By Marlon Munroe
On a cold Enmore night, Sunburst Camptown and Riddim Squad in their debut Kashif and Shanghai tournament, sizzled in scoring emphatic victories over East Coast teams Ann’s Grove and Buxton United respectively.
Camptown’s Telson Mc Kinnon and Chris Comacho both scored doubles to inspire their team to a 5-0 drubbing of Buxton United.
Sunburst Camptown finished the game with 10 players after Norris Carter was sent off by the referee in the 42nd minute for striking a Buxton United player.
Lance Rolston netted the other goal.
In the night’s curtain raiser, after a goal-less first half, Riddim Squad strikers Sheldon and Stephon Hope netted to ensure their team emerge victors.
Rawle Giddings restored some hope momentarily for Ann’s Grove’s fans with a 76th minute strike but the game ended 2-1 in favour of Riddim Squad.
Camptown started the match aggressively and the huge crowd recognized the more skillful team from that moment.
The team, which boasts a few national players, controlled the ball better and lost possession on fewer occasions than their opponents.
The first goal came as early as the sixth minute when Comacho found an opening down the middle in the 30-yard box and sent a left footer that rocketed to the back of the net.
The goalkeeper, who was later substituted, seemed as if he wanted to be anywhere else but at the game, was left standing in amazement with his hands akimbo.
The half generally continued with the same trend with the Georgetown team controlling the momentum of the game and Buxton rarely getting the ball in Camptown’s half. Just before the close of the first half, in the 40th minute, Rolston converted another chance to further plunge the crowd into silence.
Six minutes into the second half (51’) Mc Kinnon joined the goal fest and almost immediately patrons started to leave ground. This move sparked some fight from the Buxtonians who began to attack more frequently.
But in the 61st minute, Buxton’s goalkeeper stood and watched helplessly as the ball rolled past him from the boot of Comacho.
In the first game Ann’s Grove and Riddim Squad attacked and counter-attacked but both team’s defensive line worked well.
However, in the 59th minute of the game Sheldon Hope scored off a free kick from just outside the 30-yard box.
In the 66th minute a penalty was awarded to Riddim Squad but Ann’s Grove substituted their `keeper who blocked the shot but was not supported by his defenders to clear the ball and Stephon Hope converted the chance.
Ann’s Grove mounted many attacks and were successful in the 76th minute when Giddings scored.
Thereafter they had to contend with Riddim Squad’s defensive detail.