Utivlugt Warriors win battle of the giants to take the lead

Uitvlugt Warriors maintained their grip atop the Stag Beer-sponsored West Demerara Senior League, defeating rivals Den Amstel 2-1 in the battle of the unbeaten sides yesterday at the Den Amstel ground.

It was a very cagey encounter with both teams guilty of missing several opportunities. However, Keon Duke and Jamal Petty proved to be the difference for the visitors with goals in the 62nd and 68thminute respectively.

For the hosts, Gavin Graham scored in the 46th minute. Due to the result, Uitvlugt separated itself from the field and now sits atop the standings with 25 points while Den Amstel remain in the second position on 22 points. 

Billed as a battle of the giants, the matchup failed to ignite in the first period as both teams struggled in the respective final third. Although Uitvlugt was the better side in the exchanges, the first half ended scoreless.

Nevertheless, upon resumption, it was the hosts who snatched the lead as Graham latched onto a cross from the right side, before hitting across the body of the goalkeeper and into the back of the net from inside the area.

That proved to be only the third goal conceded by the Uitvlugt rearguard to date. It was from this point where the fixture opened up as Uitvlugt desperately went in search of the equalizer.  They were eventually rewarded 16 minutes onward as Duke made his presence felt, latching onto a through pass before finishing past the advancing goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation.

Petty then sealed the come-from-behind result six minutes onward as he directed an unchallenged header into the empty net, after an initial Andrew Weekes strike was denied by the custodian with his legs and lobbed into the forward’s path.

Meanwhile, in the earlier contest, Golden Warriors ended their campaign on a high note as they defeated Beavers by a 2-0 score line. Delon Layne found the back of the net in the sixth and 37thminute.

With the outcome, Golden Warriors end on 11 points and remain in the seventh position while the loser remain in the ninth position on seven points.