Hikers, led by an Aroydy Brandford helmet trick retained the Guyana Hockey Board 2013 John Fernandes Insurance Service (JFIS) second division league title, overcoming point leaders All-Greys 4-3 on Monday at the GCC ground.
Delayed for lengthy periods following the inaccessibility of venues, the first match between the two units in the first round of the event ended in a stalemate.
Needing only a draw to clinch the championship, All Greys would fall behind in the 24th minute as Branford opened the scoring for the eventual champions, lashing his strike into the right hand corner of the goal.
The veteran outfit would level the score in the second half through a 42nd minute penalty corner conversion. Hikers would then retake the lead four minutes later as Branford sealed his brace, placing his strike to the back of the net after slipping past custodian Rawl Davson.
The score would be level once more as Alan Fernandes netted, evading multiple markers with a solo run before reversing striking his effort to the back of the goal. It would then become 3-2 in favor of All-Greys as Gavin Hope etched his name on the scorer’s sheet.
With the minutes ticking away and their attempts at a successful title defence slipping away, Hikers would level the score line as Brandford sealed his hat trick. He would then seal the win in the final minutes by scoring his fourth goal.
