Plaisance Panthers hammered Crane United Football Club 8-3 in a high-scoring encounter to win the 2007 Coca Cola Under-15 football final played Friday evening at Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park.
The East Coast side dominated the match from the opening whistle and kept up the pressure on Crane throughout the game.
Jevon Gibson, who was later named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament and Zekel Collins, each scored twice while one goal each was scored by Captain Treyon Hamilton, Leron Charles, William Europe and Simon Emmanuel for the triumphant Plaisance side.
Emmanuel sent his team in the lead as early as the sixth minute with a perfect strike and five minutes later Collins added to the lead.
Crane scored their first goal in the 12th minute and the game looked poised for an exciting climax but Plaisance went on a rampage thereafter shooting to their opponent’s goal at every opportunity and the Crane goalkeeper Julius Griffith wilted under the pressure.
The lanky Plaisance Captain, Hamilton, scored goal number three with a powerful header in the 15th minute then Charles and Collins converted to give their team a 6-1 lead at half time.
Crane started the second half with confidence and while their attack looked more organised they had to defend against regular counterattacks by their opponents.
Gibson was back on the score sheet in the 61st minute before Europe scored his team’s eighth goal in the 67th minute.
Crane scored two late goals in the 75th and 90th minute through strikes by substitutes Darrell Gomel and Leion Johnson but their efforts were not enough.
Plaisance players cared off the lion share of prizes with the Best goalkeeper prize going to Romario James while the highest goal scorer prize went to Leron Charles.
Crane was adjudged the Most Disciplined Team.
Plaisance had earlier squeezed past Santos 3-2 in the semi-finals while Crane made it through to the final after their match against Alpha United was aborted after an off the ball incident with a player from Alpha United. The West Demerara side was leading 2-0 when the game was blown off.
The tournament was organized by the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) and sponsored by local beverage giants Banks DIH Ltd.
The two finalists were met by Carlton Joao, Sales and Marketing Executive and Coca Cola Manager of Banks DIH Ltd., Jennifer Khan, before the start of the match.
Joao said at the presentation ceremony that he was very impressed with the high standard of play in the final and pledged his company’s commitment in sponsoring other events organized by the Georgetown Football Association (GFA).
GFA President Troy Mendonca said that it was significant that the two finalists who are not affiliates of the GFA, made it through to the final.
