A second half double from Sherwyn Caesar in the dying minutes propelled the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to the summit of the Guyana Football Federation Stag Beer Elite League as they overcame home side Monedderlust 3-1 on Friday.
With six minutes remaining on the clock and the score 1-1 at the No. #5 ground, West Coast Berbice, Caesar pushed the visitors into the lead in the 84th minute, slotting home into the left corner after collecting a cross into the area.
The stoutly built forward then applied the final nail in the coffin, racing onto a Delroy Ferdinand through pass before slotting home past the custodian.
Prior to the dramatic conclusion, the army unit fell behind in the seventh minute as Kevin Cottoy dribbled the onrushing goalkeeper, before slotting into the lower right corner from inside the left of the box, sending the large crowd into a frenzy.
Monedderlust almost gave their supporters another reason to celebrate in the 11th minute when a powerful Jamul Joseph effort from 30 yards in the centre of the field, crashed into the base of the right post.
However, the visitors equalized through Aubrey Greene in the 26th minute, who directed his towering header down the centre of the net, after latching onto a cross from a corner kick inside the penalty box.
Meanwhile, tourney debutants Topp XX and Victoria Kings battled to a 1-1 draw. Travis Watterton almost broke the deadlock in favour of the Lindeners in the second minute, unleashing a curling freekick from the right side which crashed into the crossbar.
A goalkeeping blunder in the seventh minute gave Victoria Kings the lead as a Kemroy Alfred strike from the outside of the box, squirmed under the body of the custodian and into the net.
Keon Hall nearly levelled proceedings in the 20th minute, directing his gliding header from the centre of the box marginally wide of the left corner, after collecting a perfectly placed right side cross from Joel McKinnon
Nonetheless, the Linden unit earned a deserved point in the 49th minute after wasting several clear cut opportunities as Terrence Aaron directed his header into the left corner from inside the left of the six yard area.
The championship continues tomorrow at the Buxton Community Ground with a tripleheader to conclude the first round.
