Morning Star Staff
Glenn Allan scored twice as Vernon Kal Tire rallied past Penticton Pinnacles 4-3 in Kelowna Men’s 35+ Soccer League play Thursday night at sun-drenched City Park.
Rodney Goodchild showed some true Okanagan spirit by opening the Vernon offence at 25 minutes with a rifle shot. Play went back and forth for the rest of the half. Penticton equalized near the 72nd minute on a mix up off a corner.
A few minutes later, Penticton (3-8-1) pulled ahead on a long ball that ended in a foot race which the Penticton forward slightly won and finished.
First-place Vernon (11-1) responded when Allan took a feed and went on a run, beat a defender and buried a beauty.
Minutes later, Duane Dennis capitalized on a turnover, walking around a sprawling keeper for the easy tap in.
Kal Tire’s final goal came a few minutes when Allan converted from Tyler Johnson.
Penticton connected after some miscommunication between Kal Tire defenders and keeper Ian Butler, named the Wings Man of the Match.
The Tiremen host second-place Lake Country Tree Brewing Thursday (6:30 p.m.) at Marshall Field #1.
In men’s 55+ play, Paul McCardle bagged a deuce as Vernon Silver Stars smothered Summerland Rockets 5-0 at Beasley Park in Lake Country.
Rob Ross, Keith Chancellor and Mahmoud Abdel-Kader added singles, while Ray Tims recorded the shutout. The Stars improved to 6-3, while Summerland dipped to 1-10.
OTC/Sunterra Sistas turned back the Green Rockets 3-1 in women’s Division 2 action Thursday night at Marshall Field #4.
Andrea Zubot of Sunterra picked up a short goal kick and converted midway through the first half.
The Rockets levelled the score early in the second half, but 10 minutes later, Kim Sylvester scored off a corner for Sistas.
Jennie Currie took a link from Cara Van Tol, ran down the right wing, crossed it in front of the net and flicked one in off a Green defender.
The Rocket defence did a great job of stepping up to catch Sistas offside several times.
On forward for the Sistas, Diane Neudorf and Amy Fitchett had numerous runs and great passing plays to produce several chances for the ladies in orange.
In midfield, Amanda Gaythorpe’s gritty play, along with Lesley Williams’ stick-to-it-iveness, Miranda Dalhuisen’s cleverness and Krista Gutknecht’s expertise, all consistently advanced the ball into Rockets zone to keep things exciting.
Sister Sistas Michelle Mulholland and Currie played on the back line together, alongside Tania Wirachowsky and Van Tol, cleaning things up for keeper Wendy Nadeau.
It wasn’t looking good for Sir Winston’s Attack as they fell behind 3-0 to the Fantastic Four before gaining a 3-3 draw at Marshall #5.
Brandi Wejr and Shelby Fisher’s tenacity up front finally paid off – with two quick goals by Wejr and then a fabulous third goal by Fisher – all within the last 20 minutes of the game for the Attack.
Azra Cawley of Sir Winnie’s had an awesome game in net – facing down multiple hard shots by the pink squad and coming out hard to challenge an opposing striker on a breakaway.
Carrie Sutch once again played a wonderful game on the back four – tackling hard, sprinting harder and grinning the entire time.
Rookie Marie Braun consistently shut down some great plays.
