Western Tigers go top after 3-1 defeat of Northern Rangers

A Leron Charles goal in the 92nd minute helped the Guyana Police Force football team seal a dramatic 2-2 draw with Santos in the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Stag Beer League Tuesday night at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground.

With the score 2-1 in the final seconds of added time, Charles snatched the equaliser in dramatic fashion with a strike into the top left corner from the centre of the box after collecting a pass from the right side following a goal mouth scramble.

The draw knocked Santos from the top of the point’s standings relegating them to second position with 14 points, one point behind new leaders Western Tigers who are on 15 points.

The lawmen remain in third position with 10 points.

Earlier, Keyron Boston gave GPF the lead in the sixth minute, unleashing a thunderous right-foot strike into the roof of the net after racing into the right of the box.

The youthful Santos unit levelled proceedings in the 30th minute as Dellon David slotted home into the lower right corner from the centre of the box, after collecting a flat right side cross from Dwayne McLennon which evaded the entire backline.

McLennon then fashioned the go-ahead goal four minutes later, evading several challenges while racing into the right of the box before lashing a powerful effort past the goalkeeper at his near post into the left corner.

Boston almost equalised in the 44th minute for GPF but he blasted his effort onto the crossbar from the centre of the box while fighting off the challenge of several defenders.

The GPF should have equalised in the 49th minute but Quincy Holder’s shot struck the right upright from the right side of the box with only the ‘keeper in his path, after racing away into the right of the area.

Similarly Ryan Hackett’s shot struck the woodwork for Santos in the 78th minute, his right side corner kick evading all and sundry and crashing onto the crossbar.

The woodwork also came to the rescue of GPF four minutes later as a back pass created miscommunication between defender and goalkeeper, slipping past the latter and striking the left upright, only to roll into the grasp of the retreating custodian.

Western Tigers came from behind to defeat Northern Rangers by a 3-1 score line in the opening affair.

It was not a vintage performance from the West Ruimveldt unit as they surrendered the lead to Rangers in the 13th minute compliments of a Nigel Denny header from a Sherwin Vincent corner kick.

The Kitty-based unit’s lead proved to be a brief one as Shane Morris equalised in the 20th minute, heading the ball past the onrushing defender into the left of the box, before lashing a left foot strike into the lower left corner.

With the score remaining unchanged going into the half time period, Philip Rowley recorded the go-ahead goal in the 51st minute, skipping past his marker from within the left side of the box and placing a right foot attempt into the lower right corner.

The score line was eventually sealed in the 87th minute as Dellon Kelly directed his header past the advancing ‘keeper from within the centre of the box, after collecting a left side cross. Due to the loss, Northern Rangers remain on seven points in the fifth position.

Action in the event is set to continue today with another doubleheader at the same venue. In the opening fixture, Riddim Squad will tackle Beacons at 18:00hrs while Camptown will oppose Flamingo from 20:30hrs in the feature contest.

Current Points Standings

Team                            GP      W         L       D      GF     GA     GD     Pts

Western Tigers                    6              5            1           0         17        5        +12         15

Santos FC                               6              4            0            2       10        6         +4          14

Police                                      6               3            2             1        9          5         +4         10

Riddim Squad                      5               2            1              2      5           3      +2            8

Northern Rangers              6               2            3             1      8          11        -3          7

Camptown                             5                1           3             1      4           11        -7        4

Flamingo                               5                 1           4            0      5            10        -5       3

Beacons                                 5                0            4            1      7            15        -8       1