Fruta Conquerors rebounded from their opening pre-season, overcoming East Coast of Demerara heavyweight Victoria Kings by a 3-1 score line yesterday at the Tucville Community Ground.
Hammered in their opening pre-season fixture 5-2 by Riddim Squad, the Tucville unit secured the hard-fought victory following second-half goals from Jahaal Greaves, Eon Alleyne and Chavez Hendricks in the 46th, 64th and 85th minutes respectively.
On target in the loss in the 57th minute was Obesie Johnson. Similar to their first matchup, the hosts almost took the initial lead in the 16th minute as a Greaves strike from the within the centre of the box was cleared off the line.
Jamal Codrington also came close to breaking the deadlock in the 27th minute for the home side, firing his right-footed effort wide of the lower left corner from within the right side of the box.
On the other side, Randy Stoby almost gave the visitors the unlikely lead, volleying the ball over the cross bar from the centre of the box, after collecting a right-sided cross with only the keeper in his path.
The opening period ended as it began with the home side fashioning a dangerous opportunity compliments of a 30-yard strike from Codrington in the centre of the field, which was parried over the crossbar by the keeper.
Nevertheless, the deadlock was broken one minute into the second stanza as Greaves upon collecting a pass at the top of the box, stabbed his effort into the lower left corner.
Jermin Junior nearly doubled their lead in the 54th minute, forcing a smart save from the custodian who tipped over the woodwork following a thunderous strike from 24 yards out in the centre of the field.
Stephen Dolphin was next to be denied for the home side as his flying header from the centre of the box following a right-sided Trevon Lythcott cross, was cleared off the line by the final defender.
The home side’s failure to convert their chances ultimately came back to haunt them as Johnson levelled proceedings, blasting a powerful right-footed effort from the top of the box into the lower left corner, after an initial strike crashed into the crossbar and fell into his onrushing path.
However the momentum of the fixture changed once more following the introduction of several players as Alleyne restored the home side’s lead, collecting a Dwayne Lindie pass before racing into the left side of the box and firing into the lower left corner.
Alleyne almost made it 3-1 in the 70th minute as his header following a right-sided cross, was parried away by the diving shot-stopper.
The score eventually moved to 3-1 five minutes before the end as Hendricks upon collecting a pass 24 yards from goal on the left side, curled a powerful strike into the lower right corner.
Pierre Joseph nearly pulled one back for Kings in the 87th minute as his powerful 35-yard free kick from the centre of the field, sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
Similarly, the home side almost added to their score two minutes later as Hendricks following a one-two pass combination with Dolphin at the top of the box, flashed his effort just wide of the left corner.a
