Old Fort “A” and Hikers were crowned men and women’s champions respectively at the finals of the GT&T National Indoor Hockey Championships which ended Sunday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Old Fort ‘A’ staved off a strong challenge from pre-tournament favourites Everest Hikers to win by 5-4 with a golden goal after regulation time failed to break a 4-4 tie.
The tournament’s Most Valuable Player (men) Askofu Simon sent Old Fort into the lead in the opening minute, but ball-wizard Jerazeno Bell equalised for Hikers before striker Adrian Brandt managed to tip the ball just beyond the reach of goalkeeper Azad DeAbreu in the Hikers net to give Old Fort a 2-1 lead at the half.
While the Hikers pressed for the equaliser in the second half, it was Old Fort’s John Abrahams who extended his team’s lead with a reverse shot past the advancing DeAbreu in the 23rd minute.
The Hikers piled on the pressure on Old Fort’s defence securing several penalty corners and were rewarded when Bell completed a hattrick with two more goals in the 25th and 27th minutes.
The Hikers seemed to have the greater impetus and control but several attempts were thwarted by some fine display of goalkeeping by Old Fort custodian Tony Cole.
With the scores tied on 3-3, Simon out-sprinted the Everest defence in a blistering counter-attack in the 29th minute to blast his rebound shot home and put his team ahead once more.
With time running out the Hikers managed to secure yet another corner and this time there was a blunder by Old Fort’s defence resulting in a penalty stroke which Shane Samuels converted to tie the game 4-4.
Simon, who had been on fire throughout the tournament, needed less than a minute to seal the game for his side with a first-time shot that sent Old Fort supporters into a frenzy.
It was a tough evening for defending champions and 2007 Diamond Mineral Water winners GCC Tigers who were edged out by Hikers 2-1 in the women’s final.
The Hikers were first on the score sheet through a Maria Munroe near-post penalty corner flick which caught goalkeeper Natalie Hing out of position in the exciting ladies final. The Tigers equalised with just 6 minutes remaining in the match when Trisha Woodroffe launched a rocket in the roof of the Hikers net.
The Hikers however rallied back when experienced forward and tournament MVP (women) Cora Towler responded with the winner just one minute later as Hikers emerged the victor by 2-1.
In the men’s semi-finals, Old Fort had beaten Western Dragons 6-2 with Jason Dos Santos, Dwight Sullivan and Simon scoring for the winners.
Adrian Sampson and Trason Corbin netted for Dragons who advanced to the semi-finals with a 7-4 win over Old Fort ‘B’ in the final preliminary match.
Sampson and Corbin had been critical in securing that semi-final spot for the Dragons as Sampson poured in a helmet trick (4 goals) and Sampson a hattrick against the junior Old fort ‘B’ in the opening match of the day, with Jermaine Murray and Simon Harris adding singles to take their tally to 9 versus Old Fort ‘B’s 4.
Robert Hussein scored three of the Old Fort goals and Dwayne Allen added one.
In the other men’s semi-finals Everest Hikers steam-rolled GCC 7-1 after leading 3-0 at half-time.
Hikers’ Captain Devin Munroe, Robert France and Shane Samuels each scored doubles while Marc King registered one for the winners, while Devin Hooper netted GCC’s consolation goal.
GT&T’s Marketing Director, Wystan Robertson presented prizes to the winning teams and outstanding players at the presentation ceremony that followed the finals.
Meanwhile, the Annual General Meeting of the Guyana Hockey Board will take place this evening at the Georgetown Cricket Club pavilion starting at 19:00 h.
High on the agenda will be reports by the President and Secretary and the election of office bearers for 2008.
