Kal Tire and Silver Stars battled to a 1-1 draw in Okanagan Oldtimers 50+ Soccer League action Thursday night at Marshall Field #2.
The Tiremen (8-10-4) opened the scoring in the 27th minute when striker Kevin Mitchell corralled a loose ball in the left corner and chipped it in the middle where towering striker Jenne Huberts neatly nodded it past keeper Dave Gould.
The Stars (14-5-3) pressed hard for the equalizer with both Ray Timms and Geoff Curtis stoned by defender-turned keeper Dave Hampton from gimme range late in the half.
Midfielder Steve Coombs intercepted a goal kick early in the second half and fed John Matejka, who converted from 20 yards out into an empty net with Hampton caught out of position.
Defender Rich Zecchel was the Burger King Man of the Match for Kal Tire, who got great hustle and spark from midfielder Jim Sparrow in the first half. Mark DeVolder also ran miles for the Tiremen.
Defenders Ken Barker and Bob Oldfield were stellar for the Stars, who won the derby season series at 2-1-1.
Meanwhile, the 45+ league playoffs start Monday night with the second-place Vernon Hi-Pro Sportswear Camels facing the seventh-place Okanagan Spring Brewery at Marshall #2 in a 5:30 kick-off.
Third-place North Country Appraisals Kickers go up against sixth-place Silver Stars at Mission 73 Sports Fields, also at 5:30.
The semifinals go the following Monday night.
