Hosts Buxton Stars maintained their unbeaten record in the East Coast Demerara Senior Men’s Football League, defeating Airy Hall by a 2-1 score-line on Wednesday evening at the Community Centre ground.
The home side was given the perfect opportunity to take the lead in the ninth minute after they were awarded a penalty kick for a wild challenge inside the area by the defender.
Tasked with the responsibility from a distance, Cleavon Barnwell made no mistake as he fired his right-footed shot into the lower right corner.
Dennis Fordyce expanded their lead in the 40th minute via a powerful strike from the top of the 18-yard area which sailed into the lower left corner.
Airy Hall eventually found the back of the net in the form of Eion Abel in the 77th minute, as the burly forward uncorked a powerful left-footed strike from inside the centre of the penalty box into the right corner.
Head-coach Sherry Abrams during a post-match comment said, “The performance is what we expected because we planned for this game, we knew it would have been a decider, and if we had lost, it would hurt our goal difference and pushed us out of first place. The team [Buxton] is not scoring as they should which is both bad and good especially when it comes to goal difference its bad. We had many chances and should have scored six or seven, and finished the game early. However, we are thankful for the win, which put us at the top of the table with 13 points, and we now have one game remaining against Victoria Scorpions but are unsure if they will turn up.”
She further said, “We are not satisfied with the league and how it’s being run but we are thankful for the win, the players are excited and want to win the league and get into the GFF Playoff to try and get into the Elite League.”
Meanwhile, Dynamic FC brushed aside Beterverwagting (BV)/Triumph 2-1 in the earlier fixture. Veteran attacker and former Golden Jaguar international Dwain Jacobs opened the scoring for Dynamic in the 19th minute from the penalty mark, slotting his effort into the left corner.
Tyrice Dennis then doubled their advantage in the 29th minute. Latching onto a poor clearance from the goalkeeper on the right flank, Dennis curled a right-footed strike into the empty net.
A 3-0 score was then realized in the 55th minute as Marlon Forrester scored, blasting a powerful shot from outside the right of the penalty area into the lower left corner.
BV/Triumph eventually recorded a consolation goal in the 60th minute in the form of Akin Curry, who lashed his effort into the lower left corner from inside the box, after receiving a cross from the right side. The event continues today at the same venue with another doubleheader.
Complete Results
Game-1
Dynamic-3 vs. BV/Triumph-1
Dynamic scorers
Dwain Jacobs-19th
Tyrice Dennis-29th
Marlon Forrester-55th
BV scorer
Akin Curry-60th
Game-2
Buxton Stars-2 vs. Airy Hall-1
Buxton Stars’ scorer
Cleavon Barnwell-9th
Dennis Fordyce-40th
Airy Hall scorer
Eion Abel-77th
