Bobb, Mills combination the difference as Slingerz edge GDF

Slingerz FC maintained their grip atop the GFF Stag Beer Elite League standings overcoming the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) 2-1 Friday at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground.

Vurlon Mills recorded a double for the Vergenoegen unit in the 10th and 55th minutes while Clifford Garraway scored in the losing effort in the 16th minute. Slingerz now has 27 points while the army unit remains in fourth position on 14 points.

With their last showdown of the teams ending 7-1 in favour of Slingerz, the contest started in similar fashion as Mills netted, placing his effort into the back of the net from the centre of the box following a left side cross from Trayon Bobb, after the latter skipped past his marker.

The army unit levelled proceedings six minutes later as Garraway unleashed a left foot dagger from outside the left of the box into the lower right corner.

Slingerz almost retook the lead two minutes later but Bobb was denied brilliantly by the goalkeeper who tipped the point blank effort over the crossbar following a right side cross from Devon Millington.

Delwyn Fraser then spurned a great chance in the 37th minute to give GDF the advantage, pouncing on a loose ball inside the left side of the box from the goalkeeper to be in a one-on-one situation, only to see his tame lobbed effort denied by the trailing defender.

With the score remaining unchanged going into the second period, the Bobb and Mills combination proved to be the difference as it bore fruit once more to seal the outcome 10 minutes into the resumption.

Racing into the centre of the area, Mills, upon receiving a left side cross from Bobb, directed his header beyond the reach of the ‘shot-stopper’.

Meanwhile, second placed Fruta Conquerors survived an abject first half performance to edge Buxton United 2-1 to maintain their grip on the second position.

It was a horror first half showing from the Tucville unit as second half goals from Hubert Pedro and Eon Alleyne in the 76th and 79th minutes earned them the three points after Buxton had taken a deserved lead in the 43rd minute through Clive Andries.

With their fourth consecutive win Fruta Conquerors now move to 22 points while Buxton remain on five points and in the seventh position.

While the contest did not feature many clear cut opportunities, the East Coast of Demerara unit thoroughly dominated the first half, dominating the exchanges and fashioning several half chances.

The first threatening chance for Buxton occurred in the seventh minute as Denver Denis was denied by the goalkeeper who tipped his curling free-kick from the left side just over the crossbar.

On the other side, it seemed the Tucville unit was in hangover mode following their 3-1 win over Alpha United in the previous matchup. They simply looked like a team of individuals in the period as they struggled for fluency, with no chance recorded on target.

Buxton United eventually grabbed the lead after large moments of dominance two minutes before half-time as Andries converted a penalty into the top left hand corner following a clumsy tackle inside the left of the box.

The struggles continued for the Tucville unit in the second period as Buxton United continued to dominate possession. However, with the introduction of Vagner Santos, the Tucville unit began to seize the initiative.

Pedro equalised the contest with 14 minutes remaining on the clock, directing the ball into the net from inside the six-yard area, after collecting a right side cross from Jamaal Codrington.

The unlikely comeback was completed three minutes onward under similar fashion as Alleyne scored, slotting home after collecting a flat right side cross from Reshawn Sandiford cross inside the six yard area.

Action in the event continues today at the same venue with another doubleheader. In the opening fixture at 18:00hrs, Pele will tackle Monedderlust while the feature contest will pit Alpha United against home side GFC from 20:30hrs.