Fernandes’ double propels Ol Skool to 4-2 win over GCC A

Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) defeated Old Fort 4-2 in a bruising encounter as action in the Bryden’s Super Classic Indoor Hockey Tournament continued at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue on Friday.

Hostile throughout the opening exchanges as both sides tried to impose their collective will, GCC would take the lead in the 14th minute through a Stephen Xavier strike to the bottom left hand corner that brought the small but vocal viewership to its feet in the Kellog’s first division encounter.

Philip Fernandes
Philip Fernandes

The Bourda side doubled their advantage one minute later with the unmarked Devin Hooper slotting home the  second goal.

With the first period ticking away, Old Fort would pull one back in the 17th minute through Jason DeSantos.

Receiving the ball from a short corner, DeSantos’s powerful strike to the top left hand corner of the goal gave the always assured GCC shot stopper Michael Xavier simply no chance.

Following the resumption of the second period, GCC would be denied from adding to their score line as a resulting Hooper strike from the edge of the right side would be acrobatically saved by the Old Fort custodian Tony Cole.

Old Fort’s diminutive forward Omar Hopkinson would eventually draw them level in the 32nd minute from a well-taken conversion within the center of the shooting arc.

Positioned for thrilling finish and with the crowd impelling both sides forward, this see-saw battle would take a further twist as GCC’s Kevin Spencer etched his name on the scorer’s sheet in the 33rd minute.

The win was effectively sealed for the Bourda side in the 38th minute as imposing defender Dwayne Scott netted his effort from a resulting short corner.

In the Tetley tea ladies division, Flora GCC Tigers, led by doubles from Marzana Fiedtkou in the sixth and 12th minutes and Shania Ridley in the 16th and 37th minutes hammered Hikers Revelations 7-1. Aliyah Gordon, Ashley DeGroot and Kerensa Fernandes each netted for the victors in the 15th, 28th and 32nd minutes respectively. Latacia Chung scored for Revelations in the eight minute.

Awarded two goals following the late start by their opponents Saints through a Kwesi Lewis hat trick in the 19th, 29th and 30th minutes crushed All Greys 10-1 in their Mr. Toppers second division encounter.

Further goals by Yonnick Peters, Leroy Jack, Ezekial Springer, Kevin Edwards and Shemar Boston in the 18th, 21st, 32nd, 34th and 36th minutes would complete the lopsided affair. Azad DeAbreu would score a consolation goal for the losers in the 23rd minute.

Ol Skool, propelled by a Philip Fernandes double in the seventh and ninth minutes, defeated GCC 4-2 in their second division matchup. Dexter Wyles and Alan Fernandes netted for Ol Skool in the 25th and 31st minutes correspondingly. Trevon Smith and Kareem McKenzie were on target in a losing cause in the fourth and 40th minutes respectively.

In the final second division encounter Old Fort edged Hikers by a 2-1 score line. DeSantos and Hopkinson who also ply their trade in the lower level were on target in a winning effort in the 29th and 37th minutes respectively. Aroydy Branford netted for the losers in the 26th minute.