Uitvlugt Warriors clinched the Stag Beer-sponsored West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) Senior League, battling to a 1-1 draw with bitter rival Pouderoyen yesterday at the Den Amstel ground.
Requiring only a point to seal the championship in what was their final fixture, Uitvlugt came from a goal down to secure the title via a Jamal Petty effort in the 43rd minute.
With the result, Uitvlugt end the tournament on an unassailable 26 points. On the other hand, Pouderoyen move onto 21 points and remain in the third position.
They will now oppose Den Amstel in their final fixture at the same venue on November 19th. The contest started brightly for Uitvlugt as they almost opened the scoring in the 11th minute.
Racing into the left side of the penalty area, Petty was denied by the advancing goalkeeper Sherwin Bernard following a one on one situation.
On the other side, Pouderoyen were awarded a penalty kick following a clumsy challenge inside the area in the 14th minute.
Tasked with the responsibility, Morgan Denny made no mistake from the distance as he placed his effort into the lower left corner.
However the goal was disallowed as the official deemed that a Pouderoyen player had entered the penalty area before the penalty was taken, much to the relief of Uitvlugt.
Nonetheless, Denny eventually gave Pouderoyen the deserved lead in the 20th with an absolute gem of a strike, a goal worthy of a highlight reel.
Controlling a cross from the right side with his chest inside the left of the box, Denny unleashed a powerful left foot volley into the right corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.
Pouderoyen should have doubled their lead in the 31st minute but Esan Nelson, upon latching onto a left side cross unchallenged in the centre of the box, directed his effort over the crossbar.
The miss proved to be costly for Pouderoyen as Uitvlugt grabbed the equaliser two minutes before the end of the first period.
Poor positioning by Bernard was to blame for the goal as Petty’s tame shot from the right side of the box, inexplicably rolled past the diving goalkeeper and into the lower left corner.
The second half failed to match the intensity of the first period as a physical approach was employed by both sides, especially Uitvlugt.
Charles Stoby fashioned the best opportunity for Uitvlugt in the 67th minute with a powerful shot from the top of the box, which was pushed behind for a corner-kick acrobatically by Bernard to his right.
On the other hand, Denny crafted his side’s best move as a powerful right-foot strike from the top of the box, forced a fumble from the opposing shot-stopper.
Meanwhile Eagles defeated Beavers via a walkover in the earlier fixture.
