Turn-Key Controls extended their winning streak to six games and took over first place Wednesday night by shading the Hi-Pro Sportswear Camels FC 2-1 at Marshall Field #5.
In what was a very well-contested North Okanagan Soccer League game, neither team was able to score in the first half with the closest chance being a Greg Niemantsverdriet shot that rang off the Camels’ post.
The Camels (6-8-2) opened the scoring early in the second half when Austin Jones converted a penalty kick past Turn-Key keeper Jeremy Kler.
The two clubs engaged in a battle in the midfield all game, with neither side able to really pull away. Turn-Key (11-4-1) equalized when Evan Moore converted a penalty past Humpbacks’ keeper Sean Campbell.
A Turn-Key counterattack worked wonders with five minutes remaining when Andrew Pool took a pass from Taylor Horsting and delivered a brilliant cross to Nolan’s Pharmasave Man of the Match Chris Jahnig, who buried the header past Campbell. Moore started the play.
North Enderby Timber shut down Courvas 3-0 at Marshall #1 to move into sole possession of second place, two points back of Turn-Key.
Keeper Danny Stein looked at pictures from his Friday night wedding social on his iPhone while his NET teammates peppered Courvas with dozens of shots.
Red-hot Brent Poulsen jumpstarted the offence in the 37th minute when he took a feed from centre back Tyler Loose just inside the 18, made two touches and curled a low shot into the corner.
Courvas, who had just 11 men, lost a winger to a knee injury in the 30th minute.
NET went up by a deuce in the 65th minute when Harminder Sandhu buried a rebound of a Brandon Enair shot that was blocked by a defender.
Poulsen closed the scoring 15 minutes later when ripped a shot from the right side of the 18 and chased down the rebound.
The Revelstoke Stallions brushed back Davidson & Co. Dynamite 4-3 at Marshall #4.
The Dynamite spotted Revelstoke (10-4-2) three goals in the first 20 minutes before getting themselves back into the game. The Dynamite also had two goals called back, one of which was a penalty kick.
Chris Swinburn, Moe Singogo and Patrick Schindler scored for the Nitros (5-8-3), whose keeper, Brynden Buckham, made several spectacular saves.
Noah Varley, returning after four games off, was awesome at middle defender, earning the Burger King Man of the Match.
Injury-riddled Monashee Surveying showed up with nine men and bowed 12-2 to Nation of Domination Eagle Homes in Salmon Arm.
Eagle Homes (8-6-1) scored five times in the first 20 minutes before Alberto Lopez clicked on a penalty kick after being pulled down going through the middle of the box.
Fearless leader Eric Nolting tried to spark 5-7-3 Monashee in the second half with some great hustle and determination.
After a few more goals by NOD and great saves by stand-in keeper Chandler Marsh, Monashee converted on a slick passing play, finished by a calm Geoff Straight.
The host Salmon Arm Outlaws clipped Concept Physio 2-1 in a spirited match.
The Outlaws (3-10) came out right from the opening whistle and worked the subless 1-12-3 Concept Physio team hard.
Some great goalkeeping by Riley Spraggs kept Concept in the game. Concept changed gears in the second half and came out in a 2-5-3 formation that confused the Outlaws and produced some great chances using the extra attackers to generate more offence.
The father-son duo of Brad and Mike Conlin were outstanding and helped put the Outlaws on their heels. Shane Whitley made some excellent runs on the outside that stretched the Outlaws to their breaking point and allowed Chris Harris to equalize for Concept midway through the second half.
Brock Reim was a machine on the back end in the second half, helping Rob Spraggs repel wave after wave of counters from the Outlaws. Concept was unable to capitalize on a myriad of chances, and the Outlaws found a seam in the defence and scored the winner in the dying minutes.