Amelia’s Ward United relegated
Netrockers have won the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) Stag B-League by virtue of a superior goal difference and have also retained their first division status following a hard fought 1-1 draw with a 10-man Hi Stars in the final game of the league at the Bayrock Ground on Wednesday.
Meanwhile Amelia’s Ward United will now be campaigning in the second division ranks while Peacemakers of Ituni have captured first division status for the first time ever after finishing second.
Netrockers were, however, given a scare by Hi Stars, who despite starting the game with only seven men were able to prevent their opponents from scoring until they were eventually able to field 10 players.
In fact Hi Stars defied the odds when they went 1-nil up in the 38th minute after Earl Samuels made a strong run down the right flank and crossed the ball in front of the goal. The Netrockers goalkeeper was unable to latch on to the ball cleanly and skipper James Trotman tapped it in.
Netrockers had a few chances for goal but their shots were either fired wide or brilliantly saved by makeshift custodian Julian Davidson.
The second half saw the pressure of being one man short and no substitute possible taking a heavy toll on the Hi Stars defence as Netrockers were able to make breakthroughs at will. They were, however, thwarted on many occasions by Davidson.
Hi Stars should have been 2-nil up in the 60th minute when a defender committed the cardinal sin of playing the ball recklessly across the goal area and was intercepted by Tony ‘Spirit’ Adams. Adams worked his way past the advancing keeper but with only an open goal in front of him Adams fired over the bar. An opportunity for the striker to be the undisputed golden boot winner for most goals went a-begging and so Adams had to share the prize with Coomacka United’s Wheatland Thom, who also had four goals.
Much relief came to the Netrockers camp in the 76th minute though when their skipper Ray Fraser received a ball that was slipped through the defence and made a run for goal before putting it calmly past Davidson.
More opportunities would come their way but goals proved to be elusive.
The disappointing draw would turn out to be just enough for Netrockers to win the league by virtue of a superior goal difference over Peacemakers who also ended with 12 points.
Amelia’s Ward United ended third with 11 points but have been stripped of their first division status. Vasco also had 11 points but finished fourth by virtue of an inferior goal difference to Amelia’s Ward United.
Hi Stars were 5th on 7 points. Coomacka United ended 6th on 2 points while Flamingo brought up the rear with 1 point.
Eon Pluck of Peacemakers was named MVP of the league while Carl Bryan of Vasco was declared the best coach.
The 2009 UDFA/Stag B-League was sponsored by Ansa McAl to the tune of $500,000.
Leading Goal Scorers
Points Table for 2009 UDFA/Stag B-League
Tony Adams – 4 (Hi- Stars)
Wheatland Thom – 4 (Coomacka United)
Keon Bristol – 3 (Netrockers)
Jermaine Preston – 3 (Vasco)
Ray Fraser- 3 (Netrockers)
Rodrick Richards – 2 (Netrockers)
Jason Monah – 2 (Hi-Stars)
Eon Pluck – 2 (Peacemakers)
