Defending champs Melanie-A got their title defence off to the perfect start, edging Mahaica 2-1 when the third annual Greatest Guinness of the Streets, East Coast of Demerara edition commenced on Wednesday.
It took only two minutes for Jamal George to open the scoring for the holders at the Haslington Market Tarmac as he buried his first time effort down the middle of the goal, after receiving a right-sided pass on the left side of the field.
The challengers would then respond nine minutes onward in the shape of Eon Abel who finished his strike down the centre of the net from outside the middle of the penalty area.
Like true champions Melanie-A would retake the lead one minute later as William Europe scored, lashing his first time effort into the middle of the goal, after latching onto a right-sided pass outside the penalty area.
Similarly claiming a win was inaugural winner Plaisance-A who crushed Mahaicony United 3-0. Warren Gilkes fired them ahead in the second minute with a simple finish into the centre of the net from outside the area, after receiving a left-sided pass.
Teyon Lowe would then make it 2-0 in the ninth minute through a first time strike into the right side of the net after an initial attempt came off the upright and fell into his path just outside the box. our minutes onward the result would be sealed as Carlos Matthews scored with a strike into the left hand corner from the right side of the field. Also in the winner’s circle was Paradise who crushed Church Yard United 4-1.
Jamal Garnett netted the opener in the 17th minute, stealing the ball from the final defender before finishing down the centre of the goal. It would only take Garnett one minute to net his second, a finish down the centre of the woodwork from the left side.
The lead would then balloon to three as Christopher Adams found the back of the net in the 20th minute. Church Yard United would finally pull one back three minutes later through a Rolex Goveia penalty kick after the Paradise defender denied a shot within the area.
That would prove to be the closest Church Yard would get as Jermin Clarke scored, lobbing his effort from just outside his area into the back of the net, after spotting the keeper off his goal-line. It what must be considered an upset, Nabaclis edged Victoria Eagles 2-1.
Allomo Jack netted the match-up’s first goal in the seventh minute, pushing Nabaclis ahead with a right- sided strike into the back of the net. Seretsi Huntley would add to their lead two minutes onward, finishing his right-footed effort down the middle of the net from outside the box.
Eagles would eventually net a consolation goal in the 19th minute as Kishawn Alfred scored with a right- side effort into the left-hand corner.
In other results, Buxton defeated Plaisance-B 2-1 on penalty kicks after normal time finished 0-0 while Beterverwagting (BV)-A edged home side Haslington by a 1-0 score line.
Quacy Price netted the lone conversion in the fourth minute, driving his first time effort into the roof of the goal after racing onto a right-sided pass within the left side of the field.
Also amongst the winners was BV-B who defeated Ann’s Grove Punters 2-0. Threon Petri opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a strike down the centre of the net from the middle of the field.
Erin Fraser would then get into the scoring act, sealing the result two minutes later with an easy finish into the empty net.
Melanie-B was also successful in their first outing, defeating Golden Grove Superstars 2-0. The seventh minute witnessed the opener as Akeem Bacchus bundled the ball into the empty net after being brought down by the final defender within the foul area. Amoniki Rodgers would then complete the result with the final kick of the net, lashing his effort into the centre of the net from the right side of the field in the 20th minute.
The action is slated to continue today at the same venue with eighth more fixtures. In the opening match at 19:00hrs, Church Yard United will face off with Melanie-B while BV-A will match skills with Plaisance-B from 19:30hrs.
At 20:00hrs, Ann’s Grove Punters will lock horns with Mahaica while Golden Grove Superstars tackle Paradise from 20:30hrs. The fifth fixture at 21:00hrs will witness Nabaclis opposing Plaisance-A while Mahaicony United and Victoria Eagles will battle from 21:30hrs.
The final two fixtures will pit Buxton against Haslington from 22:00hrs and defending champs Melanie-A against BV-B in a rematch of last year’s finale.
Winners of the event will receive $300,000 and the championship trophy while the second place side will collect $150,000 and the runners-up accolade. The third and fourth place finishers will collect $100,000 and $75,000 respectively.
Upon the completion of the event, the top two teams in the tourney will represent the region at the national tournament slated to be hosted later in the year.
Prior to the commencement of the fixture, Regional Democratic Chairman of Region 4 Clement Corlette opened the tourney with the ceremonial kick.
