A capacity crowd at the Leonora Sports Facility witnessed two-time defending champs Slingerz FC seal their third consecutive Stag Beer West Demerara Knockout Cup, dismantling Ann’s Grove 5-0 last night.
Devon Millington was the star on the night with a hat-trick in the 23rd, 36th and 48th minutes while capable assistance was provided by Vurlon Mills and Dwayne St. Kitts who netted in the 21st and 85th minutes respectively.
With the win, the Vergenoegen giant pocketed $600,000, first place medals and the championship trophy while the East Coast of Demerara unit received the second place title, medals and $300,000.
While the contest might have been touted as a clash of different styles, Slingerz FC was simply a bridge too far for the visitors as Mills opened the scoring 21 minutes into the affair, blasting a right-footed 24- yard attempt from the centre of the field, into the back of the net.
The contest would quickly be over as Millington netted two minutes later, placing his effort into the lower left-hand corner from within the centre of the penalty box, much to the celebration of the partisan viewership.
It would then become 3-0 nine minutes before the half time interval as the dapper forward netted his second, pouncing on an initial deflected strike within the centre of the box before finishing his effort off the right post and into the net.
With Ann’s Grove failing to muster any attacking pattern, the score line would balloon to 4-0 as Millington completed his hat-trick, calmly slotting his effort into the centre of the goal after latching onto a botched defensive clearance within the centre of the box.
Further turmoil would then befall the visitors as custodian Travis Alleyne was issued a red card in the 80th minute for striking an opposing player, resulting in boos from the crowd as he made his exit to the dressing room.
The home side would then cap off the lopsided result five minutes later as substitute forward St. Kitts directed his powerful headed attempt into the roof of the net, after rising above his marker to receive a right-sided Dwain Jacobs cross.
In the earlier third place playoff, Tucville giants Fruta Conquerors downed arch-rivals Pele by a 2-0 score line in a cagey affair.
Following a lacklustre opening period with only highlight being the 37th minute sending off of Omallo Williams for his second bookable offence, Jeremy Garrett would open the scoring in the 53rd minute through a sublime freekick.
Awarded the spot-kick in the centre of the field 30 yards from goal, Garrett would unleash a powerful right footed effort that sailed over the defensive wall and tipped under the crossbar into the roof of the net.
Delon Williams would then complete the win in similar fashion four minutes onward, curling a 24 yard left sided freekick with his favoured right foot into the left hand corner, after spotting the keeper positioned on the right side of the goal.
Due to the win, Fruta Conquerors received the third place trophy, medals and $150,000. Pele for their effort, collected the fourth place trophy and $100,000.
Financial incentives will also be given to the bottom four finishers, with the resulting fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth positioned teams walking away with $75,000, $60,000, $50,000 and $40,000 correspondingly.
