– To play semi-finals tonight
Last year’s finalist Milerock United eliminated the only Georgetown side in this year’s Linden Invitational Football Tournament, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) 2-1 while Winners Connection rocked Netrockers by a similar goal line to round off the semi-finals tonight at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground (MSC).
Playing the feature game of the double header at a vociferous venue, Kevin Layne powered his way to two goals with one on either side of the half (25th and 58th minutes) to give Milerock a lead that assured victory.
Gavin Wilson was able to give little hope in the 63rd minute but with the home side already in the winning groove, they were able to effortlessly thwart all the moves by the army boys.
With the win, Milerock will move on to play an eager Amelia’s Ward United side this evening as they seek redemption for their early exit from the tournament last year.
Former national player and skipper of the side Travis Watterton, known for his deadly strikes from the free kick position, will be leading the side.
The Amelia’s Ward base unit, now in their rebuilding stage, have been looking very confident in their matches played in and out of the tournament. Meanwhile the night could not have had a better start when Netrockers and Winners Connection featured the most entertaining match of the tournament.
Rene Gibbons scored the fastest goal of the tournament when he found the back of the net in the first minute. His clout set the tone of the game, as the spectators were kept on their heels afterwards.
One nil was the score line at the end of the first half, but Netrockers kept pressing on and they found the target through a wonderful goal from Rawle Hensford in the 83rd minute.
Winners Connection got the perfect opportunity to seal the deal just on the brink of regulation time when their striker Rawle ‘Bonny’ Gittens was brought down in the penalty area.
Gittens took the kick himself but it went just wide of the post and the two sides went on to play extra time.
Both sides continued their heated run at each other and it was Morris Fraser in the second half of extra time that got the consolation to send the ‘winners’ to the next round.
Keon Bristol had an opportunity to equalize and send the game into penalty when in the last minute of extra time; he kicked way off from the penalty mark after being fouled.
After an exciting quarter-finals, Lindeners are anticipating nothing short of a lively semi-finals this evening.
Certainly Winners Connection would want to replicate Wednesday’s performance but also looking for a title repeat is defending champions Bakewell Topp XX.
The youthful bunch of Topp XX players are certainly looking to keep up the high reputation of their club in Guyana and are expected to play their usual high level of football.
