GCC ‘A’ prevail in sudden death extra-time

Oct 27, 2009 Sports

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Dragons, GCC Tigers, Hikers juniors also win

In what could accurately be described as a fitting way to end a high class tournament, eventual winners GCC ‘A’ and Hikers ‘A’ treated a fair-sized crowd that assembled at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Sunday night to a pulsating and absorbing finale to this year’s GT&T National Hockey Tournament.
In the end, the defending champions prevailed in the second period of sudden death overtime when Alan Fernandes’ laser-like pass met the stick of a loafing Orland Semple who deflected the winner past a hapless Azad DeAbreu in the nets.
That was after regulation time ended with the two teams locked together at 4-4 and the fans already having their monies worth of top quality hockey.
After the game, one fan was heard exclaiming, “Wow, that was the best hockey match I have ever seen.”
The two champion clubs had met each other twice in the pool round, drawing 3-3 on one occasion and then Hikers came away with a 5-4 win in the other with the winning goal coming in the dying minutes.
This was the final, however, and with it comes its own unique pressures as GCC had the final say with a spectacular victory.
GCC sealed the double when Flora Tigers out duelled the Spartans 4-3 in the ladies final clash, while in the men’s B division final, the exciting Western Dragons shocked Hikers ‘B’ with a 5-2 victory over the pre-tournament favourites.
Hikers, however, managed to salvage some pride with a 6-2 win over Old Fort in the boys under 19 final.
In the feature clash, it took only four minutes of play for Hikers to surge into the lead when Alex Gouveia brought the crowd to its feet with a neatly deflected shot into the nets off a pass that split the GCC defence, giving goalkeeper Micheal Xavier no chance of saving.
Hikers marksman Jerry Bell gave the Hikers their second two minutes later with a penalty corner flick into the roof of the GCC’s goal, but the cheerful spectators were on their feet once again in the following minute as Orland Semple registered his team’s first goal after breaking free in the scoring circle to receive a pinpoint pass from Kevin Spencer and his diving effort was enough to beat DeAbreu’s flailing attempt.
DeAbreu was called upon to make a brilliant save shortly after to deny a powerful strike from Dwayne Scott, who has been a revelation in the tournament and perhaps the season.
Both teams attacked with commitment and it took some magnificent saves by first DeAbreu to nullify another one of Scott’s and then Xavier, who parried a Shane Samuels shot onto the crossbar and back into play.
Meantime, the tempo had increase appreciably and Kevin Spencer tested DeAbreu once again and he was equal to the task, making a spectacular save.
Robert France added one more for Hikers before the half to give them a 3-1 lead and a bit of a cushion after sliding in a pass from James Mentore.
On the resumption, a fully recharged GCC launched a heavy onslaught at the Hikers goal and broke through after seven minutes when Semple beat DeAbreu with a well placed shot.
Captain Devin Hooper released a quick low shot that beat DeAbreu on the left post to level the scores at 3-3, before a brilliant right-side attack saw Spencer draw goalkeeper DeAbreu and then release the ball to the advancing Philip Fernandes, who hammered a screamer into the nets which gave them the ascendancy.
Hikers pressed for the equaliser before the final whistle and reaped their reward when the prolific France capitalised on a weak GCC defensive pass in the 34th minute to run in on Xavier and slot home the equaliser.
That development summoned ten minutes of sudden death extra-time and the result is history.
GCC having dominated the ladies competition had the pleasure of both their teams making the final.
The Tigers and Spartans had split their pool games and the final was too difficult to call.
Tigers suffered a shock in the opening minute of the game as Gabriella Xavier reacted quicker than everyone to a loose ball and blasted in a goal for the Spartans.
Tigers seemed the more composed side, however, and Kerensa Fernandes drew them level just one minute later with a smooth finish after a fine attacking move by team mates Vanessa Pires and Sonia Jardine.
They took control of the match and slammed home three more goals with Fernandes netting her second in the 8th minute and Ulrica Sutherland and Captain Sonia Jardine taking the score to 4-1.
Spartans made a valiant attempt to regain ground with a brace in the closing minutes from Marzana Fiedtkou, but could not catch the Tigers who held on to secure the trophy.
Western Dragons won the hearts of the crowd earlier in the evening with a spirited performance to upstage Hikers in the men’s ‘B’ division final.
A Deon Carew double accompanied by singles from teammates Jermaine Murray, Deon Branford and Trason Corbin was more than they needed to pull victory.
Despite the disparity in scores, however, Hikers played an organised game that gave them the greater ball possession. Randy Hope and Kenny Kansinally scored the goals for the Hikers.
For the first time in its nine-year history, the tournament featured an under-19 division. Hikers won in convincing fashion by blowing away the junior Old Fort side.
Aroydy Branford led the scores with a hat-trick; Shaquille Assanah added a brace and Ryan Primo netted one. Kurt Thomas and Richard Heyliger scored the goals in Old Fort’s losing effort.
In the brief closing ceremony, Secretary of the Guyana Hockey Board, Gregory Sills thanked GT&T, the sponsor for the National Indoor which has been in existence since 2000 and congratulated the teams on their fine performance during the tournament. GT&T representative, Dexter Wyles, was on-hand to present the trophies to the respective winners.

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