One champion stood tall while another crumbled at the conclusion of matches on the second night of the second annual Bakewell Buxton Stars- organized, Mackeson Stout/Digicel-sponsored Sweet 16 football tournament played at the Plaisance Community Centre ground on Thursday night.
Defending champions Sunburst Camptown displayed a never-say-die attitude to come from behind twice and defeat Golden Stars on penalty kicks, while the East Coast league champions played as tame as a mouse in their encounter against Ann’s Grove and they went down 2-0 in the feature match.
From the first kick off to the last one, it was non-stop action befitting a feature encounter, but it happened to be the opening game on the second night of action.
Skipper Randy King, Jason Clement, Carlos Kingston, Karambo Holder, Mark Trotman and former national custodian Owen Adonis were all stalwarts for Golden Stars while Orlando Gilgeous, Troy Prescod, Telson Mc Kinnon, Rishawn Sandiford and Lyliton Ramsay executed their roles well for the victors.
Golden Stars were all over their opponents in the first 45 minutes of play where they attacked with the wind at their back and in the 10th minute they went ahead, courtesy of a Clement strike from a goal mouth scrimmage.
The goal woke up the fighting spirit in Camptown who staged numerous attacks on their opponents’ goal area, but were thwarted by the efforts of the heavy-set Adonis, who surprised many with his cat-like movements.
King tried to put his team ahead but his shot to the Camptown uprights was way off the target while at the other end Adonis was forced to effect a save off a Kwame La Fleur shot for Camptown, as the half time whistle was around the corner.
Camptown continued to attack their opponents and were unfortunate not to have gotten the equalizer before lemon time when an Anthony Belfield shot to goal found the cross bar in its way, with Adonis completely beaten.
As ‘fortune favours the brave’ Adonis at the half was forced to thwart Sunburst Camptown who defeated the Guyana Defence Force 2-1 in last year’s final, on numerous occasions to ensure his team were ahead at the break.
The second half was no different than the first, even though it became more physical forcing referee Wayne Griffith to issue marching orders to Camptown’s Kris Camacho in the 72nd minute after he committed a dangerous play on a Golden Stars player.
The Golden Grove-based team was further taken into the lead, thanks to King, who found the back of Camptown’s net after receiving a gem of a pass from Trotman in the 51st minute.
Trotman received a long ball from Adonis who had just prevented Prescod from pulling one back for his team, and worked his way into Camptown’s box past Camacho and Ramsey before squaring the ball to an unmarked King who beat custodian Richie Richards easily to send his team further into the lead.
Following the Golden Stars second goal and unable to find the back of the net due to Adonis’ heroics, frustration began to show on the faces of a few players, including Camacho who had sent a loose ball into the opposition’s substitute bench.
He was given his marching orders by Griffith shortly after when he stepped on an injured Golden Stars player, who was awaiting the physiotherapist for treatment after being fouled earlier by Camacho.
Prior to his eviction, Anthony Belfield had pulled one back for his team when he beat a hapless Adonis from a goal mouth scrimmage while King was denied by Richards at the other end, resulting in Camptown snatching the equalizer.
Mc Kinnon has always demonstrated his ability to score goals for his team when needed and on Thursday night he delivered, completing a solo run from inside his own half to beat Adonis to level the scores at 2-2 at the end of regulation time.
A free kick taken by King in the first half of extra time rebounded to land at the feet of substitute Shawn Douglas who placed the ball at the back of the net to send Golden Stars ahead 3-2, a lead they kept until two minutes to the final whistle of the game.
Prescod lined up to take a free kick at the top of the box and with the greatest of ease, he beat the four-man wall and a tired looking Adonis to take the game into penalty kicks, which Camptown won 6-5 to ease the pain of their supporters who turned out in their numbers.
Acrobatic saves
In the feature match of the evening, Ann’s Grove defeated East Coast League champions Buxton United 2-0 in their match-up.
They went ahead as early as the 7th minute when Kelon Loncke beat custodian Conrad Hunte to his right with a perfect placed penalty, a lead which was increased three minutes later following Antonio Jackson’s goal from a goal mouth scrimmage and maintained up to lemon time.
Led by their top striker and former national Under-19 cricketer Clive Andries along with Lester Dublin, Orson Washington and Michael Phyll, Buxton United tried in vain to get their name on the score sheet, but sturdy defence from Dwayne Rogers, Leron and Maxton Adams, Trevor Gomes and goalkeeper Elton Adams stalled them.
Andries had numerous runs at the Ann’s Grove goal area but at times he took his shot from the top of the box, even when he had the room and space to advance further while Adams thwarted him with some acrobatic saves.
A shot from just inside the box late in the second half had the signs and even the crowd shouted for goal from the time it left his boot but Adams was equal to the task, pulling off the save which ensured that his team will face Camptown next Thursday at the same venue.
The action will continue tonight at the venue with Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United opposing Victoria Kings in the curtain raiser and BK International Western Tigers and Kashif and Shanghai champions Pele meet in the feature encounter.
Kick off time is 6 pm.
