On a night epitomized by robust defending, strikes on either half from Jermaul George and Sherwin Fraser powered Melanie A to victory over a determined Victoria Eagles in the latest action of the Guinness in the Streets East Coast Edition.
Recommencing at the Haslington Marketplace, a large and boisterous crowd braved the intermittent downpours to play witness to a thrilling encounter between two offensively inclined units. Played under wet conditions, the first period started like a house on fire as both camps jostled for the early supremacy. Getting the better of the earlier exchanges, Melanie A almost broke the deadlock compliments of a brilliant build-up, only to be denied by the woodwork.
Urged on by the partisan crowd, great team play by the Melanie engine room almost bore fruit as they came agonizingly close once again to breaking the stalemate. Behind the ‘eight ball’ from the inception, Victoria would pay for their lack of creativity in the early exchanges, as the gridlock was deservedly broken in the third minute, George, sending the Melanie A faithful into jubilation.
Reduced to passengers and fazed by their untimely concession, the boys from Victoria started to push forward, stringing together passes as they tried to gain a foothold into proceedings. Opening up due to the early goal, the fixture evolved into a back and forth frenzy as both units launched storming runs into enemy territory.
Dominating the lion’s share of possession and finishing strongly as the half neared its conclusion, Victoria’s creative output was constantly negated by the robust Melanie A defence.
The second half continued where the first left off as Victoria continued to throw bodies forward with Melanie A threatening on the counter. This continued as the obstreperous throng constantly impelled their respective camps forward. Throwing bodies forward, trying to find a way back into the game, chances became a rare commodity for the Victoria boys who were reduced to taking potshots against the backdrop of dogged and physical defending from their determined adversaries.
Throwing caution to the wind as they sensed their championship aspirations diminishing, Victoria hearts were broken as a brilliant solo run on the counter-attack from Fraser in the twenty-fifth minute, effectively rendered the contest over, goading their huge fan base into irrepressible celebration.
In the other matches, results were: Plaisance 1 v/s BV-B 0 – Goal Scorer- Plaisance –Warren Gilkes- twenty eighth minute.
Church Yard United (Victoria) 2 V/s Paradise 0- Goal Scorers- Church Yard United- Horace Graham eleventh minute and Rolex Gouveia, nineteenth minute.
BV-A 1 v/s Buxton-A 0 – Goal Scorers- BV-A- Reon Hopkinson eleventh minute.
