Alpha United led by an Anthony Abrams helmet trick and a Gregory Richardson hat trick mauled Grove Hi-Tech 8-0 when action in the Georgetown Football Association (GFA)/Banks Beer Knockout Cup continued on Sunday.
Played at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground in Bourda, Abrams opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a ferocious right-footed strike right down the centre of the goal from the right side of the penalty box.
Alpha’s lead would be doubled nine minutes later as Dwight Peters added his name to the scorer’s sheet with a right-footed strike to the bottom right-hand corner of the goal from within the 18-yard area.
It would soon be 3-0 as Abrams grabbed his double in the 17th minute with a left-footed effort across the body of the Grove Hi-Tech custodian into the left side corner after dribbling his marker inside the penalty area.
Richardson would fashion yet another goal in the 25th minute as his left-sided cross was met with a well-placed header by Abrams to the lower left-hand corner, to complete the latter’s deserved hat trick.
Orchestrator of the carnage in the first period, Richardson would open his personal tally in the 74th minute with a penalty kick conversion following a rash challenge inside the area on Andrew Murray Jr.
The goals would continue to flow in the second period as Richardson found the back of the net in the 81st minute, tapping home inside the centre of the six-yard box to the bottom of the woodwork, after collecting a right-sided pass from Murray Jr.
Richardson’s hat trick would be sealed one minute later in an identical manner with a simple finish to the back of the net after once again receiving a right-sided pass from wily winger Murray Jr.
Quiet throughout the majority of the second stanza, Abrams would complete his helmet trick in the 90th+2 minute with a powerful penalty conversion down the middle of the goal following a rash tackle inside the box.
In an invited comment, Alpha coach Wayne Dover said “It was a good performance, nice combinations were played by the team. I was very happy with the approach to goal scoring on the night, even though I was a little disappointed at stages in game when they became very individual”.
“Our team concept is not individual but collective. Although we encourage them to be individual in and around the penalty box, they overdo it inside the area. However I was very impressed with the backline and the coverage used by them” said Dover.
He further stated “On reporting the seriousness of the injury of Quincy Adams, the President said he can provide added coverage to boost up the squad. We are replacing the injured player and that would add strength to your already solid defenders”.
“It’s going to be another defender who is a very good player that I know well and I am in support of the president to bring this individual to help us regain the title. Any further information on this issue, you have to contact the President” added Dover.
In the earlier matchup, Santos FC crushed Houston Stars 10-1 compliments of a Michael Pedro hat trick in the ninth, 41st and 89th minutes.
Netting doubles in the lopsided win were Ryan Seals in the sixth and 90th+1 minutes and Trevor Lewis in the 83rd and 90th+3 minutes while Adrian Adams and Dwight Ferguson contributed solo strikes in the fourth and 26th minutes respectively.
Completing the score line was an own goal in the 15th minute. On target for the losers was Lawren Murray in the 10th minute.
Action continues tomorrow at the same venue with a double header. In the opening fixture, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will face off with Botofago from 18:00hrs while Riddim Squad will battle Mahaica Determinators in the feature showdown at 20:00hrs.
