Jai Signs and Designs were crowned the Hikers Hockey Club Inaugural Seven-A-Side mixed Hockey Festival champions after they defeated Antonio’s Grille 2-0 via penalty shootout when the one-day extravaganza concluded at the Saints Recreational Ground Carifesta Avenue yesterday.
Played in front of a large throng, Jai Signs would open the early scoring compliments of a Stuart Gonsalves strike in the second minute after the Antonio’s Grille custodian parried the ball into his path from a resulting effort.
Antonio’s Grille would restore parity to proceedings in the ninth minute through a Samantha Fernandes effort. Receiving the ball on the right side, Fernandes in her first attempt on goal, would be denied by the Jai Signs custodian Michael Xavier in her first strike only to beat the imposing shot stopper with her second attempt as the ball fell opportunistically her way.
Unable to be separated during regulation time, Jai Signs would eventually prevail in penalties with Stuart Gonsalves and Sonia Jardine converting to seal the championship.
In the third place match up Pepsi defeated Diamond Mineral Water 1-0 on penalty kicks after regulation time found both units locked at one goal apiece. Aaliyah Gordon gave Pepsi the early lead in the sixth minute only for Diamond Mineral Water to equalize in the sixteenth minute through a Kevin Spencer effort.
In the earlier semi final, Jai Signs and Designs defeated Diamond Mineral Water 1-0 through a Kerensa Fernandes thirteenth minute effort while Antonio’s needled Pepsi 2-0 on penalty kicks after the score was locked at two all.
Shane Samuels and Samantha Fernandes were on target for Antonio’s Grille in the second and seventh minute respectively while Pepsi restored parity to proceedings compliments of a Aroudy Bransford double in the twenty and twenty first minute.
