Slingerz FC clinched their spot in the final, edging BK Western Tigers 1-0 in their semi-final showdown when the Georgetown Football Association (GFA)/Banks Beer Cup continued on Sunday at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Bourda.
In a opening half highlighted by staunch defending from both sides, Stellon David would come closest to opening the score
line for Western Tigers in the 22nd minute, through a 26-yard left footed strike from the centre of the park, that flew just wide of the right post.
Slingerz almost took the lead in the 37th minute through a Walter Moore strike. Racing into the left side of the penalty area after initiating an overlapping run, Moore would unleash a scorching left footed drive that forced an acrobatic save from custodian Derick Carter to his right.
The second half would prove to be the undoing of the West Ruimveldt side as Leroy Pedro was controversially sent off in the 55th minute for allegedly striking Slingerz forward Kevon Woodley upon getting up off the ground, following a 50-50 challenge by both players for the ball.
Further dominating possession due to their numerical advantage, Devon Millington almost pushed Slingerz into the lead but his right footed strike from the right side of the 18-yard box, went narrowly wide of sneaking into the right hand side. The deadlock would finally be broken in the 71st minute through an own goal by centrehalf Ryan Adolph.
Running inside the penalty area in anticipation of a left sided cross, Adolph would inadvertently slide tackle the ball into his own net after he tried desperately to clear a flat Quason McAuley right sided cross.
Slingerz almost doubled their lead in the 77th minute as Woodley lashed his right footed strike from the left side of the field, just wide of sneaking inside the right hand corner of the woodwork.
The West Ruimveldt giants almost found the equaliser from Hubert Pedro in the 82nd minute. Running into the left side of the 18 yard box to receive a through pass from David, Pedro would have his left footed attempt tipped over the cross bar by keeper Ronson Williams.
With their championship aspirations slipping away, further misery was heaped on the West Ruimveldt side as David was shown his marching orders in the 85th minute, picking up his second yellow card for a reckless challenge on defender Colin Nelson on the right side.
Victorious coach, Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard during an invited comment said “It was a good game, we dominated the game but we didn’t score our chances. Overall I am comfortable with the result”.
Calvin ‘Flu man’ Allen, coach of the losing side said “The team played better than us on the night. The fact that we score on ourselves and the way it happened, showed it was hard luck. All in all, Slingerz played better football and I am quite satisfied with the team effort”.
“We couldn’t play how we wanted because the field was heavy. Even through it wasn’t our best performance, it wasn’t a lopsided game” said Allen.
With the win, the Vergenoegen side will now face off against Santos FC in the grand finale, following the latter’s upset win over the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) by a 2-1 score line in their semi-final showdown.
The finale will be hosted at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda tomorrow.
