Bent Street sent a strong warning to the rest of the competitors, dismantling North East La Penitence 6-2 when the inaugural Guyana Beverage Company Busta football tournament continued Saturday at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground.
Sheldon Holder opened the scoring in the second minute for Bent Street under fortuitous circumstances as his right-footed strike from the centre of the field, took a deflection off the body of a defender and settled into the lower left corner.
North East La Penitence would quickly equalise three minutes onward in the form of Shaquille Grant, who placed his first time, right-footed shot into the top right hand corner, after racing onto a right side cross within the left of the box.
Konata Manning would then push Bent Street back into the lead in the ninth minute slotting his effort into the lower right hand corner after latching onto a lobbed right side Daniel Wilson pass, within the area.
The 10th minute would witness the score line becoming 3-1 as Wilson rifled his right-footed attempt into the lower left hand corner. Carl Tudor would eventually cut the deficit to one, two minutes from the 15-minute half time interval, unleashing a powerful strike from just over the half way line in the centre of the park, which crashed into the left upright and settled into the goal.
Despite pulling within touching distance, the second half would prove to be a game of two halves as North East La Penitence conceded three more goals. Manning started the demolition in the 19th minute with a cheeky first time flicked shot with his back to goal into the lower right corner, after receiving a pass within the penalty area from the centre of the field.
Wilson would then extend their advantage in the 25th minute, powering his right-footed shot into the lower left corner from the right side of the park.
The result would then be completed one minute later as Shevane Seaforth netted with a simple finish to the middle of the net, after receiving a pass from the top of the box. Similarly earning a clinical win was Festival City who overcame a 1-0 deficit to defeat Kitty Weavers 4-1. Surrendering a goal in the ninth minute to a Sherwayne Vincent turn and finish into the right hand corner, Festival City would level the score in the 15th minute as Keith Fletcher scored with an easy finish into the empty net, after collecting a left sided Eon Alleyne pass inside the box.
Alleyne would then etch his name on the scorer’s tab in sublime fashion two minutes later, skipping past his marker on the top of the box, before lashing his effort with the outside of the right boot into the right hand side of the net.
The score would then balloon to 3-1 in the 21st minute as Daniel Favourite scored with a right sided strike down the centre of the woodwork.
Stellon David would then complete the second half carnage in the 28th minute, lashing his left footed strike from the right side of the field, through the legs of the keeper down the centre of the goal.
In other results, West Front’s Road-Gold is Money defeated Stevedore Housing Scheme 3-1. Michael Oie opened the scoring in the sixth minute while siblings Michael and Jamal Pedro netted in the 11th and 14th minutes correspondingly. On target in the loss was Eon Parks in the 10th minute. The third fixture of the night saw Back Circle edging West Back Road 1-0 compliments of a Kevin Boters 15th minute effort while Cross Street defeated Queen Street Tiger Bay 3-1 compliments of a Sheldon Profit double in the third and 11th minute.
Sealing the result was Shalomo Mark with an 18th minute effort. On target in the loss was Deon Alfred in the second minute. In the second fixture of the night, North Ruimveldt and Globe Yard battled to a 1-1 stalemate. Lenrick Carrington opened the scoring for North Ruimveldt in the 18th minute while Kevin Lewis earned his side a point, equalizing through a 29th minute conversion. The action is slated to continue at the same venue today with the second round of group fixtures.
In the opening fixture at 19:00hrs, Queen Street Tiger Bay will faceoff with Stevedore Housing Scheme while Sophia will tackle Ballers from 19:45hrs.
The third fixture will witness Alexander Village facing off with California Square from 20:30hrs whilst the fourth fixture will pit Leopold Street against Kitty Weavers from 21:00hrs.
In the final two fixtures, North Ruimveldt will tackle West Back Road at 21:45hrs while Sparta Boss will oppose Charlestown from 22:30hrs. Victors of the tourney will receive the championship trophy and $600,000.
Meanwhile the second, third and fourth placed sides will receive $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively and the respective accolade.
Following the end of the initial group stage, the winner of the group will receive $25,000 while the second, third and fourth finishers within the group will receive $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.
