Riddim Squad defeated Milerock 2-0 in the opening game of the inaugural Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Premier League competition on Sunday at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground in Linden.
Sceyon Hope had the distinction of netting the first goal of the tournament in the 66th minute
before Amos Ramsay sealed the encounter with his 70th minute strike.
Struggling to put together passes and fashion chances in the opening period, Riddim Squad almost fell behind in the 37th minute through a Randy Jerome effort.
Picking up the ball from just outside the left side of the 18-yard area, Jerome would force a smart save from the Riddim Squad custodian as his right-footed effort was tipped just over the crossbar.
The second half would see an improved showing from the Mocha-based side. Sheldon Gurrick almost broke the deadlock for Riddim Squad in the 47th minute but his point black right-footed effort was somehow directed straight at the goalkeeper.
A beautifully worked combination orchestrated by midfielder Lumumba Hinds would lead to Riddim Squad taking the lead.
Played on to the right wing, Hinds would utilize his tricky footwork to dribble his marker before laying on a perfect pass to Hope who finished powerfully with his left leg inside the 18-yard area to the bottom right side corner.
The lead was nearly doubled one minute later through a moment of skill by Ramsay. Receiving a right sided cross on the edge of the penalty area, Ramsay would cut back on his weaker right foot only to strike his effort just over the cross bar.
He would, however, not be denied, sealing the result with a gem of a goal that brought cheers from the decent sized gathering.
Latching onto a lobbed free kick from older sibling Lyhton Ramsay, the mercurial winger would fight off his marker from within the right side of the penalty area before striking his left-footed effort with the outside of his boot to the bottom left hand corner.
Victorious coach Lloyd Millington during an invited comment said:”We took awhile to get into the game. We struggled in the first half but we regrouped in the second half and the result shows. Judging from the first game, it will be a tough, bruising league.”
