Bakewell Buxton Stars and Victoria Kings failed to impress their fans against their respective opponents when play in the Ansa McAl Limited Mackeson Stout-sponsored East Coast Premier League football competition continued over the weekend.
On Saturday at the Victoria ground, former Kashif and Shanghai champions Victoria Kings put on a substandard performance against Mahaica Determinators, a team ranked number eight on the East Coast, before scraping home with a 1-0 win, compliments of an own goal by the right wing back for the visiting team.
Victoria Kings’ strikers Michael Mc Lean and Trevor Fraser failed to convert the numerous chances that were created in the midfield area by Andrew Holder and Kurt Andrews.
As they continued to squander many chances the crowd began to show its disapproval by booing the Kings who looked nothing like royalty on the field.
On the other hand, the Mahaica team was creating many chances but robust defending by Shawn Samuels and Samuel Blackette saved the home team from further embarrassment.
The Mahaica team raided the Kings’ defence on many occasions but poor finishing left them with a goal and three points down going into the second round.
Even though Victoria Kings displayed their technical skills and superior ball control, they had to defend their goal for most of the second half as the Determinators attacked relentlessly, forcing two corners none of which was converted.
On Sunday at the Beterverwagting ground, Bakewell Buxton Stars was held to a 1-1 draw by Golden Stars.
This game, like the Victoria Kings/Mahaica Determinators clash, also showed that the big teams on the East Coast will have a hard time this year in the league as Buxton Stars gave a dull display against the lowly-regarded Golden Stars team.
It was Golden Stars who took an early lead when Quacy Halley found the back of the net. Buxton can only blame themselves for picking up two points, since their most accomplished players in Rashleigh Morrison and Pierre Joseph failed to find the net when the opportunity came.
They were both guilty of excessive dribbling much to the dismay of the huge crowd. As the game rolled towards the end the crowd grew impatient as Buxton tried desperately for the equalizer which was hard to obtain as Golden Stars began defending although they were reduced to eight men.
However, the Buxton fans got their desire when Morrison converted a penalty in the 77th minute to earn a draw for his team.
Last Thursday the action at the Plaisance ground saw debutants Buxton United hammering a hapless Black Stallion side 6-1 in the opening game while Ann’s Grove defeated Plaisance United 2- 0 in their match-up.
