An unfortunate injury to forward Travis Thornhill inspired Fruta Conquerors to a 1-0 win over Buxton United in their opening fixture of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Stag Beer Elite League on Saturday at the No. #5 ground in Berbice.
With the fixture locked at 0-0, the wily forward broke his ankle in the 80th minute within the six yard box, after sliding on a patch of white sand within the area while trying to make contact with a flat left-side cross that evaded the Buxton goal-keeper and backline.
He was immediately rushed to the hospital by the organizers and then by Fruta Conquerors executives after having his ankle returned into its correct position by the on-field medical team. Up to press time, he was receiving medical attention.
This unfortunate incident seemed to motivate the Georgetown unit who snatched the unlikely victory in the 90th+1 minute compliments of an Eon Alleyne effort.
Racing into the centre of the six-yard area, Alleyne, upon receiving a perfectly placed left-side cross from Jermin Junior, volleyed his right footed effort onto the right upright and into the back of the net, sparking wild celebrations on the field and sealing the win in the process.
Though the hard-fought win was overshadowed by the incident, Fruta Conquerors move to three points while the East Coast of Demerara unit remain without a point. Prior to the fixture’s end, the Buxtonians started the opening period the brighter of the two sides as Denver Dennis forced custodian Alex Murray to tip a powerful 26-yard free kick from the centre of the field, over the crossbar.
The Georgetown unit quickly fired back in the 17th minute as Kwame La Fleur was denied by the ‘keeper Jason Cromwell with a first-time effort after pouncing on a loose ball within box following a failed clearance from a right-side corner kick.
Alleyne then sent a shot in the 37th minute, skipping past two markers within the box before unleashing a powerful right footed effort that was parried by Cromwell.
The second period started identically as the first as Dennis forced another smart save from Murray in the 55th minute, this time from the right side of the field as his 24 yard right-footed free kick was punched to safety around the left upright.
Chavez Lescott then had a great opportunity to give the Georgetown unit the lead in the 77th minute, collecting a left-side pass within the top of the 18 yard box, only to fire a tame right footed effort into the hands of Cromwell.
The hard-fought fixture was then brought to a halt as second half substitute Thornhill unfortunately dislocated his ankle in his attempt to score. The resulting injury appeared to motivate Fruta Conquerors as Alleyne netted in dramatic fashion to seal the outcome.
In the second fixture of the night, home side Monedderlust FC overcame the Guyana Defence Force by a 3-2 score line.
Winner of the round will pocket $4,000,000 while the second, third and fourth place teams will collect $2,000,000, $1,000,000 and $500,000 respectively. Similarly, the point’s leader prior to the knockout stage in the League Genesis round will pocket an additional $1,000,000.
Action in the event is slated to continue on Wednesday with four matchups. Over at the GFC ground in Bourda, Slingerz FC will battle the home side at 18:00hrs while Alpha United will lock horns with Pele in the feature contest at 20:00hrs.
