-Cougars upset Plaisance

A Peter Parks double helped the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) defeat tournament host Bakewell Buxton Stars (BBS) 4-1 in their feature match-up, when action in the second annual Mackeson Stout/Digicel-sponsored Sweet 16 Football tournament continued at the Plaisance Community Centre ground on Tuesday.

In the first match of the evening, Berbice’s Cougars beat the home team the Plaisance Panthers 2-0 to set up a date with the GFC in the next round. Football fans turned out in their numbers to cheer BBS to victory but were instead forced to witness a poorly played game when their favourites wasted numerous chances to score.

GFC, led by their defensive stalwart Clayton Mc Leoud along with Roy Stanton, Gregory Denny, Chad Fernandes and Parks totally controlled the game leaving their opponents bewildered. From the second minute of play, GFC went ahead when Paul Daniels intercepted a pass from Sherwin Griffith and beat Buxton’s former national Under-17 custodian Ravin Choo low to his right.

A heated exchange worthy of an English Premier League derby featuring Manchester United and Manchester City ensued following that goal, with the host team trying desperately to draw level against their Georgetown-based opponents. Their efforts were in vain, however; as their strikers either failed to get off shots in time, or when they did they sent it wide. Skipper Eon Garnett missed three clear opportunities which would have given his team a lead going into lemon time. BBS faced the break two goals down, when Parks scored his first goal from the penalty spot in the 26th minute, following an infringement committed on his team-mate Delroy Henry inside the 18-yard box.

The second half was no different than the first, with the GFC looking to increase their lead and Buxton looking to negate same. Some resistance and overlapping runs from Fernandes mid-field, with strong support from Daniels and Tishawn Blackman, ensured Buxton who made three substitutions in the first ten minutes of the second half, never got on top. Numerous runs on the right flank from Rashleigh Morrison and Quesi Williams made no difference as they were either misdirected or struck too hard.

After GFC custodian Desmond McKenzie denied Pierre Joseph an opportunity to reduce the lead for his team, a long ball sent to Fernandes found a running Henry who was brought down by Griffith near the right corner flag. Henry took the free kick which Choo failed to hold onto cleanly and a waiting Parks slotted the ball home in the 72nd minute to all but guarantee his team a place in the next round.

Blackman then sealed the deal with a solo run from a short corner taken on the left nine minutes later to beat Choo and spark celebrations on the GFC bench, while disappointed BBS fans exited the ground. Substitute Kwame Moffat pulled one back for his team immediately after play got underway following Blackman’s goal, but despite numerous efforts from Rawle Fredericks and Nigel Gulliver who had replaced Garnett, the club which organised the tourney found it difficult to record another goal.
One minute apart

Meanwhile, in their game against the Panthers, Cougars turned back the challenge by scoring goals one minute apart. The first, off the boots of Horace Roach (25th) then Ryan Stewart (26th) which they sternly defended to see their team through to the next round. That round, which can be termed the quarterfinals, will start today with defending champions Sunburst Camptown and Ann’s Grove competing against each other in the feature match-up which will also include the Guyana Defence Force (GDF)and BV/Triumph United meeting in the curtain raiser from 6pm.

Camptown has had to come from behind twice to salvage a draw before romping home winners via a penalty kick against Golden Grove’s Golden Stars and boost their performance as defending champions. Custodian Richie Richards, Troy Prescod, Kwame La Fleur, Adrian Adams, Telson McKinnon and Anthony Belfield will all be in the line-up which will be missing the talented Kris Camacho who was expelled in the first round clash.

Ann’s Grove who made a name for themselves when they defeated the East Coast league champions Buxton United in their first round clash would be looking to continue in that same vein against their Georgetown opponents. Custodian Elton Adams along with a defence line-up including Dwayne Rogers, Leron Abrams, Maxton Adams and Trevor Gomes, knows that Sunburst Camptown is a different kettle of fish compared to Buxton United, so nothing but their ‘A’ game is expected tonight.

The GDF match will serve as the appetizer in tonight’s game. They will be brimming with confidence following their emphatic victory over the Mahaica Determinators, even without the services of their prolific striker Stellon David. David is expected to don the uniform tonight, joining Desford Williams, Gavin Wilson whose hat trick guided his team to victory, Warren Gilkes and Eusi Phillips in the starting eleven.

BV/Triumph United are no pushovers, having once ruled the roost in the East Coast football arena with their coach Joseph ‘Bill’ Wilson known to pull many surprises. Delroy Deen, Shawn Daniels and Rommel Gordon were well known for taking a defensive line-up apart in their day, and with support from Yannick Smith, Keon Capelle and Kelvin Williams in the middle, it can very well be a tough night at the office for the army team.