The last-place Shuswap Outlaws were able to earn an important point in a tense draw against the second-place Turn-Key Controls in North Okanagan Soccer League play Wednesday night at the SASCU Sports Field.
Turn-Key, who had two straight games cancelled after their bye week, struggled all night to get in sync as the Outlaws picked up their first point of the season against Turn-Key. The Controllers opened the scoring early when Andrew Pool took a through ball from Evan Moore and cooly slotted a low shot into the bottom, right corner.
Turn-Key had numerous chances in the first half and spent the strong majority of the 90 minutes in the Outlaws’ half. The Outlaws defended well and were rewarded when they scored on their only chance of the half when a free kick outside the 18-yard box found the head of an Outlaw striker.
Defender Greg Finch opened the scoring early in the second half with a well-placed lob over the keeper.
Turn-Key was unable to hold the lead for long as the Outlaws levelled the score on a penalty shot midway through the half. The goal seemed to wake up Turn-Key, who spent the entire rest of the half in the Outlaw zone with numerous chances.
Turn-Key failed to finish, twice having the ball cleared off the goal-line by defenders in the dying minutes.
In other league action, Salmon Arm Courvas used a late penalty kick to brush back Peters Tirecraft 2-1 in Vernon.
Courvas (4-4-3) went ahead midway through the first half on a long breakaway after a Tirecraft defender slipped and fell. Brock Reim buried a penalty kick low, left side for the equalizer just before the half. A PK was awarded after striker Andy Collins, who ran miles all night, was knocked down on a header challenge. Courvas converted their own chance from the spot in the 77th to win the match.