Hikers overcame a seven-goal deficit to defeat the (+7) Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Blue Steel 12-8 in their division-A matchup when the Noble House Goals Galore Indoor Hockey tourney continued on Wednesday.
Hosted at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue, Michael Harding opened the early scoring for Hikers as he netted in the sixth minute with a cheeky flicked-on strike into the back of the net, after receiving a pass within the centre of the area.
The Bourda-based side would restore their seven-goal advantage three minutes later through a Philip Fernandes penalty strike conversion to the right-hand corner, following an infringement within the penalty area.
However Hikers would quickly respond through Andrew Stewart who netted in the 10th minute, lashing his effort down the middle of the woodwork. Aroydy Branford would then reduce the deficit further, scoring in the 12th minute with a strike from the right-hand side of the area.
Robert France would then cut GCC’s lead to four goals one minute later, slotting home his effort to the lower left-hand corner of the net, after receiving the ball just outside the left upright of the goal.
The goal rush would continue in the 15th minute as Rayon Brandford etched his name on the scorer’s sheet with a strike to the right-hand corner, from within the left side of the area to pull his side to within three goals.
France would then seal his double one minute later, powering home his effort to the back of the net after pouncing on a loose ball inside the centre of the penalty area. Hikers would then pull within one goal of the GCC score as Travon Younge netted in the 18th minute, lashing his effort down the middle of the goal.
The scores would draw level upon the resumption of the second period as France sealed his hat trick, curling his right-sided effort into the right-hand corner of the goal in the 23rd minute. Hikers would then take the lead for the first time in the fixture as Jamarj Assanah netted in the 27th minute.
They would then extend their lead three minutes later as Stewart completed his double, thumping his effort to the left hand corner of the net. Further distance would be placed between the two sides as France netted his fourth goal in the 39th minute, rifling his shot to the back of the net from the right side of the area.
The come-from-behind win would then be completed in the 40th minutes as Branford sealed his double with a sliding finish down the middle of the goal, from the right-hand side of the penalty area.
In the second matchup of the division, (+6) Saints defeated (+5) Old Fort Vikings by a 12-9 score line. On target for the winners with doubles were Paramanand Dindial in the 10th and 30th minutes and Yonnick Peters in the 17th and 18th minutes.
Completing the score line for Saints with solo strikes in the 26th and 33rd minutes were Ato Greene and Robert Fernandes respectively. John Abrams netted a hat trick for the losers in the ninth, 28th and 29th minutes while Tony Cole found the back of the net in the 35th minute.
The final matchup of the division saw (+10) Kingston defeating (+8) Old Fort Gladiators by a 14-12 margin. In the B-division, (+1) GCC Spartans defeated fellow Bourda side (+6) GCC Pitbulls by a 7-6 margin.
Marzana Fiedtkou led the winners with a hat trick in the fifth, 26th and 29th minutes. She was assisted by Aaliyah Gordon who netted a double in the sixth and 24th minutes and Alysa Xavier who scored in the 19th minute.
Continuing in the same section, (+7) U-19 Mix held out to defeat (+3) Hikers Ladies 8-5. Robert Brummell added to the initial handicap as he netted in the 29th minute. Scoring for the losers in the first and seventh minute was Charlyn Elliot and Nicole Eastman respectively.
The final matchup of the section saw (+8) Hikers Revelations and (+15) Old Fort Shooting Stars playing to a 15-15 stalemate.
Romichelle Brummell led the offence for Revelations with a double in the fifth and ninth minutes while Tekeisha Dellon, Latoya Fordyce, Maceala Harding, Tonza Sarrabo and Aliyah Abel netted solo goals in the second, fourth, seventh, 11th and 14th minutes respectively.
