It was an evening of upsets, as 2013 winner Plaisance-A, 2014 champion Melanie-A, 2016 titlist Beterverwagting (BV)-B, and 2017 losing finalist Plaisance-B were eliminated, when the Sixth Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ East Coast Demerara zone commenced on Wednesday.
The Haslington Market tarmac provided the perfect setting, as a mammoth crowd was treated to a roller-coaster night of results. Plaisance-A was the first major casualty, losing 3-0 to Belfield Warriors.
Nickroy Holder bagged a double in the third and fourth minute, while Keyron Johnson netted in the second minute.
BV-B soon followed through the exit door, as they lost 3-2 on sudden death penalty kicks to Victoria Church Yard, after regulation time ended scoreless.
However, the biggest upset of the night occurred in the fifth match, as Uprising stunned the star-studded Melanie-A unit 1-0. Phillip Williams recorded a ‘Guinness Goal’ (GG)[a goal scored in the final three minutes which counts as two] in the 18th minute.
The aforesaid elimination was immediately followed by the unexpected departure of Plaisance-B, who lost to Paradise Lions 3-0. Quincy Adams crafted a GG in the 18th minute, while Joseph Peters netted in the fifth minute.
The event continues on Saturday at the same venue with the group round. The eight respective winners are divided into two groups of four.
Group-A comprises Belfield Warriors, Victoria Church Yard, Buxton Diamond and Uprising, while group-B consists of BV-A, Paradise-A, Melanie-B and Mahaica Determinators.
Each team will play three matches (15 minutes in duration) on the night, with the top two finishers from each group advancing to the semi-final round on Monday April 2nd.
The four teams who fail to advance from the group stage will compete in the Guinness Plate Championship on Monday.
