The heroic attitude of custodian Keith Fraser enabled the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to turn back the challenge of BK International Western Tigers. Meanwhile Sunburst Camptown humbled a rejuvenated Plaisance Football Club when the semi-finals of the Ansa Mc Al/Digicel-sponsored Bake-well Buxton United Sweet 16 football competition was played at the Plaisance Community Center ground on Tuesday.
In the first game, the Tigers can only blame Fraser and themselves for not converting the opportunities that were presented as the former displayed his timings to perfection in thwarting the Tigers forwards, including the dangerous Devon Millington on several occasions before seeing their opponents scoring the lone goal in this encounter to send them home, while Camptown defeated Plaisance 2-0. Even though the newly-sponsored Western Tigers had the upper hand against their opponents with some relentless raids, the Army defence stood up to the pressure with Fraser being the chief commander. When Paul Giles faced him in a one-on-one position, he timed his move to perfection to take the ball artistically away from the striker much to the disappointment of the Tigers bench. Gavin Wilson tried to make amends for Giles’ blunder but he to was thwarted by Fraser who would have won a man-of-the-match award if it was a game of cricket. He never eased up on his defence and along with former Pele and national under-19 midfielder Sheik Kamal playing in the defensive position for GDF, the Tigers were finding it difficult to claw their way back into this encounter. Stellon David, a former Tiger himself, made them pay for their scoring blunders when he beat custodian Rolex Scott with a perfectly placed free kick on the first post in the 67th minute to spark off celebrations on and off the field. With Millington being red carded following two infringements by referee Otis James in the 86th minute, it was all over bar the shouting for BK International Western Tigers. In the feature game, Camptown dominated Plaisance from the opening whistle and could have gone one up within the first 10 minutes of the game, but forward Dexter Mollyneaux sent his shot wide of the uprights with Kerwin Bacchus well beaten.
Five minutes later, it was Plaisance’s turn to take the lead but like Mollyneaux, Conrad Quintyn missed an open goal with a header after receiving a pass from Kester Greene. At the other end Lance Rolston, who scored when Camptown defeated Uprising in the Premiere League game on Sunday night, had the opportunity to lengthen his scoring column but he sent a hard shot wide of the upright from the top of the 18 yard box.
A see-saw battle continued with Camptown displaying a level of football that bemused their opponents with the hard working trio at the back namely Dexter Dummette, Orlando Gilgeous and Tito Adams thwarting all of Plaisance’s run just at the half way line. So dominant were Camptown that for a period of play in the second half, Plaisance was unable to get a foot onto the ball as Mollyneaux, Ralston and Troy Prescod displayed a level of football of international quality with Mollyneaux being the mastermind. At half time both teams were yet to find the back of the net. Mollyneaux threatened the defence with every touch he got so it was no surprise when he sent a long ball to Marvin Joseph who set off on a solo run and after eluding his marker who was slow to get close to him, and he calmly placed the ball to the back of the net with Bacchus not in position in the 37th minute of the second half.
