West Demerara powerhouse Pouderoyen, and East Bank Demerara heavyweight Agricola Red Triangle, battled to a 4-4 stalemate in an eight goal pre-season thriller on Friday at the Agricola Community ground.
Travis Bess, head coach of Pouderoyen during a post-match comment, said, “The weather and the size of the ground had a lot to do with the performance of the players. The ground was smaller than we are accustomed to so it affected how we utilised the space and width. Also we didn’t adapt fast enough to the wet conditions but the team showed fighting spirit because they came twice from a goal down to level the score and earn a draw.”
The torrential downpour which highlighted the first half, certainly did not impede or affect the attacking ability of the hosts, who recorded two unanswered goals. Dominique Butts opened the scoring in the 12th minute, turning and smashing the ball into the right corner from inside the centre of the penalty box.
Their lead ballooned to 2-0 in the 29th minute, as Leon Hope found the back of the net. An initial shot from outside the middle of the park by Kacey John was spilt by the goalkeeper, allowing the onrushing Hope to smash the loose ball into the back of the net from inside the centre of the area.
On the other end, Pouderoyen’s best chance occurred in the 37th minute, as Eon Sullivan slotted wide of the lower right corner, after receiving a cross from the right flank.
However, it proved to be a game of two halves, as the visitors amassed four goals to secure a deserved draw in a high scoring period which featured six conversions. The rainfall which subsided in the second half, aided visitors who reduced the deficit to 2-1 in the form of Sullivan in the 53rd minute.
Rising high inside the centre of the area to receive a cross from a free kick, Sullivan unleashed a glancing header past the advancing custodian into the right corner. The woodwork then denied the visitors in the 56th, as E J Mars struck the crossbar with a powerful strike from 26 yards in the centre of the field.
Pouderoyen would not be denied as utility player Darrell Abrams restored parity to proceedings at 2-2 in the 62nd minute, stabbing into the back of the net, after an initial strike was parried into his path by the goalkeeper.
Agricola immediately retook the lead two minute later, as defender Anthony Ifill netted, finishing into the right corner, after latching onto a left sided corner inside the six yard box.
The home side then doubled their advantage at 4-2, with Ifill making his presence felt once more in the 72nd minute, propelling his powerful header into the right side, following a left sided corner. Nonetheless, two conversions in the dying moments of the contest completed a hard fought comeback for the visitors.
The deficit was reduced at 3-2 in the 79th minute in the form of Dwayne St. Kitts, who lashed his effort into the right corner from inside the right of the area, after latching onto an initially deflected attempt.
Nicquan Boyce then sealed the comeback in the 86th minute, slotting into the back of the net, after an initial shot ricocheted into his onrushing path inside the centre of the box.
Match Report
Agricola-4 vs Pouderoyen-4
Agricola Scorers
Dominique Butts-12th
Leon Hope-29th
Anthony Ifill-64th and 72nd
Pouderoyen Scorers
Eon Sullivan-53rd
Darrell Abrams-62nd
Dwayne St. Kitts-79th
Nicquan Boyce-86th
