Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) senior men’s team scored a cliff hanger victory over Hikers in a dramatic final in the senior men’s competition on Sunday’s final night of action in the GT&T National Indoor Hockey championships at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
GCC ladies capped the double for the Bourda Club in the women’s competition while Western Dragons and Hikers copped the second division and under-19 crowns respectively in four pulsating finals.
GCC, who like the other competing teams in the senior division had endured the wrath of the previously unbeaten Hikers in the preliminary competition, clinched the final with a golden goal in the second half of extra time after the two teams had battled to a 4-4 tie at the end of regular time.
GCC’s striker Orland Semple, who scored a hat-trick in the match, became his team’s hero when he deflected a perfect pass from Alan Fernandes into the back of the net leaving Hikers goalkeeper Azad De Abreu motionless and sparked wild celebrations in the venue.
Hikers, the reigning Diamond Mineral Water Indoor champions, had surged onto the scoreboard in the fourth minute when Alex Gouveia brought the crowd to its feet with a deflected shot into the net off a pass that split the GCC defence.
Hikers’ marksman, Jerry Bell, then rocketed home a penalty corner into the roof of GCC’s goal two minutes later.
But GCC responded when Semple broke free in the scoring circle to score off a precise pass from Kevin Spencer.
Robert France pushed Hikers further ahead and at half time they led 3-1.
A fully recharged GCC launched a heavy onslaught at the Hikers goal in the second half and broke through with Semple scoring again before captain Devin Hooper scored the equaliser from a quick low shot into the Hikers left post.
Both DeAbreu and GCC goalkeeper Michael Xavier had been having exceptional games and did their part to keep the game close.
Philip Fernandes, who had a penalty flick saved by De Abreu earlier, then made amends when he scored GCC’s fourth goal before France equalised for Hikers forcing the game into 10 minutes of sudden death extra time.
In an all GCC ladies final, Tigers overcame Spartans 4-3.
Kerensa Fernandes netted a double while there was one goal a piece for Ulrica Sutherland and Sonia Jardine.
Marzana Fiedtkou struck twice and Gabriella Xavier once for Spartans.
Western Dragons of West Demerara won the hearts of the crowd earlier in the evening with a spirited performance to upstage Hikers in the men’s ‘B’ division final.
A Deon Carew double accompanied by singles from teammates Jermaine Murray, Deon
Branford and Trason Corbin was more than the Dragons needed to pull of the 5-2 win over the Hikers. Despite the disparity in scores however, the Hikers played an organised game that gave them greater ball possession.
Randy Hope and Kenny Kansinally scored the goals for the Hikers. For the first time in its nine-year history, the tournament featured an under-19 division. The Hikers would win in convincing fashion by blowing away the junior Old Fort side by 6-2. Aroydy Branford led the scores with a hat-trick for the Hikers while Shaquille Assanah added a brace and Ryan Primo netted one. Kurt Thomas and Richard Heyliger scored the goals in Old Fort’s losing effort.
In the brief closing ceremony, Secretary of the Guyana Hockey Board, Gregory Sills thanked GT&T, the sponsor for the National Indoor tournament since 2000 and congratulated the teams on their fine performance during the tournament. GT&T representative, Dexter Wyles, was on-hand to present the trophies in the brief ceremony that followed.
