Alpha picks up 6th win with 3-1 victory over Monedderlust

Elite League football

Alpha United recorded their sixth win in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Stag Beer Elite League, downing Berbice outfit Monedderlust 3-1 on Wednesday at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground in Bourda.

Colin Nelson opened the scoring in the 31st minute compliments of a header, after collecting a cross from a cornerkick inside the area.

Anthony Abrams immediately added to the score one minute later, slotting home into the right corner following a cross into the penalty box. The score line then read 2-1 as Kevin Layne Jr. pulled one back compliments of a penalty conversion in the 39th minute.

20160422FootballDaniel Wilson almost restored Alpha United’s two-goal lead in the 79th, unleashing a powerful 30-yard right foot freekick from the centre of the field which crashed into the crossbar.

Nonetheless Alpha United capped off the result in the 83rd minute as Dwight Peters scored from the penalty mark into the lower right-hand corner following a rash challenge on Dwayne Lawrence.

Gregory Richardson (yellow) of Pele battling to win the ball from a Buxton United player during their team’s matchup in the GFF Stag Beer Elite League at the GFC ground. (Orlando Charles photo)
Gregory Richardson (yellow) of Pele battling to win the ball from a Buxton United player during their team’s matchup in the GFF Stag Beer Elite League at the GFC ground. (Orlando Charles photo)

Due to the result, Alpha United move onto 20 points and remain in the third position while Monedderlust remain in the sixth position on as many points.

On the other hand, Pele continued their upward curve in the event as they overcame Buxton United by a 1-0 margin. Poor finishing was to blame for the East Coast of Demerara unit’s loss as Gregory Richardson recorded a first half goal in the 31st minute to seal the vital three points.

With the win, Pele move within one point of the Guyana Defence Force to sit on 13 points while remaining in the fifth position. Meanwhile, the loser remains in the seventh position on five points.

Following the ceremonials of meeting Guyana-born Canadian Hall Famer Alex Bunbury before kickoff, Buxton immediately seized control of the contest as they fashioned several noteworthy chances that were not capitalized on.

Denver Dennis was the main culprit in missing many of the chances, with the first one coming in the 14th minute following a two on one situation inside the right of the box. The burly midfielder instead of passing the ball to the open Esan Hamer, opted to shoot the ball which sailed over the crossbar.

The next opportunity wasted by Dennis came six minutes later as he blasted the ball wide of the target once again from the top of the box, after skipping past his marker.

Dennis was again at the helm of another wasted chance in the 27th minute, racing into the centre of the box to be in a one on one situation with the goalkeeper, only to have the ball stolen off his boot while trying to cut across the body of the custodian.

Like an experienced side, Pele made Buxton pay for their aforesaid profligacy as Richardson scored four minutes onward following a goal-kick which sailed over the backline.

Racing into the right of the box to latch onto the ball, the veteran forward upon fighting off the challenge of his marker, placed his right-foot attempt past the advancing goalkeeper into the roof of the net.

As quickly as Pele took the lead they almost increased their advantage as Richardson was denied in the 34th minute. He dribbled past his marker within the left of the box, only to see his right-foot effort tipped around the left upright by the goalkeeper.

On the other side, Dennis was presented with great opportunity to equalize in the 40th minute, racing into the right of the box unchallenged before rifling a right- foot shot wide of the right corner.

The fixture descended into a physical and cagey affair in the second period as both teams struggled for fluency, typified by the lack of chances created by both teams.

Action in the event is slated to continue today at the Tucville ground. In the opening fixture at 18:00hrs, league leader Slingerz FC will oppose cellar occupant GFC while second placed Fruta Conquerors will tackle the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in the feature affair from 20:30hrs.

Winner of the League Finale 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 will pocket an additional $1,000,000.

Current Points Standings

Team                         GP          W          L            D           GF          GA         GD          Pt
Slingerz                      9            9            0            0            24          4            +20         27
Fruta Conquerors          9         7            1            1            22        10            +12           22
Alpha United              10         6            2            2            26          9            +17            20
GDF                             9         4            3            2            14        14              0         14
Pele                           10         4            5            1            10        13               -3         13
Monedderlust              10         1            6            3              7        23             -16          6
Buxton United             10         1            7            2              6        15                -9          5
GFC                             9         0            8            1              6        27            -21          1