A clinical first half showing propelled Fruta Conquerors to their fifth consecutive win in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Stag Beer Elite League downing the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) 5-2 Friday at the Tucville Community Centre ground.
Like the rain that ensued, the goals poured from the home side in the opening stanza through Dennis Edwards, Eon Alleyne, Delon Williams, Hubert Pedro and Jahaal Greaves in the seventh, 18th, 28th, 31st and 38th minutes respectively.
On target in the loss were Clifford Garraway and Jerome Richardson in the 60th and 90th+2 minute correspondingly. Due to the win, Fruta Conquerors solidify their second position on 25 points while the losers remain in fourth position on 14 points.
The matchup started in the ideal manner for the hosts as Edwards netted, placing his right effort into the roof of the net after collecting a right side pass from Jermin Junior, despite a desperate attempt at a goal line clearance by the defender.
Alleyne doubled the lead 11 minutes onward from the penalty mark with a right foot finish into the lower left hand corner after being awarded the spot-kick following a handball infraction.
With the coming of the rain, came further goals as Williams recorded a brilliant effort, curling a right foot free-kick 36 yards from goal in the centre of the field, which sailed over the head of the custodian and settled into the centre of the net.
Another freekick albeit from the indirect route, led to Pedro etching his name on the scorer’s sheet, curling a left foot strike following a quick touch from Junior into the lower left corner from the top of the box.
The icing on a tremendous first period was applied by Greaves seven minutes before half time as he slotted home into the left corner from the left of the box, after collecting a right side cross from Alleyne.
With the contest effectively sealed following their first half exploits, complacency crept into the game of the hosts who allowed the army back into the contest.
Garraway eventually pulled one back 15 minutes into the second period for GDF, racing between two defenders at the top of the box before finishing into the lower right corner.
At the other end, Pedro almost restored the lead in the 72nd minute as he flashed a first time right foot shot side of the left corner after collecting a right side cross from Junior.
The army unit snatched another consolation goal in the dying moments as a Richardson free-kick from 25 yards out in the centre of the field, settled into the left hand corner despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to the ball.
The subsequent celebration by Richardson led to his unfortunate undoing as he picked up his second yellow card and was sent off for placing his shirt over his head.
On the other hand, league leader Slingerz continued their unbeaten run, securing their 10th consecutive win via a 2-1 result over a spirited Georgetown Football Club (GFC) in the opening contest.
Gideon Payne and Murilo Barbosa netted in the 28th and 80th minutes respectively to claim the vital three points for the Bourda based unit, Kelsey Benjamin scored in the 90th+2 minute. With the result, Slingerz FC move to 30 points while GFC remain in the cellar position on a solitary point.
Action in the event is set to continue today at the Camp Ayanganna ground. In the opening fixture at 18:00hrs, Buxton United will oppose cellar occupant GFC while home side GDF will tackle Pele in the feature affair from 20:30hrs.
Winner of the League Finale 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 will pocket an additional $1,000,000.
The season champion will then be crowned when the winner of the League Genesis and League Finale respectively faceoff in a single matchup. That winner will then earn an automatic berth at the CFU level.
If the winner of the League Genesis and League Finale rounds are the same team, they will earn the automatic CFU spot, with the second berth going to the team with the most accumulated points in both rounds non-inclusive of the eventual season champion.
Current Points Standings
Team GP W L D GF GA GD Pts
Slingerz 10 10 0 0 26 5 +21 30
Fruta Conquerors 10 8 1 1 27 12 +15 25
Alpha United 10 6 2 2 26 9 +17 20
GDF 10 4 4 2 16 19 -3 14
Pele 10 4 5 1 10 13 -3 13
Monedderlust 10 1 6 3 7 23 -16 6
Buxton United 10 1 7 2 6 15 -9 5
GFC 10 0 9 1 7 29 -22 1
