Morning Star Staff
It was pretty much like a Li’l Kickers circus for the Okanagan Spring Camels Monday night at Parkinson 9 Field in Kelowna.
Only nine Camels showed up for the Capri Insurance Men’s 45+ Soccer League match. Regular star fullback Rob Hulstein – nursing a hamstring injury – was forced to play in goal and star keeper Dave Dutcher played out against the Pushor Mitchell Rented Mules.
Against all odds, the 3-0-1 Humpbacks went up 2-0 early on goals by super striker Johnny Orton early in the final 45 minute and tied 2-2.
However, after Dave Dawson was removed from the game due to a second yellow card for slide tackles, the Rented Mules figured out that any shot on net equalled a goal, and the Camels were forced to make Hulstein a pylon up front and put Dutcher back in goal.
By then, the 1-1-2 Mules had scored twice to tie the game, the first a dribbler to the corner that had Hulstein hilariously crawling on hands and knees across goal to no avail and the second a high shot that proved that white men can’t jump.
Camel Mike Collins was the Mike Tyson punching bag player of the game, handling central defence all alone and taking several hard shots to the face.
RPM Automotive of Kelowna rallied to bounce Vernon Bosman Accounting 4-2 at Marshall Field #2.
The 0-4 accountants took the lead in the 15th minute after right winger Louie Fuscaldo juked past two defenders and crossed the ball to Barry MacKay, who headed the ball in the left corner.
RPM (1-2-1) levelled things 10 minutes later, but Bosman kept pressing and after stringing some great passes, the ball reached weekend rock star Mark Sladen, who turned towards the keeper and noticed that he was standing a couple of yards off his line. Sladen kicked the ball from 25 yards just under the left cross bar.
It was 2-2 at the recess and the three points seemed up for grabs. RPM pressed a touch harder and got the last two goals.
Fuscaldo was named the European Football School Okanagan Man of the Match for Bosman.
Soccer United of Kelowna came from behind to topple Turn-Key Ogopogos 4-2.
John Garner of the Pogos opened the scoring off a breakaway from a pass from Ruben Cervantes, finishing low.
Mark Wasylyk put the Pogos up by a deuce off an assist by Bryan Schenker. Wasylyk found the corner as the keeper came out to challenge.
Soccer United answered the call by slipping the ball just past Ted Lurkins’ fingertips.
Schenker broke off on a breakaway early in the second, only to have the ball batted away.
harm’s way. Soccer United levelled the score before Schenker’s free kick hit the crossbar.
Soccer United kept moving ahead in the second half and added more offence for their first win after two draws and a loss. The Pogos dipped to 1-3.