For a second straight season, it will be an all-Vernon affair in the North Okanagan Soccer League final Sunday night (6:00) at MacDonald Park.
North Enderby Timber will defend its title against Turn-Key Controls FC in a rematch of last year’s final.
Turn-Key earned their chance for redemption by stunning the top-seeded Courvas of Salmon Arm 2-1 in semifinal action Wednesday night in the Shuswap.
Things did not begin well for the Controls as a Courvas cross in the opening minute found the foot of streaking forward Chad Forman, who slipped one past Turn-Key keeper Victor Gouchee.
The Controls settled down and evened the score when Mike Bennett beat his defender on the wing and delivered a cross for fellow winger Taylor Horsting, who converted a left-footed finish past Courvas keeper Morgan Stanton.
For the rest of the half, Turn-Key midfielders Preston Tucker and Evan Moore battled the talented and physical Courvas grow for control of the middle.
Gouchee made the TSN Turning Point and Total Restoration Save of the Game in the first half’s final moments, making a fantastic diving stop on a partial Courvas breakaway to keep the score even going into the break.
In the second half, central defenders Sam Nolan and Carson-Haywood Farmer, who shared Nolan Pharmasaves Man of the Match honours, along with timely saves by Gouchee, consistently shut down the high-octane Courvas attack.
Turn-Key got the break they needed in the 70th minute, when Thomas Pool flicked a ball past the Courvas defenders for his streaking brother Andrew, who was initially stopped by Stanton but buried his own rebound for the game winner.
NET used singles by Brent Poulsen, Evan Fredrick and Brody Couch to brush back the Revelstoke Stallions 3-1 Wednesday at Marshall Field #3.
John Morabito replied for the Stallions.
Meanwhile, in B.C. Senior Games action Wednesday morning, Zone 5 (Okanagan) held on to clip North Island 2-1 in men’s 60+ soccer at McArthur Island Sports Centre Field #2 in Kamloops.
Striker Al Bensmiller of Armstrong gave the Okanagan crew the lead at 15 minutes, finishing from ‘gimme’ range. Midfielder Tim Penaluna of Vernon drew the assist.
After enormous pressure from North Island for the opening 25 minutes of the second half, Dan Dinsmore of Summerland buried a 25-corker, top shelf, from the far left side to make it 2-0.
Central defenders Rob Parkin of Vernon and Harry Higson of Summerland were magic in support of stellar keeper Tim Brent as North Island came in waves. The Islanders converted a penalty kick with four minutes left.
In men’s 55+, Team Okanagan gave up three early goals to South Island (Victoria) and fell 3-0 Wednesday at McArthur #3.
They rebounded Thursday by drawing Kamloops 1-1, with Lake Country’s Glen Heagle supplying the Okanagan offence on a broken play.
Dave Spendlove countered for Kamloops. Okanagan keeper Chris Burkett of Kelowna stopped Jimmy McCarthy on a late penalty.
