The Vernon Turn-Key Controls appear primed for the playoffs after earning a 2-2 draw against Courvas Wednesday night at the Salmon Arm Savings & Credit Union Sports Field.
Turn-Key ended the regular season at 4-6-4, while Courvas went to 7-4-3.
Turn-Key came out sizzling, but Courvas opened the scoring off of a highlight reel goal.
Nearing the end of the first 45 minutes, Turn-Key keeper Greg Douma stoned a Courvas player on a penalty shot. On the ensuing corner, Turn-Key created a turnover and moved the ball smartly up the left wing before centre midfielder Nathan Tucker beat a defender and fed it to streaking NOU Co-Ed tournament MVP Pat Egan. Egan made no mistake and buried a shot in the bottom corner to equalize.
Tucker, setting up a stellar play with a free kick from 40 yards out, led to a hard-working rebound goal by Brendan Love.
The Salmon Arm squad fought back to tie it up, and both keepers played tough the rest of the way.
Tucker and Douma shared the Red Robin Restaurant Man of the Match honours.
The Davidson & Co. Dynamite FC sealed second place behind idle North Enderby Timber by shelling Nation of Domination Eagle Homes 5-0 in Salmon Arm.
The Dynamite played with only 11 players and no subs with Seb Leck pulling the hat trick and Moe Singogo adding two goals.
The 8-4-2 Nitros’ defenders put up a powerful wall to shut down the 7-6 NOD offence.
Monashee Surveying brushed back Concept Physio 3-2 at Marshall #5 to leapfrog Turn-Key into seventh place in the nine-team loop.
Matt KcKeown, Chandler Marsh and Darren Nobrega, on a nice volley in tight after a Jay Aarsen corner, handled the scoring for the 5-7-2 Surveyors, who got golden play from sweeper Ryan Sharp and defender Mike Aarding, obviously inspired by the birth of his son, Ashler.
Enzo Paal replied for the Concept crew, who dipped to 6-8.
The Gibson Cup quarterfinals go next Wednesday night.
