By Tamica Garnett
A preview of the final was unveiled Friday night when Hikers and GCC clashed in a first-division match of the Mr. Toppers indoor hockey tournament.
Viewed by a thunderous crowd of pro-Hikers fans the match caused screams from the onlookers as several near goals, lightning fast steals and close-call saves overwhelmed the spectators.
The half-time score of 2 – 1 in favour of GCC gave no inkling of the dramatic end which lay in store despite the clashing of hockey sticks and the brutal tumbles as the players went in wild pursuit of goals.
In the opening half, Hikers wasted little time with Robert France netting in the second minute of the game.
However, lady luck refused to smile again on the Hikers, and, with two missed penalty corners accompanied by two missed goals, Hikers found themselves trailing by one at the half.
Meanwhile, GCC through their aggressive approach, rampaged their way to two goals from Kevin Spencer and Dwayne Scott in the third and 16th minutes respectively.
Hikers returned to hurriedly pillage their way to a rapid five goal lead, capitalizing on the slimmest of chances to equalise through an Alex Gouveia counter attack two minutes in.
Another goal rapidly followed when Shane Samuels pierced the GCC cage with a well placed penalty corner in the 23rd minute.
The momentum swung heavily in favour of the green and gold team as the Hikers seized control of the match.
Young Jamarj Assanah in the 26th minute and Robert Fernandes in the 31st, drove home a goal each while Samuels’ slammed in two more goals in the 35th and 37th minutes to complete his hat trick.
With just three minutes remaining Hikers had a comfortable 7-2 lead.
It would be the longest three minutes ever experienced by the then relaxed Hikers as GCC refused to relent storming back against the unlikely odds.
A Devin Hooper penalty and Kevin Spencer field goal took one more minute off the clock as GCC played a full court press in desperation to change the outcome. Spencer added a second field goal and another Scott penalty corner brought his team within one at the final buzzer.
Despite Spencer’s position as GCC’s star player with his three goal haul, it was Allan Fernandes who stole the show despite his team’s defeat.
His hard-line attitude facilitated several goals and earned him a two-minute green card in the 25th minute in the game.
Earlier, in the opening match, the GCC Spartans were no match for the Hikers ladies who chalked up a 3-1 victory courtesy of a penalty corner goal by Marisha Rodrigues and a double by Cora Towler.
Marzana Fiedtkou scored the lone goal for the Spartans in the 37th minute.
In the veterans’ clash, GCC had their chance to shine, outclassing the Hikers 16-3.
The 13-goal margin was the biggest of the tournament so far and the 16 goals the most goals by a team in the tournament to date.
Jonathan Yearwood rolled back the years to score an energetic quadruple, Marcus Fiedtkou and Damon Woodroffe stuck in trebles, Philip and Stephen Fernandes doubles while Allan Fernandes and Hooper scored one goal each.
Brian Asregado scored a double in reply for the Hikers while James Mentore added a third the game ending 16 – 3.
Hikers Two had a lot to cheer about in the men’s second division as they routed Police 8 – 2.
Assanah topped the score sheet with a helmet-trick (four goals) for the Hikers while teammates Kenny Kansinally, Andrew Stewart, Michael Harding and Colonel Haywood scored one each.
Former national Ronford Liverpool and Romein Cleto scored one each for the Police.
GCC edged Old Fort by 2-1 in their second division clash as Shad Fernandes and Sean Gonsalves scored one each for the Bourda boys while Tony Cole scored the lone Old Fort reply.
Western Dragons rounded off the second division matches of the evening by defeating the young Hikers One 3-1.
Jermaine Murray scored a hattrick for the Dragons while the lone Hikers goal came off the stick of Akeem Thompson.
The tournament continues with four finals tonight beginning from 4pm.
