Rookie John Orton and veteran Gord Howard connected big time as the Okanagan Spring Brewery Camels iced Sunshine Pools & Spa 5-2 Monday night at Parkinson #16 Field in Kelowna.
Orton pulled the hat trick, giving the big and ultra-talented striker 10 on the Capri Insurance Men’s 45+ Soccer League season, while Howard converted once from Orton and set up two of his three.
All of Orton’s snipes came on short breakaways, including one in the dying minutes. Steve Milne also scored late in what was a tight match under a clear sky and muggy temperature. Orton took the Lincoln Lanes Man of the Match honours.
Dave Dutcher made a few spectacular saves as the Humpbacks went to 6-2-1 and took over third place in the 13-team loop. Don Balcombe turned in a bold showing at centre midfield.
Mike Bertoia bagged both goals for the Pool guys (3-5-1), who played in the Camels’ end for the first 10 minutes, only to succumb to a fastbreak by Orton. Bertoia beat Dutcher on a penalty kick.
The Turn-Key Controls Ogopogos ambushed Cantinas 7-0 at Parkinson #9.
(Magic) Mike Moorlag made his season debut and made some fabulous stops for the shutout as the Pogos improved to 4-4-1. Both teams missed breakaways in the early going before Ian Bos converted a nice pass from Duane (The Rock) Dennis.
Dennis dominated the midfield and was soon rewarded for his efforts with a return assist from Bos, making it 2-0.
Cantinas kept pressuring Moorlag with several shots from the outside.
Roland Riedstra was taken down in the penalty area and the 2-6-1 Cantinas’ keeper deflected the low shot back into play. Minutes later, Bryan Schenker weaved his way past two defenders and pushed the ball through to Riedstra, who powered the ball through the keeper’s hands.
Roadrunner Ruben Cervantes came alive for Turn-Key in the final 45 with stellar defensive play coming from Shawn Wiebe and Clint Dickinson.
Mark Wasylyk added a fourth insurance goal off a pass that skipped off the foot of Dennis to Parm Kler right to Wasylyk’s feet.
Fortis Energy Man of the Match Dennis then scored two more goals to complete a well-deserved hat trick. Both were assisted by Wasylyk. Dennis set up Riedstra for the final goal of the night.
In contrast to some recent games which have seen some scores being run up, the Silver Stars and winless Rutland Spirit enjoyed a competitive and high-spirited game on the perfect pitch at Beasley Park with the Stars winning 5-0.
John Matejika and Denis Chabot, both fighting injuries from 0ver 55 action, scored to put the Stars up 2-0 at the break.
In a great display of sportsmanship, and with the score still 2-0 early in the second half, a Rutland player admitted to the referee he had not been fouled inside the box, which resulted in the official overturning his decision of a penalty kick.
In a return display of sportsmanship, Dave Howes knocked at least 10 shots high or wide of the net before putting the Stars up 3-0 with a tap in from six yards.
Steve McCourt and ageless Al Bensmiller added late goals for the 4-3-2 Stars, while Ted Lurkins earned the shutout despite a few close calls.
Back-up goalie Andreas Dietrich had an outstanding showing as the Rented Mules bounced Bosman Accounting 5-2.
Harry de Haas of the Mules was fouled from behind on a breakaway and converted the penalty at 25 minutes.
The second Mules’ tally came after a patient build up by dynamite’ defenders Donovan Hare and Gurinder Dhaliwal before Izak Michaeli sent Tim Moore in on a breakaway at Rutland Field.
The speedy Mules went up by three early in the second half when Michaeli started and finished a move with a gimme tap in set up by de Haas.
De Haas was then fouled from behind on another breakaway and was awarded a second penalty with the identical result.
To their credit, Bosman kept pressing and got two goals in the last 15 minutes. Mike Grace connected after a corner from Kerry Correia, while Gerard Geelkerken buried a nice, low shot in the right corner from well outside the 18.
Al Ryder earlier completed the Mules’ offence with a delightful chip over the keeper following a great run and through ball from Clarke Burnett.
Vernon Topsport Man of the Match for 1-7-1 Bosman was Gerson Betman who did a lot of work at centre midfield and almost scored off a 25-yard laser free kick.
Penticton United toppled North Country Appraisals Kickers 3-0 at City Park, becoming the first team to reach 10-0.
Steve Grant, on a curling cross from well out, Darren Schimpf with some newfound wheels, and Kevin Kothlow, with his league-high 11th of the year, handled the Penticton offence. The Kickers dropped to fourth spot at 5-3-2.
Brandt’s Creek Pub stopped RPM Automotive 2-0 in a showdown of fifth-place clubs at Mission Sports Field #10,
Blair Gautschi opened the scoring for the on a seeing-eye through ball from Kenny (Wee Man) Mair. The second-half insurance marker was clinically finished by Chad Warman after weaving through three challenges at the top of the box. Dave Rundle pulled off several key stops for the shutout.
