Bartica bested visitors West Demerara by a 2-0 score when the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Academy Training Centre (ATC) U13 Challenge Series, continued yesterday at the Bartica Community Centre ground.
West Demerara coach Travis Bess, during a post-match comment stated that the performance of the team was below expectations, adding the remedial work will be required to improve on this dismal showing.
“The team played very poorly. I am not sure if it was due to the traveling or the conditions of the ground which was bad. We have to go back to the drawing board after this loss and improve going forward in the tournament,” he said.
It was an unhappy hunting for the visitors in front of a small gathering as a conversion on either side of the halftime interval sealed the defeat.
A moment of individual brilliance by attacker Michael Joseph, opened the scoring for the eventual winners in the 14th minute.
Awarded a free kick outside the right side of the field, Joseph uncorked a powerful strike which nestled into the left side of the net.
It was a conversion worthy of the deserved lead. West Demerara struggles to be an attacking force was highlighted by misplaced passes. And the score remained unchanged heading into the halftime break compliments of dogged defending by both units.
With the West Demerara offence continuing to struggle upon the resumption of play, it was their back line which kept the score unchanged and sealed their exit following an own goal.
The self-inflicted wound occurred in the 65th minute following poor communication between the goalkeeper and the defender and a pass from the left side of the field, struck the leg of the defender and settled into the back of the net past the goalkeeper.
The home side saw out the remainder of the 70 minute contest with relative ease to seal the victory. Meanwhile, Upper Demerara and East Coast Demerara also recorded convincing wins.
Upper Demerara defeated guest entrant the National U20 girls 2-0 at the Wisburg Secondary School ground while East Bank Demerara brushed aside Essequibo 3-0.
