Stag Elite League – Richardson and Grant sends Pele to the top; GDF claw back to tie with Alpha

Oct 11, 2015 Sports

By Franklin Wilson

Gregory Richardson continues to light up the Stag Elite League with his nimble foot movements

I’m Going This Way! Gregory Richardson dribbles his way past Conquerors’ Travis Martin at the Tucville ground.

as well as his ability to finish. The league’s leading goal scorer made it five in as many matches, scoring the winning goal that led Pele to their third win, a 2-1 triumph over Fruta Conquerors on Friday evening last at the Tucville ground.
Richardson, winner of the Courts and E-Networks player of the month awards, also featured in the first goal as his pass into the box resulted in his Captain, Travis ‘Zorro’ Grant sending them ahead in the 18th minute.
Friday’s opening game of the double header saw the Guyana Defence Force clawing their way back to draw with Alpha United, 1-1.
There seems to be no stopping Richardson as he was again the pivotal link in Pele’s attack. He was too hot for Conquerors’ Deon Williams and crew to handle showing his class with the ball and ability to think fast.
Conquerors had many positive moments of their own but the lack of potency in the final third put paid to their chances of at least coming away with an equal share of the points. Pele went ahead in the 18th minute when Captain Travis Grant hammered the ball past goalkeeper Alex Murray on the third attempt.
Shooting to goal on the right side was Richardson but his shot hit the cross bar and rebounded into play where another Pele player missed a simple header. Third time lucky, the ball came into the path of Grant who made no mistake.
He was ecstatic to score and he ventured to celebrate on the sidelines with fellow players and fans. The advantage was defended by Pele up until the 59th minute when Dennis Edwards drew Conquerors level.
And as he has done in the tournament twice before, against Alpha United and Slingerz FC, Richardson saved the day for his side. He netted the final goal in a 2-2 draw with Alpha and the 1-1 tie with Slingerz, this time around; it was the winning strike against Conquerors and Pele’s 10th goal of the league, the most by any team, an average of two per match.
His 64th minute goal turned out to be the winner, his fifth of the league so far and Pele’s third win which took them to the top of the leader board on 11 points, Conquerors remains on 7 and third place.
Alpha United took the lead against the Guyana Defence Force when Grenadian forward Kithson Bain found the back of the nets in the 9th minute. It was a ding dong battle between the sides with the Army boys never backing off.
They were rewarded one minute before half time with a penalty after a handled ball in the area by an Alpha player. Veteran player Seon Erskine was entrusted with taking the shot and he did not disappoint as he slotted past Alpha’s Sherdon Bowman in the 44th minute.
The second half was as hot as the current weather pattern and did not produce any goals, the final outcome a 1-1 draw which saw Alpha falling to the number two position behind Pele, while the GDF moved to five points.
The league continued last evening at the #5 ground, West Coast Berbice with two more matches. Slingerz faced Buxton United, while ‘The Upsetters’ GFC took on Monedderlust.
Latest Points Standings
Club                          P  W  L  D  GF  GA  GD  Points
Pele                          5   3   0   2  10    6     +4    11
Alpha United          5    2  0   3   7      3     +4     9
Fruta Conquerors  5    2  2   1   6      7      -1      7
Slingerz                   4     1  0   3  4      1      +3     6
GDF                         5     1  2   2  7       8     – 1     5
GFC                         4     1  2   1   3      5      -2     4
Buxton                    4     1  3   0   2      5      -3     3
Monedderlust        4     1  3   0   4      8      -4     3