The Vernon Silver Stars stunned the defending Okanagan Oldtimers 45+ Soccer League champion Hi-Pro Sportswear Camels 2-0 Monday night at Marshall Field #3.
The Stars (3-0) took the lead in the 20th minute when a Rick Danyluk inswinging corner from the left escaped everybody including Camels’ keeper Dave Dutcher, who collided with his own defender, Dan Zieske.
There were some nervous moments inside the Stars’ six-yard box at the end of the half as the Camels applied pressure but couldn’t finish.
The Camels, with the easterly wind now at their backs, enjoyed good possession in the second half but never really threatened to score. Dutcher made a few spectacular saves to prevent the Stars from increasing their lead.
Kevin Cowley converted on a penalty kick after the Stars’ Gerson Betman was brought down by Camels’ defender Stu Whitling.
The Humpbacks (2-1) continued to press but were stymied by a solid Stars’ defence. It was the Camels’ first loss since mid-May of last season.
The Okanagan Spring, backed by a hat trick from Mike Lloyd, defeated Salmon Arm 3-2 at Marshall Field #2.
The Brewers were down 1-0 early after an Andrew Whiston goal. Lloyd converted on a penalty kick to equalize before the half.
Lloyd made it 2-1 early in the second half, only to have Wolfgang Bopp tie the game with 12 minutes to go.
Lloyd got the winner with less than six minutes remaining, and Spring hung on as 1-2 Salmon Arm pressed, hitting the crossbar twice in the late stages. Akbal Mund filled in as keeper for Spring (2-1).
The hard-luck Vernon Big O Tire fell to 0-3 by falling 2-0 to Lake Country FC at Beasley Park.
The play was even most of the first half until a 30-yard shot rolled to Big O keeper Paul Hunter and dribbled past his fingertips over the goal line.
Lake Country made it 2-0 before the end of the first half on a nifty pass across the 18-yard line area with a striker putting a hard shot into the open corner. Big O looked a lot sharper in the second half, after coach Yogi Kongsdorf made some adjustments. Mark Wasylyk missed with a blast over the net as he broke in all alone after a pass from Rob Ross, who also missed wide after a sweet cross from Wasylyk.
Newcomer John Garner was stellar, nailing a penalty kick from 35 yards out that just missed the top part of the net forcing, keeper to make a great save. Volker Otto and Mike Adams, also new to Big O, played solid on defence.
In other games, it was: North Country Appraisals Kickers 0 Brandt’s Creek Pub 0; Kelowna IGA 7 Rented Mules 0; Pushor Mitchell 4 Cantina’s Pub 0.
