It was Manic Monday for all three Vernon teams in the Capri Insurance Men’s 45+ Soccer League.
The previously unbeaten Turn-Key Controls Ogopogos fell 4-0 to league-leading Brown Benefits in a marquee showdown at Rutland Sports Field. The game was called in the final minutes after tempers flared.
A very even first half saw both teams create chances until Kelly Sherman opened the scoring when he poked home a rebound from a Don Brown shot.
In the second half, Steve Fagan doubled the lead with a 30-yard blast that went in off the underside of the crossbar for his second bar-down-goal in as many weeks.
A strong effort by Tony Gonzales resulted in him being fouled inside the box and Dante Zanatta stepped up to convert the penalty for a 3-0 lead.
In the final minutes, defender Lionel Hoffman sent the ball forward and was caught late by a Turn-Key forward. While everyone waited for a whistle, the ref played a great advantage as Jim Kruiper broke away, beating the last defender and coolly slotting the ball into the bottom corner.
The late foul on Hoffman saw Turn-Key’s Ruben Cervantes red carded but that didn’t stop tempers from boiling over. After the dust had settled, the ref called the game. Gord Regan took the shutout.
Keeper Bobby Zalcik recorded some great saves for the Pogos (7-1). Turn-Key’s Clint Dickenson headed a ball off a corner and hit the crossbar, while Jeff Nice came in all alone and was foiled by the Browns keeper.
Tree Brewing FC schooled Bosman Accounting 4-0 at Marshall Field #4 in a battle of middle-of-the-pack sides.
David Gadd read Soccer Weekly while posting the clean sheet, watching Gerard Geelkerken knock an attempt off the crossbar in the final minutes.
Steve Cox converted the goal of the night with a 25-yarder roof daddy past a startled Yogi Kongsdorf. Archie MacDonald swiped the ball off fullback Dan Rogers near the sidelines and fed Cox for the 2-0 snipe. Dave Short (2) and Paul Charlton, from gimme range, also connected for Tree Brewing.
The Brewers, who got a fabulous showing from ageless central midfielder Glen Heagle, improved to 6-3. Bosman dipped to 4-4-1.
Gigi Moldovan netted his league-leading 10th and 11th snipes of the season as Mission Cleaners grounded the Okanagan Spring Brewers 4-2 at Marshall #1.
Johnny Orton fired his sixth and seventh goals for the Humpbacks (1-6-1). Orton was chosen the Lincoln Lanes Man of the Match.
Ron Krause of the Camels allowed one goal in the first half before suffering an injury. Akbal Mund took the keeper gloves in the second half, allowing a 25-yard roof-daddy corker by Dave Bertetic and another high drive by Moldovan. Kristian Sorensen rang up the other Mission goal. The Cleaners are 6-4-1.