Plaisance Inter-Block Football final

Oct 14, 2008 Sports

Goedverwagting squeeze past Front Side 1-0

Captain of the Goedverwagting team Kevin Richards (right) receives the first prize of $50,000 from SMP Imports and Exports Representative Dannel Munroe shortly after the conclusion of the final.

By Rawle Welch
It was a simple case of being in the right place at the right time as Romel King scored a classical poacher’s goal to hand Goedverwagting a well-deserved 1-0 win over a physically outclassed, but equally determined young Front Side unit last Sunday.

Playing in the final of the Plaisance Inter-Block Football Tournament at the village’s Community Centre ground, King was in perfect position to poke in a fumble by Front Side’s goalkeeper Shivon Farias from a scorching free kick taken on the right side after Goedverwagting had waged a relentless offensive attack on their opponents in the opening half.

Bouyed by their initial success, Goedverwagting who were lucky to make it to the final, having survived a nerve-racking sudden death penalty shootout against 110, were unlucky not to increase their advantage shortly after when Gavin Collymore’s clever lob over the advancing Farias skimmed the crossbar, before landing agonizingly on the roof of the net.

The half came with no addition to the score-line, while both teams increased the tempo in the second period, poor finishing was the order of the day, effectively keeping Goedverwagting slim lead until the end.

The main supporting game between BK International western Tigers and Santos came to a disappointing end when one of the floodlights malfunctioned causing the teams to abandon play about 15 minutes before the scheduled full time.

Terrence Archer

It was a bruising encounter up to then and even though neither team managed

Troy Leitch

to score, fans were treated to an exciting brand of football as the two teams produced flashes of brilliance, especially Santos who created the best opportunities.

However, the game of the evening was the veterans clash between Georgetown All Stars led by former national captain Terrence Archer against Berbice’s Hearts of Oak that included another former national striker Adrian Forde.

The hosts dominated the early exchanges and took the lead in the 2nd minute of play when Archer, who ended with a brace, lashed home from close range.

Kurt Alphonso then scored the goal of the match as he collected a pass from the wing and hammered a shot just inside the near post that surprised the goalkeeper. That equalizer came in the 15th minute.

Romel King

Two minutes later Ron Austin restored G/town All Stars advantage after evading two defenders and hitting a fierce right-footer past the goalkeeper. The half saw G/T All Stars leading 2-1.

On the resumption, the Berbicians looked more menacing and missed a few close shaves on goal, but Archer completed his tally when he struck a powerful header from a free kick just outside the 25 yards box taken by Stanford Miller in the 65th minute. The contest ended 3-1 in favour of Georgetown.

The first game between All Stars Barber Shop and Customs ended in a 1-0 victory for the former. On target for the winners was Troy Leitch.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Secretary attached to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Steve Ninvalle hailed the competition as a success and revealed that the Ministry will be forging ahead with more such planned programmes despite attempts by a few to curtail their efforts.

He also extended thanks to the management of Santos and Western Tigers for displaying the courage in making their teams available to play the friendly fixture even in the face of the thorny issue that surfaced within the fraternity that the teams were not granted permission to play outside the jurisdiction.
Praise was also offered to the referees who officiated in the tournament.