The North Enderby Timber took over the North Okanagan Soccer League penthouse by shutting down host Salmon Arm Courvas 5-0 Wednesday night.
Both teams started with no subs and fought hard for the first 25 minutes until the Timber back-up car arrived late with three players.
Veteran Brent Poulsen came on in the 25th minute and only took five minutes to jumpstart the scoring, finishing a sweet pass from fellow late arrival Adam Marwood, who took a feed from Graham Ross, who beat three midfielders.
Poulsen resumed his hot streak in the 35th minute, converting a Lucas Ross through ball with a world-class cannon top cheddar.
Finlay McPhie made it 3-0 after a nifty ball from the La Senza Man of the Match and fellow late arrival Ross Macdonald. McPhie turned a defender and finished bottom corner.
Poulsen completed the first half by counting his second hat trick in as many games after McPhie padded his assist streak, sending Poulsen in alone to beat the keeper. NET (8-1-1) controlled all the possesion in a quiet second half.
Macdonald made several huge slide tackles in the second half denying two Courvas sure breakaways.
The game was rejuvenated in the 90th minute when Andrew Stein controlled the ball down the sideline and fed Lucas Ross, who gave himself a belated 19th birthday present with a goal-of-the-year candidate, curling the ball from 30 yards off the post and in after nutmegging a Courvas defender.
Victor Gouchee earned his second consecutive clean sheet. Courvas dipped to 4-3-2.
The Revelstoke Stallions grounded Peters Tirecraft 4-0 in other play at Salmon Arm Savings & Credit Union Sportsfield.
Tirecraft (2-7-1) gave up two goals in a lacklustre opening half, but found their game in the fnal 45 and enjoyed decent possession.
Revelstoke (4-4-1) converted two more goals off turnovers. Central midfielder Zachary Anderson and outside fullback Dave Matum enjoyed solid showings.
“We’re looking forward to a bye week and a practice to get reenergized for the second half of the season,” said Tirecraft veteran Brad Conlin.
Revelstoke had three very young players who certainly held their own and created opportunities with their pace and skill, led by a young forward who really gave our defence all they could handle.”
Monashee Surveying FC and the Salmon Arm Outlaws ran to a 1-1 draw. Monashee is 3-6-1, the Outlaws 0-7-2. Second-place Turn-Key Controls (8-1) had a bye.