The Silver Stars battled back from a pair of one-goal deficits to earn a 4-2 comeback win over host Kelowna Kickers in Okanagan Men’s 50+ Soccer League play Thursday night at Kettle Valley Fields.
The short-staffed Stars, bolstered by three players from two different Kelowna teams, gave up the early lead on a breakaway. The Vernon offence had several chances, but couldn’t hit the ocean from the wharf.
John Gardner finally got the Vernon boys back to even with a nice left footer, low past the keeper.
The Kickers retook the lead early in the second half on a nice cross that caught the Stars’ defence and keeper admiring the play as it was fired in.
The Vernon boys started controlling the play after that, getting three unanswered goals. Gardner complete his hat trick to earn Stars’ Man of the Match.
In other 50+ action at Marshall Field, Dave Dawson recorded the winner on penalty kicks as Vernon Kal Tire shaded West Kelowna 4-3.
The Tiremen loaned the West Kelowna crew a couple of players to make it even, and found themselves trailing 3-1. Striker Ted Sheehan had generated several quality scoring chances for Vernon, but couldn’t finish.
Getting the goals for Kal Tire were Dave Hampton, with a header, and two nice strikes from the always-dependable Mike Lloyd. Man of the match was defender Gord Campbell, who was stellar on the back line and made several good runs.
