Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United put on a terrific performance to defeat the Guyana Defence Force and top Group D of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground.

The Group victors gained a comfortable two goal victory (3 -1) over GDF to move to four points and advance to the next round. They are matched in points with Walking Boys but are ahead on superior goal difference.

Alpha was led by a double from the commanding Oneke Forde while Elton Browne also pitched in to extend the lead.

A tough first half was contested with the teams at each other’s neck and often made attacking openings that put the goalkeepers under fire.

However, Alpha was able to draw first blood in the 38th minute when the GDF’s custodian came under heavy attack from the left flank by the opposition and was finally beaten when Forde stuffed one into the back of the net.
Not long after, Browne, unchallenged on the right wing stormed down and released a powerful shot that rocked the back of the net and put GDF down by two goals in the 42nd minute.

The second half was Alpha all the way, even more so when GDF’s Shevonne Seaforth was dealt a red card to reduce his team to 10 players. Being two goals up Alpha started playing more relaxed while the GDF defence began to wither. GDF’s custodian was still under heavy attack as Alpha kept exploiting the flanks and putting threatening passes together near the goal. The final Alpha goal was recorded when the `keeper miscued a goal kick and it reached Forde who took it back in the 18-yard box and slammed it into the back of the net in the 66th minute.
A little determination went a far way for GDF but it came a bit too late. Marlon Benjamin upset the score line in injuries and stoppages time to ruin Alpha’s `keeper chance of a clean sheet.

After the match, coach of Alpha, Wayne ‘Wiggy’ Dover stated that he was elated with the victory and also that they came out on top of the Group but there is a lot of work still to be done.

“I think the goal-keeper has done a terrific job so far while on the other hand our defence, midfield and forwards have a lot of work to be done. Looking at the game today it showed that we are still a good way behind when compared to the other countries in term of fitness,” Dover implied.

He made it clear that players need to be more dedicated if they want to improve and make it forward in this tournament because getting the practice in is very important.

However, Dover disclosed that his team’s performance was much better even though he pointed out that their fitness began to flop near the end of the encounter.