Bryan Schenker recorded the equalizer in the final minute as Vernon Square Liquor Store Celtics salvaged a 4-4 draw with Vernon Toyota in Okanagan Oldimters 35+ Soccer League play Monday night at Marshall #4.
The result must have felt like a win for the tiremen, who played the entire game short a player.
Toyota got off to a hot start with John Orton finding the net at the two-minute mark.
Mike Collins’ one-timer after a loose ball tied the game, but sharpshooter Orton, once on a long ball, and once on a header to the far corner, completed his first-half hat trick.
Just before the break, Schenker went on a solo run to pull the 4-5-2 Celtics within a goal.
Toyota (5-5-1) recharged during halftime and within three minutes, speedy Marty Steele swirled through the Celtic’s defence to record his team’s fourth goal.
With 15 minutes to go, Celtic fullback Simon Schofield brought the margin back to one with a nifty shot from the top of the penalty box.
In other 35+ action, Wes Vanderveen provided the lone goal as Bosman Accounting fell 7-1 to first-place People’s Insulation Monday at Marshall #2.
The accountants dipped to 2-9. People’s are 10-0-2.
Meanwhile, in men’s 45+ action, Big O Tire deflated Brandt’s Creek Pub of Kelowna 3-2 Monday at Marshall #3.
In a game that featured plenty of back-and-forth action, great passing, defence and goaltending, Big O forward Mark Wasylyk opened the scoring on a breakaway run. Juan O’Quinn was credited for the 5-8 tiremen’s second goal as a Brandt’s defender tipped in a cross for an own-goal. Wasylyk made it 3-0 on a broken play.
With Big O losing two players to injury, and with no subs, Brandt’s Creek (3-8-2) put on the pressure and got singles from Geoffrey Averay-Jones and Lloyd Pendelton.
Strong defence by Big O’s Leo Nadeau and Mike Adams, and tireless efforts from Kerry Zubot and hobbling Rob Culos, held down the fort.
Marketplace IGA pushed its undefeated season to 12-0 with a 3-2 win over second-place Hi-Pro Sportswear Camels Monday night at Marshall #1.
In a well-played game, IGA tok a 1-0 lead into the break on a goal by Brad Heuser in the 15th minute.
IGA went up 2-0 on a goal off a corner kick headed in by Darryl Hazell 10 minutes into the second half.
The Camels drew within one on a goal by Gord Howard, taking a pass off the wing from Jim Mottus at the six-yard line and burying it under the cross bar.
IGA regained a two-goal advantage on a fine shot to the low corner by Larry Kinakin. The Camels crept within a goal by Dave Dawson on a 20-yarder that deflected off an IGA defender and found its way under the crossbar with three minutes left.
Host Rutland upset the Vernon Silver Stars 2-1 Monday night.
The Stars pressured early and dominated the ball in the first 25 minutes. At the 20-minute mark, Brian Eso put a long ball into the 18 to Kevin Cowley, who laid it off to Rob Bauml at 15 yards out. It was Bauml’s first goal as a 45, and he made no mistake putting a hard low shot to the right corner.
The Stars had numerous quality scoring opportunities but could not convert against the Rutland keeper for the rest of the half.
With seconds left in the first half, a long through ball from the half line into the Stars’ left wing made it past the last Vernon defender and the Rutland winger cracked a beautiful shot just under the cross bar to equalize.
In the second half, Silver Stars (6-3-4) again dominated play and had a huge territorial advantage. Steve Coombs stepped up in the middle along with Steve Fitzpatrick and kept Rutland (4-8-1) pinned in their end for the bulk of the half.
Both teams lost a player to slide tackles and played out the rest of the game at nine aside. The stars were unable to solve the Rutland keeper, and once again, a long ball past the last Stars’ defender ended up on a Rutland foot for the go-ahead goal with 15 minutes left.
Salmon Arm stuffed Penticton United 5-3 at Winfield’s Beasley Park.
Salmon Arm opened the scoring in the second minute on a Jeff Abbott goal, but Penticton levelled a minute later on a Brad Findlay strike.
United, who dipped to 8-4-1, took the lead on a Peter Guocco strike, but before 15 minutes was up Ralph Segreto brought the 8-4-1 Shuswap crew even.
Segreto and Keith Chancellor added two more Salmon Arm goals to make it 4-2 at the 30-minute mark, but Findlay pulled Penticton to within one just before halftime.
Segreto completed the hat trick early in the second half to complete the scoring.
Penticton had a player sent off in the second half, which allowed Salmon Arm to knock the ball around to hang on for the win.
The North Country Appraisals Kickers downed Rented Mules 3-1 at City Park in Kelowna.
North Country goals were scored by Wil Kruiper, Greg Bevandick, on a penalty shot, and Matt Cherrille.
Brian Rea scored for Mules off the rebound of a penalty-shot save by Martin Vincze.