Pele, led by goals from senior national players Nigel `Powers’ Codrington and Shawn `Fatso’ Bishop, came from behind to defeat defending champions Fruta Conquerors to win the Annual Mayor’s Cup football title Sunday night.
Codrington, with six goals in the tournament to his name, also captured the highest goal-scorer award which he is expected to receive today at 11am.
Playing in front of a sell-out and unruly crowd, Pele pulled off a remarkable 2-1 victory at the GFC ground through Codrington’s 20th minute goal which was followed up by Bishop’s 80th minute sealer.
Vernon Mills, a former national under-17 player, netted Fruta Conquerors’ lone goal in the 17th minute.
In the third place play-off, Bakewell Topp XX beat Victoria Kings 3-0 through a goal each from Kayode McKinnon (50th), Travis Waterton (70th) and Kevin Beaton (85th).
In the feature match which began at a very fast pace, the eventual winners made frequent raids and dominated the midfield play while the previous champions, led by excellent defending from central defender Neville Stanton aided by the occasional counter-attacks, began to offer favourable opposition.
In one such instance, Conquerors, with a right flank attack, made an enterprising raid that resulted in their lone goal after Pele’s custodian had failed to effect a clean save from a cross.
Mills eluded the defenders’ challenge tucking the ball into Pele’s goal from close-up, much to the delight of his team’s many supporters. The lead was however short-lived as Codrington levelled the score three minutes later from a free kick which was deflected. The North/South Ruimveldt-based team was reduced to 10 men one minute later as former national midfielder Elroy Parks was given marching orders with a second yellow card for ungentlemanly conduct.
With the first session ending 1-1, the initial stages of the second segment produced fluctuating fortunes for both teams. Each team displayed useful build-ups in search of the lead which finally came Pele’s way 10 minutes from the final whistle off the boot of Bishop who capitalized on some loose defending.
Earlier in the evening, after a goalless first-half, McKinnon put Topp XX ahead and this was followed by goals from the boots of Beaton and Waterton to account for the team’s 3-0 victory over the East Demerara champions.
The presentation of prizes will be done today at the Mayor of Georgetown’s Hamilton Green’s office at City Hall.
Pele will receive $500,000, while Fruta Conquerors are to collect $200,000. Topp XX and Victoria Kings will earn $100,000 and $50,000 respectively.
Codrington for scoring the most goals in the tournament will ride away with a motor cycle, compliments of Jailing Trading. The best goal-keeper and best defender of the tournament, awards which are yet to be known will receive one gas stove and one mattress, compliments of Kei-Shars’ Gift Shoppe and AH&L Kissoon respectively.
