Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:39 AM
Nov 06, 2012 Sports
Uitvlugt 2 Alpha 1; BVTU 2 Milerock 1; Buxton Utd 1 Pele 0
As the action warms up in the 2012/13 edition of the Guyana Football Federation
(GFF) Super League, last weekend’s matches saw many of the big guns failing to fire while the not so popular teams are beginning to sound ominous warning signs that it won’t be business as usual.
Defending champions Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United suffered a historic loss, their first in Super League history at the hands of home team Uitvlugt Warriors, when the final whistle was sounded, the score-line read, Uitvlugt Warriors 2 Alpha United 1.
The opening game at the Uitvlugt Community Centre Ground, which was attended by a sizable and intimate crowd, saw BK International Western Tigers clawing their way back in the second half to draw with Den Amstel 2-2 which led 2-0 at the half.
The excitement was equally riveting at the Buxton Community Centre Ground, East Coast Demerara, where the home teams formalized a dismal day for the City teams. In the feature game, Buxton United playing as a tight and organized unit needled Pele FC.
The curtain raiser at the said venue produced a positive result for BV Triumph United, their second in a row on debut, when they turned back the challenge of Upper Demerara’s Milerock, 2-1.
The other game played at the GFC Ground, a sea saw affair, ended in a 2-2 stalemate between Berbice’ Rosignol United and Upper Demerara’s Amelia’s Ward United.
Constant strong winds at the Uitvlugt Ground along with a colourful band of vociferous spectators who normally would have been going after each other were in support of each other as they back the West Dem. teams against their Georgetown counterparts.
Uitvlugt, led by elder statesman Orville Bobb, brother of ‘Golden Jaguar’ Trayon Bobb, led the predominantly young side intelligently. A former National defender himself, Bobb worked overtime to quell and eventually conquer the powerful Alpha United side boasting a number of former and current ‘Golden Jaguars’ the likes of Anthony Abrams, Ronson Williams and Anthony Benfield.
So, based on the tale of the tape along with the fact that Alpha would not have lost a game at this level for three years and counting, the odds were certainly against the home team. But as their name suggests, “Warriors” they stood up to the task of playing simple ball as a team not being intimidated by the presence of a star studded line-up.
The opening exchanges were equal with each side striving to gain the upper hand. Home advantage did serve its purpose for this important clash.
Things were going quite well for both teams with equal exchanges until national custodian Ronson Williams blundered in the 38th minute letting in an own goal after he failed to gather the ball which was passed back to him.
It was a mistake that would come back to haunt the defending champions by the end of regulation time. Williams himself knew that it was a big time mistake as he held his head in dismay. But while he and his teammates were trying to come to grips with the mistake, Uitvlugt were celebrating and rightly so.
As the half time approached, Alpha gradually kept the hammer swinging even as their opponents tried to evade being hit conscious that it was going to be a heavy hit once they were caught. Their search for the equalizing goal was successful when a punching header from Anthony Abrams rocked the back of the nets as veteran goalkeeper Sherwin Lanferman who was having a good game up until then, could not have stopped the goal.
The score-line was even at the break. With the wind in their backs in the final 45 minutes, Alpha came out swinging but the Warriors stood their grounds like they did in the opening stanza. The exchanges went to and fro as both teams sought to wrest the initiative from each other.
In the end though, it was the home team that made their opportunities count when young forward Delon Lanferman, brother of goalkeeper Sherwin, pounced on a squared ball across goal to sink the shot in the 79th which saw the crowd erupting in celebrations as they sensed a major upset was in the horizon and so it was when the final whistle was sounded.
Western Tigers, fielding a depleted team had to dig deep to end with an equal share of the points but can count themselves luck as Den Amstel failed to deliver the knock-out punch after being in a solid position of 2-0 by the end of the first half.
Gideon Payne sent Dem Amstel into the lead in the 28th minute and that advantage was doubled in the 41st minute through an Andre Hector strike. Den Amstel could have been much more secured had they not miss about four other opportunities.
Western, the runner-up team to Alpha in last year’s edition of the League had to come up with quick answers to quell the dominant Den Amstel side’s push to sink them even further.
It was left to the experienced duo of Gavin Wilson and Leon Yaw, both second half substitutes, to bail them out of what would have been an embarrassing loss. Wilson was introduced in to the game in the 46th minute for Orvin Milton and seven (7) minutes later he was on the score sheets to reduce the deficit for his side.
Den Amstel still held the advantage for quite some time even as the Tigers tried everything in the books to draw level. The {Western}Technical staff finally came up with what the doctor ordered when they introduced veteran Leon Yaw in the 73rd minute for Paul Giles.
Yaw took a few short minutes to get his balance and when it seemed that Den Amstel were on their way to a memorable win, Yaw sunk the equalizer with two minutes to lemon time; that is how it ended much to the delight of a relived Western Tigers outfit.
Buxton United, featuring the likes of Clive Andries, Dwayne Jacobs and National Under-17 Custodian Jason Cromwell who had a brilliant game ran out 1-0 winners against Pele compliments of a Colwin Barnwell 84th minute goal; the player was backing goal when he took the ball, turned and shot home clinically. It was a bruising encounter between two determined sides.
Buxton’s win capped a wonderful day in the recent history of East Coast football; the tone for their win was set by the earlier triumph of BV Triumph United over Milerock, 2-1.
Seasoned campaigner Shawn Daniels sent BV into the lead in the 38th minute and that advantage was doubled in the 74th through a Ron Hopkinson effort. Milerock pulled one back for the records in the 83rd minute though Beneakaman Smartt.
In the lone fixture at the GFC Ground in the City, Amelia’s Ward held a 1-0 advantage at half time after a Carlos Grant goal 4 minutes before the break. They increased the lead on 58 minutes when Oswald Benjamin found the target.
However, like Den Amstel, Amelia’s Ward could not make that advantage count with the Berbice side pulling out all the stops to earn an equal share of the takings. They formalized that when goals were scored by the dependable Olvis Mitchell in the 75th and 89th minute, the latter, of dagger like proportions.
More scintillating action is anticipated this Sunday when the league will continue with five more matches. Uitvlugt Warriors will be at home again when they entertain Milerock at 13:30hrs.
The BV Ground will host a double header; Buxton United will come up against Rosignol United with the main event featuring BV Triumph United against Alpha United.
At the GFC Ground later in eth evening from 18:00hrs, Western Tigers will engage Amelia’s Ward with Pele facing off with Den Amstel in the night cap.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
Mar 29, 2024
By Rawle Toney Kaieteur Sports – After a series of outstanding performances in 2023, Tianna Springer, dubbed the ‘wonder girl’, is eagerly gearing up to compete in this year’s...Kaieteur News – Good Friday in Guyana is not what it used to be. The day has lost much of its solemnity. The one day... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – In the face of escalating global environmental challenges, water scarcity and... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]