Morning Star Staff
The Leko Precast Camels snapped a three-game winless streak by grounding Pushor Mitchell Advocates 4-0 Monday night at Parkinson Rec #9 Field in Kelowna.
Ageless veteran striker Al Murphy ended a lengthy scoring drought with a natural hat trick as the second-place Humpbacks went to 9-1-3 in the Capri Insurance Men’s 45+ Soccer League.
Murphy headed in the winner off the crossbar after a Rob Hulstein corner and then made it 2-0 when he finished from seven yards after a nice square ball by Zane Klym.
The tough-as-nails Oyama product finished the hatty with another feed, in tight, by Klym, who in turn closed the first-half offence on a pass from Murphy (Rocky Mountain Transport Man of the Match).
Defender Ron Krause and striker Gord Howard, who was nursing an injury, shared the shutout. The Advocates dipped to 1-8-4.
Penticton United stayed in the top-four with a 3-1 win over Big O Tire/Turn-Key Ogopogos at Marshall #1.
United (9-3) pressured early and mighty keeper Jorgen (Yogi) Kongsdorf recorded some brilliant saves while releasing no rebounds. Penticton finally beat Kongsdorf in the middle of the half on a close -in shot.
Roland Riedstra took a beautiful cross from Parm Kler and buried a corker into the corner for the equalizer just before the half ended.
The second half was full of chances for both teams, but Kongsdorf, having his best game of the year in taking the Wendy’s Baconator Man of the Match, kept the 5-7 Ogopogos in the game.
Kler, Henry Czerwonka, Volker Otto, Paul Hunter, Brad Conlin, Gary Dill, John Garner and Riedstra all had glorious chances to give the Ogopogos the lead.
Penticton fooled Kongsdorf, who ducked as the ball just grazed his head and hit the crossbar and in, to give them the lead. United added the clincher in the final seconds.
Kler, Dave Hampton, Mark Wasylyk and Kerry Zubot leave soon for the World Masters Games, Aug. 2-11, in Torino, Italy. Jim Sparrow of the Kal Tire 50+ team and former Vernonite Eric Stepura, now of Vancouver, are playing for Big O along with pick-ups from other countries.
Vernon Liquor Store Stars crushed Cantina’s Pub 8-1 at warm and windy Kettle Valley Park.
While there was no moment of silence, Andrew Winston paid tribute to Rob Bauml’s performance of the previous week by netting three goals with Fitzpatrick-esque precision.
Only moments after the opening whistle, Winston converted a cross in the six-yard box. The Stars (6-6-1) gave Cantina’s (3-9-1) fits throughout the half, dominating possession and providing keeper Ted Lurkins the time needed to adjust to life more than 50 metres from the lake.
John Matejka and Art Renaud added two goals each, while Rick Danyluk returned to form with stellar finish, proving the money outlaid for his treasured Steve Fitzpatrick Semi Elite Training video was not entirely wasted.
Cantina’s did respond with one in the second half, taking advantage of Danyluk’s failure to share his video with his back line earlier in the week. Fitzpatrick was unavailable for comment as a consequence of poor cell service on the seventh green, but it’s believed he would not have been rendered speechless upon hearing of the romp.
Riverdancing Steve Frost pulled the hat trick and speedy Sergio Sartori supplied a deuce as North Country Appraisals Kickers ambushed winless Bosman Accounting 8-0 at Mission 71 Field.
Floyd Ryan, Wil Kruiper and Lars Martens provided singles as the Kickers remained alone in third place at 9-2-1. David Gadd earned the shutout with a handful of decent stops.
Bruce McAuliffe bagged two goals as Lake Country brushed back the Rutland RPM Automotive Spirit 4-1 at Beasley Park.
Steve Cox and Ian Smith added singles for Lake Country (9-4), while Richard Chapman countered for the Spirit (6-4-3) on a penalty shot. RPM keeper Harold Schock was marvellous.
Brandt’s Creek and the Rented Mules battled extreme first-half heat conditions at the Quarry in a 1-1 draw.
The Mules went ahead on a goal by Harry de Haas after Al Ryder tiptoed down the Brandt’s end line. Brandt’s rediscovered possession in the latter portion of the second half and were justly rewarded with an equalizer by David Hughes at 80 minutes. Kelvin Brown drew the assist.
Meanwhile, in Kelowna Men’s Soccer League 35+ action, Penticton shut down Vernon Kal Tire 2-0 at windy City Park in Kelowna.
Penticton connected about 20 minutes in on a run through the middle and then tallied the clincher late in the second half when Kal Tire got caught trying to push for an equalizer.
The Tiremen were shorthanded and missing both snipers, Bryan Schenker, with injury, and Jesse Knight, due to too many yellow cards.
