Pouderoyen FC and Eagles will compete in the final of the West Demerara Football Association ‘Bounce Back’ tournament, following semi-final wins Saturday evening at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.
Shavaine Ghent-Bess, head-coach of Pouderoyen FC during a post-match comment said that the performance was commendable given the long layoff from competitive play, adding that improved performances will be targeted going forward by the management team.
She explained, “After being two years from competitive football, it is good to see that the team is making an effort to compete at the highest level. It’s good to see the fighting spirit of the team but there is always room for improvement. As we go along we will build and improve upon the result.”
The fixture started perfectly for the Pouderoyen unit when defensive midfielder Emeribe Vincent scored in the fourth minute. Lurking inside the penalty area, Vincent uncorked a powerful volley, which struck the left upright and settled into the net.
The score was doubled in the 40th minute when Chad Matthews stormed into the penalty box, rose above his marker, and powered home a header, after receiving a perfectly placed cross from the right side of the field.
The score remained unchanged at halftime but Uitvlugt eventually reduced the deficit under fortuitous circumstances when Darrel Abrams recorded an own goal in the 53rd minute. Attempting to clear a free-kick into the area, Abrams inadvertently sliced the ball beyond his own goalkeeper.
Nonetheless, Pouderoyen held onto their slender advantage to seal their berth in the final. Meanwhile, Eagles squeaked past Wales 2-1 in the earlier contest.
Wales raced ahead in the 20th minute, as Daniel Alves scored from a free-kick outside the penalty area, which struck the top of the wall, and sailed over the hands of the goalkeeper into the centre of the net.
However, two unanswered goals in the second half sealed the come-from behind win. Romel Medas levelled proceedings in the 50th minute, stabbing into the back of the net, after latching onto a cross from a right sided corner kick.
The win was then sealed in the 62nd minute when Meshawn Livan netted. Sprinting onto a through pass, Liven slotted the ball past the advancing goalkeeper into the left corner from inside the 18-yard box. Up to press time, the final was underway at the same venue.
