What appeared to be a controversial decision by the assistant referee on Thursday marred Fruta Conqueror’s hard-fought 2-1 win over Monedderlust FC when the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Stag Beer Elite League continued at the Tucville Community ground.
With the score locked at 0-0 in the 50th minute, Atlyn Brown, upon collecting a left-side pass within the penalty box finished his effort into the centre of the net, only to be deemed contentiously offside by the assistant referee, much to the protest of several patrons and team-mates.
The home side eventually capitalised in front of the large gathering as Kwame LaFleur and Dennis Edwards scored in the 51st and 83rd minutes respectively to seal the thrilling contest. On target in the loss was Kimba Brathwaite in the 77th minute.
With the win Fruta Conquerors move to the top of the standings with six points from two games. Monedderlust on the other hand, remain in the third position with as many points from two fixtures.
With both sides unbeaten going into the matchup, it was the home team that fashioned the first attempt on target in the 18th minute as LaFleur, upon stealing the ball from the final defender, volleyed a right-footed effort from the right side of the field, which forced a diving save from the goalkeeper.
The woodwork then denied the hosts from taking the lead in the 39th minute as Jermin Junior, after racing onto a through pass from Anthony ‘Sugar’ Abrams, rifled a powerful right-footed attempt from the right side of the field into the base of the left upright.
The Berbicians almost broke the deadlock two minutes later as Travis Thom, after racing onto a lobbed ball over the defensive line within the left side of the box, flashed his effort wide of the left corner with only the goalkeeper in his path.
The fixture then took on a back-and-forth nature as the controversial call was made five minutes into the second half period.
The referee’s decision seemed to unsettle the visitors as the home side stole the lead one minute later through LaFleur who smashed his right footed shot into the lower left corner from within the box, after collecting lobbed pass from Edwards, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Feeling hard-done by the referee’s decision and their sudden concession, Monedderlust almost equalised in the 65th minute but Thom was denied by shot-stopper Alex ‘Scotland Youth’ Murray within the six-yard box following a goal mouth scramble originating from a right-side cross.
Similarly, Fruta Conquerors nearly doubled their advantage four minutes later but a diving headed attempt from Edwards fizzed wide of the top left hand corner, after making contact with a right sided cross within the box from sibling Rafael Edwards.
The momentum of the contest then shifted as the visitors snatched the deserved equaliser in the form of Braithwaite.
Lurking within the centre of the box, Braithwaite stunned the large gathering as he struck a powerful right footed shot into the lower left hand corner, after pouncing on a poor defensive clearance following a left sided cross from a free kick.
Nonetheless, with the contest racing towards a stalemate, Edwards would settle the outcome in sublime fashion as he netted one of the event’s best goals seven minutes before the conclusion of normal time. Skilfully controlling with his thigh a perfectly placed left sided lobbed pass from Jermin Junior on top of the box, Edwards with only the keeper in his path, calmly placed his right footed effort past the advancing keeper into the back of the net, sealing the eventual win while igniting wild celebrations around the venue.
Winner of the round will pocket $4,000,000 while the second, third and fourth place teams will collect $2,000,000, $1,000,000 and $500,000 respectively. Similarly, the point’s leader prior to the knockout stage in the League Genesis round will pocket an additional $1,000,000.
The event will resume at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground in Bourda tomorrow with a doubleheader. The opening match will pit Slingerz FC against Monedderlust from 18:00hrs whilst the feature contest will pit Alpha United against home side GFC from 20:30hrs.
