Lady Luck refuses to smile on Den Amstel as….

….. West Demerara teams sent packing from Stag Beer Knockout Cup

West Demerara teams Den Amstel and Uitvlugt were sent packing from the third annual Stag Beer West Demerara Independence Knockout Cup, losing to Ann’s Grove and Pele respectively in the quarterfinal round on Sunday.

Den Amstel went down to Ann’s Grove United 1-2 in front of a medium-sized crowd at the Leonora Sports Facility while Uitvlugt Warriors lost to Pele FC by an identical score line.

Ann’s Grove will now tackle Fruta Conquerors from 18:00hrs while Pele will battle tourney hosts Slingerz FC from 20:00hrs at the same location on Friday.

Following the end of the final four stage, the grand finale will commence on Sunday at the same location. In the feature contest of the night, Traulin Daniels stunned the vocal Den Amstel supporters as he gave the East Coast of Demerara unit the early lead in the second minute.

Racing into the centre of the box, Daniels would calmly slot his right-footed effort into the lower left corner, after latching onto a flat right-side cross.

Pele’s marksman Omallo Williams posing for a photo opportunity following his brace against Uitvlugt Warriors which earned his side a place in the final four stage. Pix saved as Omallo Williams
Pele’s marksman Omallo Williams posing for a photo opportunity following his brace against Uitvlugt Warriors which earned his side a place in the final four stage. Pix saved as Omallo Williams

Delon Lanferman almost equalised for Den Amstel in the ninth minute, turning and smashing his effort narrowly over the crossbar from just inside the top of the penalty area.

The West Demerara unit would eventually level the score line under fortuitous circumstances 10 minutes onward as Dwayne Wilson netted.

Receiving the ball the 35 yards from goal on the right side of the field, Wilson would cross the ball into the area, which comically went over the head of the goalkeeper and into the left hand corner of the net.

Den Amstel almost took the lead in the 27th minute as Lanferman upon latching onto a left sided cross within the centre of the box, volleyed his effort narrowly wide of the left hand corner.

The West Demerara giants would then be afforded a great opportunity to take the lead as they were awarded a penalty kick three minutes later for a rash challenge within the left side of the penalty box.

Tasked with taking the spot-kick, the goal would continue to evade Lanferman as he fired his low right footed attempt onto the left upright, much to the dismay of the crowd.

Den Amstel would then be handed another chance from the 11 yard mark as they secured another penalty kick in the 39th minute for clumsy challenge inside the right of the area.

This time, custodian Ryan Hunter would be given the responsibility from the mark. Nonetheless the outcome would be the same as his tame effort was easily parried away by his opposite number Travis Allen, resulting in a goal mouth scramble which was eventually cleared to safety.

With lady luck favouring the visitors on several occasions, Stew France would net the go-ahead winner, breaking Den Amstel hearts as he found the back of the net in the 50th minute with a strike from within the penalty box.

In the earlier matchup, Pele took the early lead in the 27th minute as Omallo Williams scored from penalty mark, finishing his left footed strike into the lower right corner following a handball infraction.

A contender for goal of the tourney by Owen McGarrell in the 56th minute would lead to Uitvlugt levelling the matchup in spectacular fashion, sending the crowd and his team-mates into a frenzy.

Standing over a left sided freekick 25 yards from goal, the veteran marksman would unleash a curling left footed strike that sailed emphatically into the left side of the goal, giving the diving Devon Charles no chance.

Nevertheless, the Georgetown outfit would not be denied as Williams sealed his double four minutes later, racing into the right side of the box, before cutting onto his favoured leg past his marker to unleash a powerful strike, which was parried into the left corner by the custodian.

The resulting winner will pocket $600,000 and the championship trophy while the second, third and fourth placed units will receive $300,000, $150,000 and $100,000 correspondingly and the respective accolade.

Financial incentives will also be given to the bottom four finishers, with the resulting fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth positioned teams walking away with $75,000, $60,000, $50,000 and $40,000 correspondingly.