Cellink Premier League…Sunburst Camptown blank Uprising, Fruta Conquerors, Santos battle to exciting draw

Oct 12, 2008 Sports

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By Franklin Wilson

As the 2008 edition of the Cellink Premier League eases to and end, the battles on the field just keeps getting better all the time.

In Friday’s feature clash, Fruta Conquerors and Santos battled to a thrilling and breath taking 3-3 draw, the latter coming back on all three occasions.

The fans at the Tucville ground were kept on the edges of their seats, those in the stands and those around the ground in individual chairs, as the end to end action just kept flowing.

Santos’ striker Laurex Fraser stood head and shoulders above all the other players on the field and was just a constant torment to the Conquerors defence and was unlucky not to score but did his part in ensuring his team grabbed an equal share of the points.

Veteran Lester ‘Puppy’ Peters handed the home team the lead after 23 minutes of play but Santos, who occupy the penultimate position on the points table, signaled to their opponents who are fourth that they were there for business and the position in terms of points did not matter to them.

And with Conquerors just beginning to settle in, Santos struck back through Jermaine Fraser, who banged one past an ordinary looking Akel Clarke in goal for Conquerors.

But the home team would take the lead again just before the half when Sheldon Shepherd took a long shot from about 55 yards out, the high effort beat custodian O’Neal Heywood in the V at the far post, one minute before the break.

Half time afforded each team some respite and the coaches the opportunity to relook at their technical strategy.

Action restarted with both teams sizing up each other again but heated up with the fans enjoying every minute of play, Laurex Fraser creating all sorts of problems for Fruta’s defence led by Captain Neville Stanton.

Fifteen (15) minutes into the half, Santos again reaped the rewards of constant pressure when Berbician Adrian Adams drilled his shot past Clarke to the excitement of his teammates and their fans.

Chances went by the wayside in and between as both sides came close on a few occasions but it was Santos who were enjoying the exchanges.  Leading under-18 striker and goal scorer Manasseh Primo would finally get it right on the night when he skillfully took a long pass between two defenders to finish in style in the 77th minute, Conquerors 3, Santos 2.

And with the clock ticking away the home team perhaps were sensing full points but they were always looking vulnerable to the constant attacks of the Santos front line and midfield who were pressing forward ever so often.

And yes Santos got the equaliser in perhaps the easiest of fashions aided by again, some ordinary goal keeping by Clarke.  Laurex Fraser was the man again orchestrating the play working his way on the right side before squaring to second half substitute Michael Oie in the box.

Oie taped the ball straight to Clarke with no great power and when it seemed that he would gather the ball easily, it slipped right through his legs and into the back of the nets.

While it was a soft goal, it was well deserved for the red hot Santos in whites as they moved a notch up to 7 points while Conquerors added one to their cause, moving to 16 and still remains in the fourth position.

The evening’s opening salvo saw Sunburst Camptown moving up to the top spot on 27 points with the Guyana Defence Force following their 3-1 win over Uprising. The Campbellville boys did not have any problems putting away Uprising who remain at the bottom of the table with 3.

The consistent and reliable Mervin Joseph was the main man for Camptown yet again, netting a double (25 & 63) with other coming off the boot on nippy midfielder Dexter Mollyneaux in the 66th minute.

Omally Nassy converted Uprising’s consolation goal in the 70th minute. They were reduced to ten men in the 82nd minute when Freeman Fordyce was given marching orders.

Meanwhile, another potentially explosive double header is on this evening at the same venue.   Defending champions Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United, currently on 24 points will battle the Guyana Defence Force in what is expected to be an enthralling match up.

When the two sides had met in the first round, the Army had prevailed 1-0 and will go into this evening’s match up with the psychological advantage.

The opening match up this evening is also set to be a fascinating contest with GFC taking on Pele.
The Bourda boys had defeated Pele in the final minute of their first round encounter when Shad Fernandes headed home but he would not be in the line up tonight since he was red carded in their last game against the GDF.

Fans though, can expect entertaining action this evening.

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