Defending champions Sunburst Camptown and last year’s runner-up Guyana Defence Force (GDF) advanced to the semifinals of the Mackeson Stout/Digicel sponsored Bakewell Buxton Stars organized Sweet 16 football tournament, following quarterfinal victories on Thursday night.
Competing against Ann’s Grove and BV/Triumph United (BVTU) respectively at the Plaisance Community Centre ground, Sunburst Camptown displayed grit and determination to defeat their opponents 3-0, whilst the army boys stopped the attacking threats of BVTU’s Delroy Deen, before romping home to a 4-0 victory.
In the first game of the night, a double by Warren Gilkes (10th and 81st) along with strikes from Stellon David (61st) and Shawn Arthur (92nd), guided the GDF to their victory over a team which had completely dominated Fruta Conquerors en route to their 4-1 first round victory.
But the GDF showed that Guyana’s territorial defence is in good hands, especially custodian Dellon Younge who was a key man for his team thwarting the efforts of Deen and company, following Gilkes’ first-half strike.
David replaced Hubert Pedro in the second half and immediately made an impact for his team, but was guilty of excessive dribbling at times, when he had clear opportunities to pass the ball in open space to his team mates.
Nevertheless, his tactic worked when he managed to get into the BVTU 18-yard box and send a gem of a pass to Gavin Wilson whose shot was wide of the mark, even as the opposition’s custodian Linden Dennis was out of the picture.
Following Younge’s magnificent save, which prevented a Colin Jones free kick from equalizing the game for BVTU, Gilkes received a long ball from Devon Harris and made his way into the BVTU third, but his shot was blocked by Dennis, who could only look on in shame, as David placed the ball into an open goal in the 61st minute.
Relentless attacks, orchestrated by Wilson, Gilkes, Marlon Benjamin and Eusi Phillips, on the BVTU goal area were staged after David’s strike and it was no surprise, when Gilkes found the net after receiving a pass from Benjamin.
If that goal had knocked the wind out of BVTU’s sails, Arthur ensured the deal was sealed when he added his contribution in the second minute of injury time.
In the feature match, Camptown proved they are worthy to be called champions of this tournament, when they endured a hard-fought encounter with ‘Giant Killers’ Ann’s Grove, before coming out on top 2-0.
Ann’s Grove’s overlapping wing back Antonio Jackson made some spirited runs deep into Camptown’s half, but poor finishing from Kelon Loncke, Carlton Jerrick and Kevin Barry failed to create any concerns for Richie Richards who had a better night this time around in comparison to the first-round encounter against Golden Grove’s Golden Stars United.
The first half was a see-saw affair, with both teams looking to snatch the initiative, but as was the case with Ann’s Grove, Sunburst Camptown which reached the final of the 2008/09 Kashif and Shangai tournament, where they lost 1-0 to Pele, also failed to find the back of the net when presented with the opportunity.
In the second half, Keifa Small of Camptown had the opportunity to send his team into the lead but his shot was wide of the mark. A Rishawn Sandiford pass intended for Small, was timed to perfection by Elton Adams who was performing duties between the uprights for Ann’s Grove.
At the other end, Jerrick had the opportunity to put his team ahead, but Richards was equal to the task, while a shot from midway in Camptown’s half was intercepted and cleared by Orlando Gilgeous, who was performing as he always does, heroic duties for his team in the defence.
As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end and that was the case for Adams in the 78th minute, when he failed to get any part of his body onto a header from Lance Rawlston, following a Troy Prescod pass from the edge of the box on the right.
The goal awakened the fight in both teams, whose custodians were called upon to effect numerous saves, but as was the case in the first half, Ann’s Grove’s forwards failed to finish even when they were presented with clear-cut opportunities. Their second half substitute Trevor Sampson was guilty of overrunning the ball on numerous occasions.
Dwayne Rogers, Leron Adams, Anil Hernandez and Trevor Gomes were working overtime in Ann’s Grove defence to thwart the spirited efforts of Prescod, who had moved from the mid field to the striking position, and Rawlston.
At the other end of the field, Richards, Gilgeous, Sandiford, Kester Alleyne and Bevon Moseley of Sunburst Camptown were doing all within their powers to prevent the opposition strike force from drawing level with their side.
Two minutes before whatever added time would have been signalled by the referee was shown, Sceyon Hope who was making some spirited runs of his own for Camptown, found the back of the net from one of those to seal his team’s advance into the semifinals where they will play the winner of tonight’s opening encounter between Pele and Alpha United.
Expelled
Meanwhile, Stabroek Sports was informed that first round winners Georgetown Football Club (GFC) has been expelled from the tournament, following their use of a player who is yet to secure his transfer.
According to co-organizer Mark Bradford, the player in question, Paul Daniels, who had played for Beacons Football Club in the Georgetown Football Association first division competition, did not secure his transfer from that club. Therefore, GFC’s 4-0 victory over Bakewell Buxton Stars is null and void.
“Both Peter Lashley (coach of GFC) and Daniel were cautioned before the match by the fourth official Otis James, who had later informed the organizers of Daniel’s participation for GFC. But they still proceeded to play him, even though the transfer window was closed on the 31st January.”
Daniels who had scored the first goal in his team’s first round victory, represented Beacon in the recently concluded Banks Beer first division competition, which concluded in mid-February.
Tonight’s match-up will see Bakewell Buxton Stars getting a chance to redeem themselves, when they oppose Cougars of Berbice in the main encounter, which has the Pele/Alpha clash as the appetizer from 18:00 hrs at the same venue.