From Duncan Saul in Linden
Guyana’s?winless run in international football continued yesterday as the Golden Jaguars laboured to an uninspiring 0-0 draw with CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifier Martinique yesterday at the Mackenzie Sport Club (MSC) ground in Linden.
The sea of yellow which descended on the venue and numbered in the range of 1500-2000, provided an atmosphere that was conducive for a football.
One spectator, who resides in Georgetown and made the long trek to the Mining Town, declared: “It’s a good idea to bring the game to Linden because football is suffering in town”. Another member of the fandom said:“I think it’s good move to bring the game to Linden, football was too centralised”.
However, inspite of the support, the locals were clearly frustrated by the efforts of the team that failed to record a shot on goal in the first half.
Guyana’s starting XI which comprised Quincy Adams, Vurlon Mills, Pernell Schultz, Trayon Bobb, Brandon Beresford, Warren Creavalle, Captain Sam Cox, Adrian Butters, Andrew Durant, Christopher Bourne and Marcel Barrington, almost fell behind in the 17th minute.
Captain Kevin Parsemain unleashed a curling right foot free-kick from 23 yards out on the right side of the box which forced a save from Durant low to his left.
Parsemain continued to be a thorn in the side of the home team, firing just over the crossbar in the 31st minute after collecting a flicked on pass inside the left of the penalty box.
The chances continued to be crafted by the visitors in the form of Parsemain, with his unchallenged header sailing side of the left side five minutes onward, following a right side cross into the left of the area.
The inability of the hosts to penetrate the visitors rearguard clearly got to the partisan crowd, who, despite their incessant chanting, could not inspire a Golden Jaguars attack which was simply insipid.
One raucous viewer screamed “Take off number #7 (Beresford)” while another shouted “What about changes coach (Dover)?”.
Mills eventually gave the large crowd a reason to cheer as he fashioned their only opportunity of the half in the 44th minute, directing his header wide of the right side from inside the right of the box.
The resumption of the contest highlighted a marginal improvement from the team, amid the shouts and screams of “Come on Jaguars”.
Schultz almost gave the hosts the lead in the 55th minute, blazing a powerful right footed effort just over the crossbar from the top of the box.
However, the loudest cheers were reserved for hometown boy Clive Nobrega following his introduction in the 65th minute. His inclusion came seconds after several supporters screamed “changes (Wayne) Dover, changes”.
Nevertheless, Martinique resumed their dominance of the contest and should have taken the lead in the 69th minute as Parsemain? cracked the right upright with a powerful effort from inside the right of the box, after racing onto a through pass.
Durant then denied Djenhael Mainage’s volley in the 81st minute from the top of the box low to his left. The custodian came to Guyana’s rescue once more in the 83rd minute, parrying at full stretch, a Stephane Abaul effort, after the forward raced into the left of the box.
Guyana eventually held on in the dying moments to secure a draw. Meeting the teams before the commencement were Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde, GFF Vice-President Bruce Lovell, Banks DIH Outdoor Events Manager Mortimer Stewart and Director of Sports Christopher Jones.
