Morning Star Staff
Marty Steele returned from a month-long hiatus/vacation and racked up four goals as Vernon Toyota demolished shortstaffed Salmon Arm 8-0 in Monday night at Marshall Field #1.
John Orton and Don Balcombe each scored twice for Toyota, who improved to 7-8-1 in the Okanagan Men’s 35+ Soccer League. Salmon Arm dipped to 3-11-1.
“It was nice to have a full squad for the second week in a row,” said Toyota manager John Davies. “Injuries, vacations and work have played havoc with the team throughout the summer but it feels like we are back on track and ready to make a playoff push.”
Iain Butler and Dan Curtis faced little action as they shared keeper duty for the shutout.
The Vernon Square Liquor Store Celtics recorded a routine 5-0 victory over last-place Kelowna Rented Mules at Mission 69 Sports Fields.
The Celtics started in a high tempo and controlled the game from the very first minute. Despite creating numerous chances during the first half, the Celtics only managed to score one goal before the break when captain Geoff Straight found striker Kriss Yargeau with a nifty through pass.
After the break, the Celtics finally started to capitalize. Bryan Schenker scored twice within 10 minutes after another sublime pass by Straight and an assist from Yargeau. Steve Milne made it 4-0 with a low shot from distance.
Shortly after, Schenker scored another goal when halfback Volker Otto bent a perfect cross into the 16-yard box which was so sharp that the Rented Mules’ keeper completely missed.
The 7-6-2 Celtics took their foot off the pedal for the remainder of the second half in order to avoid any injuries with next week’s clash against second place-Penticton FC in mind. The Celtics’ defence – led by Jason Beck – played a perfect game, keeping keeper Chris Bader out of any serious action. The Mules fell to 1-15.
In 45+ men’s league play Monday night, the Vernon Hi-Pro Sportswear Camels ambushed the shorthanded Pushor Mitchell Advocates of Kelowna 8-0 at Marshall Field #1.
Red-hot Rick Raber pulled the hat trick, giving him nine goals in his last five games, as the Humpbacks went to 13-3-2.
Mike Daly (2), Dave Dawson, Gord Howard and Al Betton also scored for the Camels. Keeper Kelly Schley stopped one 35-yard free kick for the shutout. The Advocates played with 10 men.
Art Renaud bagged his first goals of the season as the Vernon Silver Stars grounded Cantina’s Pub of Kelowna 3-0 at Marshall #3.
Renaud took a nifty short feed from Rob Bauml and buried a shot through the keeper’s hand and post in the 17th minute.
Renaud made it 2-0 in the 35th minutes when he took a cross from Rick Danyluk, deked around one defender and then juked and jived around the keeper. Bauml fired his third of the season in the 70th minute when he received a pass from Mahmoud Abdel-Kader, faked a shot, stepped around a defender and sent a corker through the keeper’s hands. The Stars are 7-7-4, while Cantina’s are 3-12-2.
The Okanagan Spring Brewery travelled back to their favourite field in Kelowna – The Quarry – and scored five second-half goals in a 5-1 win over the Rutland Spirit.
Down 1-0 at the half, Spring scored four goals in the first five minutes of the second half. Baconator Man of the Match Tom Ouchi equalized on a 30-yard blast and then Chris Reeves clicked on a breakaway, set up my Mike Lloyd.
Lloyd from Reeves, and Ouchi from Reeves, made it 4-1 Spring, stunning the Spirit. Rick Price stopped a penalty kick with 15 minutes left and then Ouchi fed Ted Sheenan in the slot and Sheehan buried a shot to the top corner.
The visiting Big O Tire Ogopogos waited extra time for Salmon Arm players to show and make enough for a game before settling for a 1-1 draw.
The Ogopogos opened the scoring on a great blast under the crossbar by Gary Dill. Dill just missed on another opportunity shortly after a clear break and shot off the keeper. Big O passed the ball well against the highly-skilled hosts and Big O’s strong defence and midfield work frustrated the home team all night long.
The Ogopogos missed on a lot of close calls by Parm Kler, Mark Wasylyk and Robert Ross and finally managed to score two more goals that were called back on close offside calls.
With seven minutes remaining, Big O defender Greg Thalheimer received a yellow card outside the right side of the 18-yard box. The penalty kick was headed out but Kevin Harrison nailed the rebound through a maze of players under the sprawling arms of keeper Yogi Kongsdorf.
Mike Powell played his heart out up and down the field for the Tiremen (7-10-1), while Leo Nadeau, Brad Conlin and Ruben Cerventez also enjoyed strong games.
Salmon Arm, who played one man short, went to 10-6-2.
Ken Mulleney scored three times as the North Country Appraisals Kickers doubled Brandt’s Creek Pub 4-2 at Mission 71 Sports Field. The Kickers went to 11-4-3, while Brandt’s dropped to 5-11-2.
