Guyana men’s hockey team scored a golden goal in extra time to beat Jamaica 3-2 and cop the bronze medal at the Caribbean Hockey Cup tournament at the National Hockey Centre in Trinidad and Tobago yesterday.
After a disappointing loss to the Jamaicans in the preliminary competition, the Guyanese fired on all cylinders in their third/fourth playoff match to ensure they return home with a medal after losing their three earlier matches.
Guyana’s captain Devin Munroe sent his team in the lead in the 17th minute with a direct hit from a penalty corner.
But the Jamaicans responded with the equalizer minutes later when George Mc Glashen found the back of the net in the 23rd minute with a drag flick from a penalty corner.
The two teams remained locked 1-1 at half time.
Guyana’s hero Dwayne Scott who converted his country’s winning goal in extra time, gave his team the lead once again the scoring a rebound off a penalty corner in, 46th but once again the lead was short-lived following a second strike from Mc Glashen in similar fashion to his first goal.
The Guyanese missed several scoring opportunities and had only themselves to blame for not taking control of the match early and at full time the score was tied at 2-2.
However, two minutes into extra time Scott found the back of the net from a deflection off a Jerry Bell free hit outside of the circle to secure victory for the Guyanese.
Guyana women’s team was not so fortunate in their quest for a medal and bowed out to Barbados 2-1 in their third place playoff.
Guyana had taken the lead in the 12th minute when Cora Towler advanced down the left wing and crossed to Kerensa Fernandes who made no mistake in finding the back of the net and scoring the team’s only goal in the competition.
The Bajans who had beaten Guyana 5-0 in their opening match rebounded to score in the 21st minute off the stick of Nicole Braithwaite and the winning goal in the 46th minute from Takirsha Cambridge.
Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados contested the men’s final, while Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago met in the women’s final but scores were unavailable up to press time.
The tournament, sanctioned by the Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) was the first of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean and will help the teams improve their rankings on the international stage.
The 41-member Guyana delegation is due back home today.
