A sublime Sheldon Hope 75th minute strike secured a deserved 2-2 result for Riddim Squad against league leaders Western Tigers when the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Stag Beer League continued on Tuesday at the Georgetown Football Club in Bourda.
With the score 2-1 in favour of the West Ruimveldt unit, Hope made his presence felt, volleying a thunderous right-foot strike onto the crossbar and into the right corner, after a headed clearance fell into his path.
Due to the result, Riddim Squad remain in the third position on 15 points while Western Tigers remain atop the standings on 22 points.
With the last meeting of the teams ending 1-0 in favour of Western Tigers, the West Ruimveldt unit began the fixture the brighter of the teams with Devon Forde’s flicked on volley following a right side cross into the centre of the box, sailing just over the crossbar in the ninth minute.
The aforesaid warning went unheeded by the Mocha-based unit who eventually surrendered the opening goal nine minutes onward compliments of a brilliant solo effort from Randolph Wagner.
It was a move of pure quality from the versatile attacker who, upon racing onto a pass after fighting off his marker, dribbled the onrushing goalkeeper inside the left of the area before finishing into the centre of the net.
The lead was almost doubled two minutes later as a powerful right foot strike from inside the right of the box by Michael Pedro, was tipped over the crossbar by the goalkeeper.
On the other side, Hope squandered a great chance to equalise in the 36th minute, blasting his right foot shot over the crossbar with only the advancing goalkeeper in his path, after racing onto a through pass.
The equaliser came two minutes before the end of the first period as Amos Ramsay recorded a cheeky conversion.
It was great presence of mind by the attacker whose flicked on header with his back to goal sailed past the onrushing goalkeeper and into the empty net after latching onto a cross inside the area.
Despite entering the second half with the momentum in their corner, Riddim Squad surrendered the go-ahead goal in the 55th minute as David George scored after right foot strike from inside the right of the box, took a deflection off the onrushing goalkeeper and settled into the lower left corner.
The aforementioned conversion ignited an open and physical encounter as both teams strived to strengthen their contrasting positions. This style of play clearly suited the Mocha-based unit which grew in confidence with each passing minute as the Western Tigers players appeared to grow tired.
Ultimately parity was restored to the fixture as Hope scored a brilliant effort to seal a deserved share of the spoils. In the opening fixture, Flamingo defeated Northern Rangers 2-0. Ravi Chan and Trevon Thomas scored in the 41st and 65th minutes respectively.
With the win, Flamingo moved to seven points and remain in the seventh position owing to a weaker goal differential while Northern Rangers remain in the sixth position on seven points.
Action in the event continues today at the same venue with another doubleheader. In the opening fixture at 18:00hrs, Beacons will oppose the Guyana Police Force while the feature contest will pit Santos against Camptown from 20:30hrs.
Current Points Standings
Team GP W L D GF GA GD Pts
Western Tigers 9 7 1 1 25 7 +18 22
Santos FC 8 5 1 2 12 8 +4 17
Riddim Squad 9 4 2 3 17 10 +7 15
Police 8 4 3 1 12 8 +4 13
Camptown 8 3 3 2 9 14 -5 11
Northern Rangers 9 2 6 1 8 15 -7 7
Flamingo 9 2 6 1 11 21 -10 7
Beacons 8 1 6 1 11 23 -12 4
