Farfan & Mendes Men’s First Division Hockey League…Hikers, Old Fort win

Apr 25, 2017 Sports

Bourda cricket ground witnessed yet another entertaining battle between hockey giants, hosts Bounty GCC and the Pepsi Hikers as the two teams squared off in the first round of the Farfan & Mendes Hockey League on Friday afternoon.
While both teams struggled to conform to the timing of the bounce on the Bourda outfield, GCC enjoyed the greater possession and pressed the game high into the Hikers defensive areas with several attacking forays that threatened the Hikers goal.
Five minutes into the match, GCC midfielder and junior national, Kareem McKenzie carved a path through the middle before laying his pass to Philip Fernandes on his right.
Fernandes replied with a delicate return pass into the path of McKenzie for the shot and first goal of the match.
GCC tightened their grip on the game even further and were rewarded with several penalty corner opportunities, but the Hikers met the challenge on each occasion to deny the Bourda side its second goal.
The first half ended with GCC enjoying a one-nil lead.
Coming out in the second period, the Hikers regrouped and despite having to stave off further GCC attacks, looked more purposeful on the counterattack.
Six minutes into the half, national midfielder, Jamarj Assanah, pounced on an errant defensive pass by GCC to evade the challenge of the GCC fullback and goalkeeper to slam home an equalising goal.
The goal gave the Hikers a much needed boost of confidence, while rattling the composure of the stunned GCC players.
With the game now hanging in the balance and challenges being made at both ends, a long pass out of the Hikers defence met roving striker Robert France high on the right wing.
France’s clean reception and turn of pace caught the GCC defence out of position and his pass across the goal was met only by advancing GCC goalkeeper Medroy Scotland.
While Scotland tried to clear the ball to safety, the rebound was trapped by Hikers midfielder Travon Young, who sent his shot into the open net with just three minutes of playing time remaining.
The Hikers would hang on for the remainder of play to come away with the 2-1 victory.
In the second Farfan & Mendes men’s first division match of the weekend, Old Fort faced Saints Hockey Club with both sides looking for their first win of the competition.
In just the opening two minutes of play, a careless tackle by Saints in their goalmouth area, handed Old Fort a penalty stroke and easy opportunity to take the lead through Aderemi Simon to give his team a one nil lead.
Simon showed the class for which he is well known for by scoring two more goals, while teammate Chris Low Koan netted once to wrap up a comfortable 4-1 win.
Ato Green 19th minute strike was the lone response for Saints HC.