Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 04, 2015 Sports
By Franklin Wilson
On another classical night of football, the first for the Stag Elite League (SEL) at the Guyana Defence Force ground, Camp Ayanganna, fans were treated to two fantastic matches on a breezy evening, north easterly winds gliding across the ground consistently.
However, it was not a pleasing night for Brigadier Mark Phillips and his officers as the Guyana Defence Force suffered their second loss in four matches when they were cut down to size on home turf by the surprise package of the SEL, Georgetown Football Club (GFC), the victors erasing a one goal deficit to win the war, 2-1.
The tone for the evening was set in the curtain raiser when Slingerz, headed for what seemed to be comfortable win suddenly found out that the league’s leading goal scorer Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson was still an ever lurking threat and not down and out until the final whistle.
Poor defensive work by Les Charles Critchlow in added on time saw Richardson in cat like fashion pouncing on the ball and his bullet like left foot shot zipped past custodian Winslow McDowall to ensure Pele an equal share of the spoils whilst solidifying their position at the top of the points standings. It was the first time in the SEL that McDowall and Slingerz conceded.
GFC, quickly becoming the team with the title, ‘The UpSetter’, once again proved that they are not in the SEL just as another team but will roll heads every time they hit the pitch as a young unit that will take you down if you take them for granted.
The energetic and calculated runs by the Bourda boys were too much for the Army to handle and they conceded defeat despite relentless pressure and steady presence in the attacking third for the final 20 minutes of the match.
It was the GDF that drew first blood when Delroy Fraser (10th minute) found himself with more than enough room at the top of the box to angle the ball which was passed to him by Genorvan Edmonds, past Ronel McLean who stood in goal for the injured Derrick Carter for GFC.
No doubt, the GDF felt empowered by taking the lead but their joy did not throw GFC off their game plan as they continued to take the fight to the home team with great work down the flanks coupled with diagonal balls into the area, which caused the GDF unease for the remainder of the first half.
The efforts of the Bourda boys in the attacking third proved rewarding when it mattered; from one of the many corners that they {GFC} were rewarded with came the equalizing goal in the 24th minute, thanks to smart work from defender Linden Pickett who out maneuvered the GDF defence, the ball was served into the area by Kurt Johnson of Linden, one of the Digicel Schools Football standouts.
GFC’s deliberate investment in building a unit with youths at the core proved even more rewarding as they continued to dominate play, GDF’s Captain and main defender Selwyn Isaacs found out that the youngsters were way too much to handle.
As the half time period swiftly approached and the fourth official signaled one minute of added on time remained, the GDF team were eagerly anticipating some respite time but the Bourda boys had business to take care of.
They were awarded a free kick a few meters into GDF territory from the half way line and in clinical fashion, Johnson headed past Oswald Cornette at the far post as GFC took the lead for the first time against any opponent in the SEL.
As it turned out, it was the winning goal for GFC which secured their first win of the league and will be an historical one too for them. They provided defensive fortitude in the second half and were able to keep the attacking Army team at bay for a memorable and grinding win.
Pele stung Slingerz when it seemed like the West Demerara based unit were destined for full points. Orchestrating Pele’s comeback was their mastermind, Gregory Richardson who said that he was not 100% all week having come down with the influenza but had to suit up for his team, despite.
Slingerz were their dominant self as they created a plethora of opportunities with the likes of Dwayne Jacobs, Domini Garnett, Vurlon Mills, Gideon Payne and Captain Tischard working in tandem.
At the other end, the experienced combo of Richardson and Pele’s Captain Travis ‘Zorro’ Grant held their side together in the face of Slingerz’ relentless offensive runs. Garnett finally broke his scoring jinx with a memorable diving header in the 38th minute from a free kick that was taken by Colin Nelson.
It was Garnett who was fouled by Pele’s Royon Morrison to set up the free kick; he duly made the boys in yellow and blue pay for the lapse.
The exchanges continued back and forth for the reminder of the first half and the second half. While Slingerz came off the accelerator, Pele upped the ante as the final 45 minutes ticked away. They had the momentum and made it work for them. Three minutes of added on time was signaled on the electronic board by the fourth official and as it turned out, Pele waited for the final minute (90+3) to deliver a dagger like goal.
Defender Les Charles Critchlow had the ball and was in the process of sending it from there defensive third further up field but his clearance was poor and ended up in the path of Richardson who accepted with glee by letting loose a ripper of a shot past McDowall to the delight of his teammates and ecstatic fans. It was the neutralizer of neutralizers, the ‘Jackie Chan’ way.
Latest Points Standings
Club P W L D GF GA GD Points
Pele 4 2 0 2 8 5 +3 8
Fruta Conquerors 3 2 0 1 5 3 +2 7
Slingerz 4 1 0 3 4 1 +3 6
Alpha United 3 1 0 2 4 2 +2 5
GDF 4 1 2 1 6 6 0 4
GFC 4 1 2 1 3 5 -2 4
Monedderlust 3 1 2 0 4 3 -3 3
Buxton 3 0 3 0 1 5 -4 0
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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