Second half strikes from the vibrant pair of Warren Gilkes and Carlos Matthews powered Plaisance to a 2-1 victory over a dogged Buxton A unit in the latest round of the Guinness Greatest of the Streets East Coast edition Saturday night.
Played at the Haslington Market Square, the largest mass to date braved the occasional shower to witness a pulsating affair between cultural and social rivals.
The first half started in a cagey manner as the occasion seemed to get the better of the two units, illustrated by the tentativeness displayed by both camps in the initial exchanges. Opening up through the urging of their respective throngs, broken plays and mistimed passes littered the early moments, as both teams jostled to find their creative radar and output.
Plaisance, through their dynamic duo of Gilkes and Matthews began to settle into a free-flowing rhythm and they came agonizingly close to breaking the stalemate, only to be denied by the woodwork.
Riding their new found confidence and domination, the boys from Plaisance continued to press forward in search of the go ahead goal with the Buxton boys resolutely living on the counter.
The deadlock was finally broken as a momentary lapse in defensive duties by the Plaisance outfit, allowed Buxton A’s Randy Andrews to expertly convert a well-taken strike in the sixth minute, sending their fan base into vociferous celebrations.
Continuing its open gait, the Plaisance unit continued to attack fervently, seeking to restore parity, only to be met by staunch defending by their capable antagonists with halftime sharply looming.
The second period picked up where the first stopped as both units continued to jostle for supremacy. Pressing the action through their effective passing, Plaisance began to throw bodies forward, desperately looking to restore parity to the proceedings.
Trading blows akin to a boxing match, the pulsating encounter took on an open nature as marauding runs by both camps became common place, driving the large crowd into a boisterous melody.
Equivalence was rightfully restored in the 12th minute by well a taken Matthews shot as a contrast of emotions erupted amongst the viewership. Impelled by large turnout, the game reached its crescendo as the go ahead winner was expertly scored by Gilkes in the 15th minute, consigning the raucous multitude into frenzied festivity.
In the other results Nabacalis defeated Vryheid’s Lust 1-0 with Mark Trotman scoring the game winner in the 12th minute; Melanie defeated Mahaica 4-1 with Darwin Peters, third minute, Jermaul George, sixth minute and Shermon David seventh and 13th minutes scoring for the winners while Troy Morris netted Mahaica’s consolation goal in the 11th minute;
Paradise defeated Buxton B 1-0 with Quincy Adams netting the game winner in the eighth minute; BV `B’ defeated Melanie B on penalty kicks after their game ended in a 0-0 draw `A defeated Ann’s Grove Young warriors 2-0 with Akim Curry third minute and Delroy Deen 13th minute the goal scorers; Victoria Eagles defeated Golden Grove Super Star 3-1 with Kirk Warren seventh minute, Trevor Fraser ninth minute and Dylan Marius 13th minute scoring for the winners while Golden Grove Super Stars’ Stephan Walcott netted the consolation goal in the 17th minute and
Ann’s Grove Punters defeated Victoria Church Yard United on penalty kicks after the game ended in a 0-0 stalemate.
