Georgetown Football Club (GFC) booked a quarterfinal showdown with Den Amstel FC on Sunday in the Mayors Cup knockout football tourney, edging West Demerara unit Uitvlugt Warriors by a 3-2 score line on Wednesday.
Witnessed by a small crowd at the GFC ground in Bourda, the hosts opened the early scoring in the 10th minute through a Dwayne Fordyce effort.
Racing into the area, Fordyce, upon seeing his initial effort parried onto the woodwork by the opposing custodian after receiving a Kareem Knights left-sided pass, tackled the loose ball into the net.
Guest player Calvin Shepherd strengthened their lead in the 28th minute, finishing his effort into the empty net after evading the on-rushing shot-stopper within the centre of the box, following a left-sided cross into the area.
Shemal Smith then pulled one back for the visitors nine minutes later, directing his header into the left-hand corner from within the six-yard box, following a right-sided cross from a resulting corner kick.
Uitvlugt almost levelled the score line in the 43rd minute as a right- footed Seon Bobb strike from the left side of the field, was parried by the GFC goalkeeper low to his left.
With the scores unchanged going into the second period, the home side restored their two-goal advantage in the 58th minute as Fordyce grabbed his second of the night.
Receiving the ball within the left side of the area, the stoutly built forward, upon evading the challenge of his marker would rifle his right- footed attempt down the centre of the goal.
A goalkeeping blunder led to Uitvlugt cutting the deficit once more in the 75th minute as a flicked-on Jamaal Harvey header from the centre of the box following a left-sided cross, was parried into the lower right corner by the custodian.
Nonetheless, GFC negated the final advances of the visitors in the remaining minutes to complete their passage to the next round.
In the opening match-up, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) trounced Haslington FC by a 7-0 margin. Rawl Haynes led the lawmen with a hat-trick on either side of half time in the 43rd, 47th and 78th minutes.
Completing the score line with solo efforts were Alistair Wilson, Anthon Wallace, James Bowman and Rawle Thornhill in the fourth, 29th, 38th and 70th minutes correspondingly. As a result of the win, GPF will now face-off against Pouderoyen FC at the same venue on Sunday.
Action in the event is slated to continue today at the same venue. In the opening fixture at 7pm, Riddim Squad FC will oppose Golden Grove while Western Tigers will make their entrance into the event when they face-off against Agricola Red Triangle from 7pm.
