Despite starting with only 10 men in extreme heat and conceding an early goal, Vernon Toyota rebounded and posted a 2-1 win over the Pushor Mitchell Rented Mules Monday night at Mission 71 Sports Field in Kelowna.
Kevin Kearns’ late arrival sparked the Carmen as striker John Orton recorded his 11th and 12th goals of the Okanagan Men’s 35+ Soccer League year.
Orton’s first was off a goal-mouth scramble after the Mules’ keeper robbed both Don Balcombe and Brian Johnston.
The winner came off a set play with Kearns delivering a beautiful ball to a wide open Orton just outside the six-yard box. Orton placed the ball into the upper corner of the net with a precision header.
Toyota ended a month-long losing skid to improve to 6-8-1. The last-place Mules are 1-14.
Bosman Accounting of Vernon battled to a 1-1 draw with Kelowna’s Fountain Tire at Marshall Field #5.
The 4-10-1 accountants scored a quick goal in the first half after a series of corners. Rolf Hirschkorn curled the ball in front of the Fountain Tire goal when Wes Vanderveen back-heeled the ball to forward Bobby Zalcik, who chipped it over the keeper for the 1-0 lead.
Fountain Tire (6-6-2) had several good changes in the first half, but keeper Guy Paulsen had an outstanding night in net, making some crucial saves.
In the second half, Bosman had the better chances, but failed to finish. Captain Henk Bosman had a pair of free kick attempts go just over the crossbar.
Another fluent attack over the left wing involved a long cross from Vanderveen to Zalcik, who just headed the ball wide. Zalcik also went alone at the Foutain Tire keeper after a brilliant through pass from centre midfielder Ian Murphy, but just missed his attempt.
Fountain Tire scored on a counter attack in a 4-on-2 situation in which Paulsen was helpless. Either team could have won this game, but the tie seemed fitting.
In 45+ league action, Okanagan Spring Brewery welcomed back Frosty Man of the Match Pete (The Heat) Richter and Chris Reeves for their first games of the year and went on to defeat Kelowna Rented Mules 6-3 at the Quarry in Kelowna.
Akbal Mund, three minutes in, playing forward to start the game, opened the scoring on a 20-yard blast that found the top corner, assisted by Reeves and Tom Ouchi.
The Mules tied the game 1-1 before Mike Lloyd, from Denis Chabot, made it 2-1 Spring, only to have the Mules tie it again at 2-2.
Jim McEwan made it 3-2 at the half, from Reeves.
Early in the second, Roger Irving, from Lloyd, and then Reeves, with two tap-ins from Lloyd, finished off the 5-9-2 Spring scoring.
Richter kept Spring in the game early, making several key saves in the first half.
Penticton United gained revenge for a shellacking they took from Vernon Hi-Pro Sports Camels a month ago with a 1-0 win at Marshall Field #3.
Darren Schimpf picked off a pass back by Stu Whiting and beat Humpbacks’ keeper Dave Dutcher with about 10 minutes remaining.
Penticton’s keeper was stellar, stopping Gordie Howard on a first-half penalty kick, awarded when Howard was pushed in the back inside the 18, and making several other big saves.
Camels’ winger Rick Raber, who had three straight two-goal outings, missed the net on a breakaway. Penticton pushed to 11-4-1, while the Humpbacks dipped to 12-3-2.
Lake Country tripped up Vernon Big O Tire Ogopogo’s 3-1 at Marshall #1.
It was one of those crazy nights where Big O hit posts and crossbars and shot wide numerous times.
Paul Carlton scored twice and Walter Morel once for Lake Country (3-12-1).
Mark Wasylyk had Big O’s goal on a nifty last-minute move around the keeper on a breakaway.
Lake Country counted a late goal with Big O pressing all their men up for the tie.
Volker Otto, Wasylyk, Leo Nadeau and Brad Conlin played very well for the tiremen, who fell to 7-10.
Stella Artois Man of the Match John Burns buried a pair of goals as Silver Stars fell 4-3 to Brandt’s Creek Pub Monday night at City Park in Kelowna.
Burns, a sweeper more known for his unintelligible English accent than his scoring prowess, opened the scoring on a cross from Rob Bauml at the 20-minute mark.
The Brit made it 2-0 for the 6-7-4 Stars seven minutes later on an absolute corker of a free kick from 30 yards out, placing it just under the crossbar.
Brandt’s, now 5-10-2, made it 2-1 before the break on a 20-yard free kick, and equalized early in the second half.
Bill Graham restored the Stars’ lead by heading a Brian Eso corner through a maze of bodies, getting just enough oomph on it to get it over the line.
The pub crew pulled even again on a cross that sailed straight into the net. They secured the win with three minutes to play when Stars’ netminder Ted Lurkins came outside the 18 to handle the ball and put it right onto the foot of an opposing player for an empty-netter.
Kelowna IGA clipped the North Country Appraisals Kickers 1-0 on a goal by Chris Young. IGA is 17-0, the Kickers 10-4-3.
The Pushor Mitchell Advocates edged the Rutland Spirit 4-3.
