GCC Brodras and Hikers Cadets scored upset wins in the senior category as the Noble House Goals Galore Indoor Hockey tournament opened Thursday evening at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.
Hockey players observed a minute’s silence in memory of former Guyana Hockey Board secretary Gregory Sills who died recently.
When the action got underway, GCC Brodras scored a 5-4 win over Old Fort. The GCC side beginning with a one goal handicap of +3 goals to Old Fort’s +2 and managed to use their tremendous speed and fitness to hold a one goal lead until the final whistle.
Old Fort scored first in the 11th minute to draw the score even through a wonderful counterattack which Dwight McCalman coverted.
Old Fort then pulled ahead through a John Abrams shot and seemed destined for victory.
However, the DeGroot brothers scored a goal each in the closing minutes to ensure their Brodas’ victory.
The Hikers Cadets took the stage against their senior counterparts the Generals in the other senior division match of the evening.
The Cadets, one of the most exciting teams to watch, playing with a +3 goal handicap, proved too superior for the Generals.
Robert France with a field goal and Shane Samuels, a penalty corner, were the first two players on the score sheet to pull the Generals within one by the end of the half time. The Cadets, however, matched the Generals in scoring during the second half with two Cadet goals by dribbling ace Aroydy Brandford and teammate Yonnick Peters.
Samuels and France were on target once again in the second half for the Generals but this was not enough to avoid the 5-4 defeat.
Mark Sargeant led the charge of the GCC Pitbulls against Old Fort in the junior division with a brace of goals and was supported by a single from Michael Craig.
Young Old Fort, who began the match with a one goal deficit, scored first through Omar Hopkinson but failed to maintain their form, losing in the end 9-6.
Newcomers Saints took the Flora GCC Tigers to the wire with a valiant attempt at the victory.
The Tigers, comprising several female national players, began with a 5-goal deficit and came out pressing from the opening whistle.
Captain Sonia Jardine got the first of four goals in the very first minute while Marzana Fiedtkou added a second through a penalty corner. Jardine would score two more before the half.
The second half brought another goal from Jardine and a double from Tricia Woodroffe for the Tigers but the goal to draw the biggest uproar was that of Saints’ Paramanand Dindial who put back a penalty corner rebound. The Tigers secured the victory in the final minute of the match 7-6.
The Hikers Revelation and GCC Snipers ladies’ sides battled to an entertaining draw. The Snipers needed six goals to even the score and managed to do so only in the final minute of play. The Snipers goals came through Carol Caine, Shebiki Baptiste and Brennette Gordon who each scored two goals.
The Flora GCC Tigers returned for their second match of the evening against the Hikers Divas and pulled off a 7-4 victory.
The Tigers managed to make up the pre-game four-goal deficit by the half and would register three more by full time to secure the win. Marzana Fiedtkou, Gabriella Xavier and Trisha Woodroffe each scored doubles while Sonia Jardine added one more. Matches continue today at the National Gymnasium with the finals set for tomorrow at the same venue starting at 17:20 hours.
