The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was crowned the MVP Sports Women’s Developmental League champion, defeating Fruta Conquerors 1-0 in the final on Wednesday evening at the Eve Leary Sports Club ground.
An own goal opened the scoring in the sixth minute for the army ladies in front of a large crowd, as a strike from outside the left of the penalty box, took a deflection off the head of Jessica Teasdale and sailed over the grasp of the goalkeeper.
However, the Tucville-based outfit leveled proceedings in the 22nd minute, as Teasdale converted from the penalty spot following a handball infraction. Teasdale calmly slotted her right-footed effort into the lower right corner, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
GDF was then given the perfect opportunity to retake the lead in the 40th minute, as they were awarded a penalty following a rash challenge inside the left of the 18-yard area. However, goalkeeper Ruth George inexplicably slotted her effort wide of the lower right corner, after losing her footing while attempting to strike the ball.
The score remained unchanged heading into the halftime interval. A 2-1 lead was eventually established by GDF, as Abioce Heywood found the back of the net in the 74th minute, racing away from three defenders on the left side of the field, before slamming her effort past the advancing goalkeeper into the right corner.
Heywood made her presence felt once more, sealing the result in the 90th+1 minute, as she directed her header into the back of the net, after latching onto a left-sided corner kick. With the result, GDF walked away with the championship trophy and medals, with Fruta Conquerors settling for the runner-up accolade and the corresponding medals. On the individual side, GDF’s Glendy Lewis was adjudged the Most Valuable Player, while teammate George copped the Best Goalkeeper title.
On the other hand, the trio of Lewis, Lakeisha Williams of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), and Jalade Trim of Fruta Conquerors shared the Highest Goal Scorer award, after finishing with eight goals apiece.
Meanwhile, the GPF unit mauled Pakuri Warriors 8-0 in the third-place playoff. Williams recorded a hat-trick in the 21st, 47th, and 48th minute, whilst Fiona Benjamin recorded three conversions in the 20th, 51st, and 56th minute.
Adding goals in the 40th and 63rd minute were Tiandi Smith and Shontel Greene. Due to the outcome, GPF walked away with the corresponding accolade, whilst Pakuri Warriors received the third-place trophy.
Complete Results
Final
Fruta Conquerors-1 vs
GDF-3
GDF scorers
Abioce Heywood-74th and 90th+1
Own Goal-6th
Fruta scorer
Jessica Teasdale-22nd
3rd Place
GPF-8 vs Pakuri Warriors-0
Fiona Benjamin-20th, 51st, and 56th
Lakeisha Williams-21st, 47th, and 48th
Tiandi Smith-40th
Shontel Greene-63rd
