ offence. Salmon Arm went up 2-1 on an own goal and a marker by Dave Howes before Dennis Berg ended a scoring drought which goes back to U7 by one-timing a spinning ball 30 yards past a startled Salmon Arm keeper.
Roger Irving, on a header 10 minutes in, and Mike Lloyd, with his sixth of the season 10 minutes before half time, gave Okanagan Spring Brewery a 2-1 win over Brandt’s Creek Pub.
Vernon Toyota brushed back Sirius FC of Kelowna 2-1 in Okanagan Men’s 35+ Soccer League action Monday night at Rutland Field.
Toyota (2-2) was relentless in their pursuit of the ball and was rewarded when defender Dan Curtis fed John Orton a beautiful through ball. Orton turned the Sirius defender inside out and ripped a shot into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
Some 15 minutes later, Orton scored again after Iain Butler intercepted a clearing attempt and spotted Orton inside the 18. Orton turned and finished to the lower corner of the net.
The Toyota defence was virtually impenetrable for most of the game, but gave up a late goal.
