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Timber, Monashee in Gibson Cup

North Enderby Timber meet Monashee Surveyors in the NOSL Gibson Cup final Wednesday (7 p.m.) at GVAP
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Stefan Depner of North Enderby Timber (left) tries to slow down Thomas Pool of Turn Key Controls in North Okanagan Soccer League Gibson Cup semifinal playoffs Sunday at MacDonald Park. NET won 5-2 and meet Monashee Surveying in Wednesday’s 7 p.m. final at Greater Vernon Athletics Park. (Lisa Mazurek/Morning Star)

The North Enderby Timber will meet Monashee Surveyors in the North Okanagan Soccer League Gibson Cup final Wednesday (7 p.m.) at Greater Vernon Athletics Park.

The regular-season champion Timber grounded fourth-place Turn-Key Controllers 5-2, while the second-place Surveyors brushed back Salmon Arm’s Auto Quest Nation of Domination 5-3 in Sunday night semifinals at MacDonald Park.

Both NET (15-1-2) and Turn-Key (11-7) started slow in the sweltering heat with Timber keeper Jason Lukkarinen recording a couple of big saves to keep it scoreless through 45 minutes.

With the sun setting, the Timber made one small lineup adjustment and came out flying in the second half. Just four minutes into the half, Brent Poulsen controlled the ball in the midfield and flipped it over two defenders to a streaking Evan Frederick, who controlled it with his chest and made a pass to Oben Tabe, who cheekily flicked the ball back to Poulsen for the opening strike.

Poulsen made it 2-0 minutes later when Jesse Knight made a wicked slide tackle at half and sent in Frederick, who tried to dangle but collided with the charging keeper at the top of the 18-yard box and the ball popped loose to Poulsen for a chip over the keeper and recovering defenders.

Poulsen completed the hat trick only a few minutes later on a Lukkarinen goal kick that sailed over everyone to a wide open Poulsen who had all day to slot home the breakaway.

Turn Key added a tally on a counterattack but two minutes later, Knight took a quick free kick from half to send in Poulsen past the sleeping Turn Key defence for his fourth of the night.

Dan Aikema added insurance midway through the half on a wicked left-footed strike from 18 yards. Chris Ovens and Tabe controlled the midfield all night for NET, limiting possession for the Controllers.

Monashee (12-4-1) parlayed two first-half goals from Karanmeet Khartra into a win over third-place Auto Quest (11-6-1).

It was 2-1 Surveyors at the half but they lost keeper Albert Goldnick with a broken nose when he took an Auto Quest shoulder in a collision at 10 minutes. Bryce Dyck switched from fullback to net and made numerous huge saves the rest of the night.

Scott Coulthard headed in a long free kick by Fabrice Fanfani, Alberto Lopez finished on a sweet volley inside the 18 and Chris Swinburn also converted for Monashee.

Monashee won by default over the shortstaff Salmon Arm GM Outlaws, while Turn-Key stopped Peters Tirecraft 5-1 and Auto Quest iced the Revelstoke Stallions in first-round action Saturday.

Mike Conlin connected on a long corker for the 5-12-1 Tirecraft goal. Gavin Brewster delivered the gorgeous pass. Quincy Aarts Roman was stellar at fullback in the opening half and then sparkled up front in the final 45 for the Kiki Gardens Man of the Match.

Khartra is one of four Monashee regulars unavailable for the Cup final. Turn-Key won last year’s Cup over NET, who have compiled a dozen championship wins.

OGOPOGOS DRAW

Turn-Key Controls Ogopogos and Brandt’s Creek ran to a scoreless draw in Capri Insurance Men’s 45+ League play Monday night at Parkinson Sports Field in Kelowna.

Both Turn-Key’s Mike Moorlag and the Pubbers’ Wayne Logan recorded multiple marvellous saves with tipping away a Bryan Schenker 20-yard corker for the stop of the night.

Turn-Key (11-4-2) fielded a depleted squad and Brandt’s Creek (8-7-2) took advantage of the circumstances with numerous rushes and Moorlag kept the Pogos in the game for the opening 45 minutes.

The Pogos played better in the second half as the sun went down and cooler temperatures made it easier on an exhausted bunch. Schenker was stymied by Logan on three breakaway attemps.

Schenker also made a stunning low cross to Chris Arneson going to the far post which just went past Arneson’s outstretched knee. Clint Dickenson shot high and wide on an attempt on an open net as Logan was caught out of his box.

A almost own goal was the chuckle post-match as a Brandt’s Creek defender passed the ball wide of Logan, who was a few yards out. The ball rolled towards the goal line and Logan recovered it just in time.

Defence attorneys Steve Coombs and Steve Fitzpatrick put in a dynamic performance stone walling the Pubbers’ attack most of the night.

The Mission Cleaners shut down Bosman Accounting of Vernon 2-0 in other A Division play at Beasley Park in Lake Country.

Gigi Moldovan registered his 18th goal of the season early with a low drive on a broken play, while speedy Junior Anderson beat keeper Yogi Kongsdorf with a top-cheddar rocket just before the half.

Left fullback Alex Yakovlev was named the Match Eatery Man of the Match for Bosman (5-11-1).

Dave Howes of Bosman was denied on a 20-yard screamer with Kevin Mitchell getting stoned on the initial rebound from ‘gimme range’ and Mike Grace skying the second rebound into Wood Lake. The Cleaners improved to 10-5-2.

In B side action, Rick Raber produced a deuce as the Okanagan Spring Brewery Camels tied RPM Auto of Kelowna 2-2 at Marshall Field #2.

Raber swiped the ball in the RPM zone and fed Johnny Orton for a nifty give-and-go for the opening strike at 15 minutes. Steve Tamaki countered on a semi breakaway in the 35th minute, beating striker-turned keeper Mike Daly.

Raber headed in a crafty chip from Orton past keeper Marty Vince at 50 minutes with Rob Hulstein starting the play. Tamaki equalized on another breakaway which defender-turned keeper Akbal Mund got his fingers on.

Mark Budgen was brilliant at centre fullback in the first half and centre midfield in the final 45, earning Wayside Man of the Match. The Camels are 3-10-4, while RPM is 6-7-4.

League-leading Brown Benefits bounced Soccer United 3-1, while 2nd-place Penticton United shaded Tree Brewing 3-2