GTT knockout football…Ann’s Grove staves off NA United 2-1

-in night of dramatic misses

Ann’s Grove secured their first win in the inaugural Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) Knockout Football Championship, downing New Amsterdam United 2-1 on Wednesday at the Golden Grove Community ground.

Akini Cameron of Ann’s Grove watches in despair as his penalty kick attempt is denied by the New Amsterdam United keeper during their team’s matchup in the GTT Knockout Championship. (Orlando Charles photo)
Akini Cameron of Ann’s Grove watches in despair as his penalty kick attempt is denied by the New Amsterdam United keeper during their team’s matchup in the GTT Knockout Championship. (Orlando Charles photo)

Keon Barry and Maxton Adams secured the vital win witnessed by a sizeable viewership compliments of first half conversions in the 19th and 28th minutes. On target in the loss was Adrian Adams in the 56th minute. Sent off in the win was Jamin Rodgers in the 76th minute.

With the victory, Ann’s Grove move onto three points from two matches while New Amsterdam United remain on three points from two fixtures.

Defeated in their first matchup 2-0 by Linden unit Topp XX, the East Coast of Demerara giant got off to the ideal start as Barry scored, finishing past the keeper into the back of the net from within the box, 19 minutes into the matchup.

The score then became 2-0 nine minutes later as Adams rifled his right-footed effort past the keeper, after racing into the penalty area. With the score remaining unchanged going into the half time interval, the Berbicians were handed a lifeline 16 minutes into the second period as Adams netted, lobbing his effort over the advancing keeper into the centre of the net, after racing onto a through pass within the box.

The Berbicians then felt they had grabbed the dramatic equaliser in the 73rd minute as Adams unleashed a lobbed-shot from outside the box, which was destined for the back of the net after sailing over the custodian, only for a team-mate standing in the offside position to head the ball into the empty goal.

Ann’s Grove was then reduced to 10 players three minutes later as Rodgers picked up his second yellow card for a reckless challenge on his opposing number. Nonetheless, Ann’s Grove held on in the remaining minutes to clinch the favourable result.

Stalemate

Phillip Williams
Phillip Williams
Oswin Carmichael
Oswin Carmichael

In the second fixture of the night, hosts Golden Grove and Rosignol United battled to a 1-1 stalemate. Oswin Carmichael scored for the visitors in the 14th minute while rising star Phillip Williams equalised for the hosts in the 36th minute.

As a result of the draw, both teams move onto one point apiece from two matches following opening round defeats.

The opening exchanges started brightly for the hosts who almost took the lead in the 12th minute as a powerful strike from Randy Stoby from within the right side of the box, crashed remarkably into the left upright and deflected into the grasp of the keeper.

Rosignol then built on their slice of fortune as Carmichael grabbed the go-ahead goal two minutes later, racing away down the centre of the field before clinically finishing past the keeper into the lower left hand corner, from the centre of the box.

A great opportunity then presented itself for Golden Grove to equalise in the 21st minute as they were awarded a penalty kick after Williams was brought down within the left side of the penalty area.

Tasked with taking the spot-kick, veteran Akini Cameron failed miserably from the distance as he struck his effort tamely into the hands of the 20151113CurrentPointskeeper who dived low to his left.

Maxton Adams and Kevon Barry
Maxton Adams and Kevon Barry

The hosts eventually gave their support crowd a reason to celebrate 15 minutes later as Williams netted, blasting a powerful right-footed free kick from the top of the box into the centre of the net, after it took a deflection off the body of the defender and wrong-footed the keeper.

While the second stanza failed to match the opening half, Stoby was presented with the best chance to snatch victory for the hosts in the 63rd minute, pouncing on a loose ball within the left of the six- yard box, only to fire his effort inexplicably wide of the lower right hand corner with only the keeper in his path.

On the other end, Calvin McKenzie had the best chance for Rosignol in the dying seconds of the fixture, flashing a right-footed 28-yard free kick from the centre of the field, wide of the top left hand corner.

The winner of the event will pocket $500,000 and the championship trophy while the second place side will pocket $250,000 and the respective accolade. The third place side will receive $125,000 and a trophy while the fourth positioned unit will collect $75,000 and the respective accolade.