Melanie-A will battle Beterverwagting (BV)-B for the title of East Coast Champion when the semi-final and quarterfinal final round of the Guinness Greatest of the Streets concluded at the Haslington Market Place Tarmac on Wednesday.
Melanie-A defeated last year’s losing finalist Victoria Church Yard United 1-0 in the semi-final stage while BV-B overcame Melanie-B 1-0 in the final matchup of the same division. The grand finale of the event will be held tomorrow at the same venue.
Due to their status as finalists, both sides have earned the chance to represent the East Coast Zone at the national tournament later in the year.
In their final four fixture, Melanie-A took the early lead in the third minute compliments of a simple first time finish to the back of the net from Jamal George following a left-sided Dwight Peters cross.
George would increase their lead two minutes later, completing his first half double with a thunderous right-footed attempt into the roof of the goal, from the centre of the park.
Church Yard United almost pulled one back in the 14th minute as a right- footed Nicholas Holder attempt from the left side of the field, was denied by the left upright.
In their semi-final showdown, BV-B almost conceded the early lead as a Ryan Seals right-footed effort from the centre of the park in the sixth minute, was denied by the legs of the final defender.
Erin Fraser almost opened the scoring for the eventual winners in the 11th minute, flashing his right-footed effort from the left side of the tarmac, narrowly wide of the bottom right-hand corner.
BV-B would ultimately find the go-ahead winner six minutes later as Fraser netted, turning and stabbing his right-footed effort from Just outside the centre of the goal, past the final defender.
Earlier in the final-eight round, Melanie-A came from behind to defeat BV-A 3-2 on penalty kicks, following a 3-3 score at the end of regulation time. Akin Curry gave BV-A the early lead in the third minute, finishing his effort to the back of the net from the left side of the box, after latching onto a left-sided pass.
Sherman Fraser would level the scores in the 11th minute, calmly converting a penalty kick after BV-A carelessly accumulated five fouls within the half.
Retake the lead
BV-A would retake the lead one minute later as Curry found the back of the net with a right-footed finish to the left corner, after stealing the ball from the final defender Philbert Moffatt in front of the goal. It would become 3-1 in the 17th minute as Curry sealed his hat trick, netting with a simple tap in down the middle of the goal from the centre of the park, after collecting a left-sided Delroy Dean pass.
Undeterred by their recent concession, Melanie-A would quickly cut the deficit to one in the 18th minute as Peters netted, rifling a powerful right-footed attempt into the back of the net from the right side of the park.
The fixture would be pushed into spot kicks two minutes later as Peters completed his double with a left-footed shot into the right-hand corner of the goal, after racing down the left side of the field.
The first round of the penalty shoot-out would produce a 2-2 score as both sides missed one attempt at the distance. The second round of spot-kicks would see Melanie-A converting their penalty shot to clinch the win as BV-A missed from the distance.
In the quarterfinal round, BV-B would fashion the biggest upset in the tourney, ousting defending champions Plaisance by a 1-0 score line.
Following a cagey opening period, Teyon Lowe almost gave Plaisance the lead as he struck the crossbar in the 13th minute with a strike from the right side of the field, after collecting a left-sided Warren Gilkes pass.
BV-B would then take the surprise lead in the 19th minute as Fraser netted, slotting home his right-footed effort to the back of the net, following a goal mouth scramble.
The defending champs would be denied by the woodwork once again as Kester Greene struck the crossbar one minute later with a right-footed strike from the centre of the field.
Greene would be denied once more seconds later, as his right-footed attempt was parried out of play by the outstretched leg of the final BV-B defender.
In the other quarterfinal matches, Melanie-B defeated Victoria Eagles 1-0 through a Ryan Seals 19th minute effort while Victoria Church Yard United edged Paradise by an identical score line. Keyon Johnson netted the winner with a 13th-minute effort.
