The Vernon Liquor Store Stars were left frustrated Monday night at Marshall Field #2, falling 3-2 to Penticton after dominating much of the play in their Capri Insurance Men’s 45+ Soccer League tilt.
The 4-6-1 liquor men opened the scoring when Rick Danyluk hustled down the left wing and had his cross bounce in off the nose of John Burns.
Penticton scored two quick ones before halftime despite several sharp saves by Ted Lurkins. The visitors added insurance before Danyluk pounced on a through ball to bring the Stars within one.
The liquor men kept pressing and thought they had tied the game late, only to have the goal called back on an offside. Penticton improved to 8-3.
Lake Country FC overcame an early deficit to brush back the Rented Mules 3-1 at Parkinson Rec Fields in Kelowna.
The Mules, who dipped to 2-9, went up on a first-half goal by Harry de Haas, but in second half, Lake Country (8-3) responded with snipes from Neil MacNeil, Chris Purnell and Bruce McAuliffe.
In other 45+ Monday at Parkinson, Bosman Accounting fell 2-0 to Brandt’s Creek.
Henk Bosman shot high or wide on three glorious chances and Jenne Huberts drilled one just over net from 12 yards. Defender Greg Thalheimer and midfielder Tom Ouchi had bold showings for the 0-11 accountants.
Brandt’s, now 2-7-1, opened their account when Franklin Jeri-Leon was fouled at the top of the Bosman box, resulting in Kelvin Brown arrowing a free kick over the wall and beyond the keeper.
The pub crew took a firm grip on the game in the second half, but didn’t score until 10 minutes before the final whistle. Brandt’s finished the game with nine players following two red cards in the final 10 minutes, along with six yellows.
Big O Tire/Turn-Key Ogopogos took to the rain-slicked Mission Fields in Kelowna to upend the host Cantina’s 2-1.
With the sun breaking out following the pre-game downpour, players and keepers struggled to see the ball. Big O wisely kept the ball on the ground, using controlled passing to maintain possession throughout the game.
The first goal was a beauty by a wide open Rueben Cerventez, who converted a passing sequence between Mark Wasylyk and Brad Conlin midway through the first half.
Cantina’s (3-7-1) tied the game after the break on a nice shift move around an Ogopogo defender for a clear shot on a helpless Jorgen Kongsdorf.
The Ogopogos (5-6) strung together a six-player passing series, capped by a Wasylyk shot, low to the corner for the winner.
After the game, a Cantina player asked an Ogopogo player how they managed to assemble so many players for an out-of-town game. The reply, with a chuckle, was that the field was a dream to play on.
The showdown between the league’s top two teams failed to live up to the hype as top-seeded Brown Benefits manhandled the shorthanded Leko Precast Camels 7-1 at Marshall #1.
Missing seven starters and with third-string keeper Rob Parkin in net, the Camels found themselves trailing the 11-0 Benefits early. The 8-1-1 Humpbacks replied right away on a goal by Brian Williamson, but Brown collected three more goals later in the half.
The Camels held their own to start the second half, but a second Brown barrage sealed the win.
Don Brown and Tony Gonzales, each with a pair, highlighted the Benefits’ offence.
In Kelowna Men’s 35+ League play Monday, Vernon Kal Tire returned to winning ways with a 3-0 win over Freeport Industries at Marshall #3.
The first goal came early in the second half when Rodney Goodchild put a corner on the head of a charging Kriss Yargeau, who finished with a war cry.
A few minutes later, Ryan Sharp found Jason Beck streaking down the sideline with a clear lane. Beck relayed the feed to Tim McGowan, who finished with a well-placed header.
McGowan capped the scoring on a scramble by six-yard box.
In men’s 50+ league play, Vernon Kal Tire bowed 4-1 to the Kelowna Kickers at Quarry Park. Trailing 4-0 early in the second half, Vernon finally got on board with a goal from Dennis Chabot.
Rob Culos was stellar in goal in the first half, and equally solid on the back line in the second, to earn Man of the Match.
