Botofago whipped Aroiama 5-1 when the Upper Demerara Football Association [UDFA] year-end football competition continued on Monday at the Mackenzie Sports Club [MSC] ground, Linden.
It was a clinical performance from the Botofago unit which controlled the tempo of the clash from the opening whistle. Shane Haynes, scorer of two goals, opened his account with a smart finish into the left side in the 11th minute to hand Botofago the lead.
Antwoine Gill, another scorer of two goals, secured his first of the evening in the 25th minute with a powerful right foot shot. The score remained unchanged heading into the halftime interval at 2-0.
Upon the resumption, Lyndon Benjamin pulled one back for Aroiama with a flat strike into the right corner in the 55th minute. However, any hopes of staging a comeback was thwarted as Botofago tallied three unanswered goals in the space of six minutes.
Gill sealed his brace with a well-placed effort into the roof of the net in the 73rd minute. This was followed by Haynes whose double occurred two minutes later to make it 4-1. The scoreline was then sealed in the 78th minute compliments of a Jaushawn Moore conversion in the 79th minute.
Meanwhile, Net-Rockers and Silver Shattas battled to a 3-3 stalemate. The match started brightly for Net-Rockers who took the lead in the fifth minute through Omeion Wills. The aforesaid conversion proved to be the only goal of the period.
However, three goals in the space of six minutes handed Silver Shattas control of the contest. George Stevens equalised in the 52nd minute with a powerful effort, before Damion Williams thumped his effort into the far corner in the 54th minute to make it 2-1. The lead was then doubled four minutes later as the dangerous Jermaine Samuels placed his effort into the right side, beyond the reach of the custodian. Nonetheless, Net-Rockers responded in equal measure, tallying two goals within four minutes to earn a share of the spoils.
The lanky Shane Luckie blasted past the opposing goalkeeper in the 80th minute to reduce the deficit. The score was then levelled in the 84th minute as Raggesh Trose netted in the 84th minute. Net-Rockers were reduced to 10 players in the dying moments, as Tyrone Lewis was issued with a red card in the 88th minute.
The tournament continues tomorrow at the same venue with another doubleheader. In the opening match, Amelia’s Ward Panthers battle Topp XX from 19:00hrs while the feature match will pit Winners Connection against Capital FC at 21:00hrs.
The event features 10 teams divided in three groups. Group-A consists of Coomacka, Net Rockers and Silver Shattas, while group-B consists of Hi-Stars, Winners Connection and Capital FC.
Group-C is made up of Topp XX, Amelia’s Ward, Aroiama and Botafago. The other playing dates are December 23rd, 26th, with the semifinals pegged for the29th. The grand final will occur on January 1st.
Complete Results
Game-1
Net-Rockers-3 vs Silver
Shattas-3
Silver Shattas Scorers
George Stevens-52nd
Damion Williams-54th
Jermaine Samuels-58th
Net-Rockers Scorers
Omeion Wills-5th
Shane Luckie-80th
Raggesh Trose-84th
Game-2
Botofago-5 vs Aroiama-1
Botofago Scorers
Shane Haynes-11th and 75th
Antwoine Gill-25th and 73rd
Jaushawn Moore-79th
Aroiama Scorer
Lyndon Benjamin-55th