Suriname’s Walking Boys edge GDF 2-1, face ‘The Hammer’ tomorrow

Mar 27, 2010 Sports

---

By Franklin Wilson

A brace of first half goals by the visiting Walking Boys of Suriname was all that they needed to take full points and pole position in Group ‘D’ of the Caribbean Football Union Champions League Qualifying which kicked off yesterday at the GCC Ground Bourda.
The Surinamese controlled the run of play for the most as they locked out the Army who never really threatened save and except for the final 12 minutes of the encounter during which time they pulled one back, a powerful left foot shot by nippy forward Delroy Deen six minutes to full time. But it was too little too late as the visitors were already confident of holding off the final desperate attacks of the GDF.
After the teams would have been met by the Honorable Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony and General Secretary of the Guyana Football Federation Noel Adonis, Major Burnette of the Guyana Defence Force and Odinga Lumumba, President of host club Alpha United, GDF decided to attack the North Road end goal after winning the coin toss.
Both teams took the opening minutes to size up each other since it was the first time they were facing off; it was Walking Boys however who asserted early dominance as they capitalized on some nervous and ill advised defensive work by the Army.
Back passing around the goal area placed the home team under early pressure when the alert Surinamese led by their National Captain Marlon Felter drew a foul intercepting one such pass just outside the area, 11 minutes into the game.
Vano Castroledjo was tasked with the responsibility of taking the kick and effortlessly dispatched the ball into the left side corner of the nets, the wall and goalkeeper Delon Young well beaten. The Army found it increasingly difficult to keep their focus, put passes together and play compact football which was being done by Walking Boys.
The lead was doubled by the Surinamese 5 minutes later and what a goal it was. Walking boys won a throw in about half way into the GDF half on the left side. Ferdinand Jac-A-Joe who does not carry big shoulders calmly made a few steps back before running off and loosing the ball into the GDF box where it was fiercely headed into the roof of the nets by Alex Soares, Delon Young well beaten.
Giving up a 2-0 lead so early in the game proved a major setback in the GDF’s efforts to push forward. The lead could have been easily been 3-0 in the 25th minute when Soares collected a throw in on his chest and in one motion tried volleying the ball which unfortunately hit the upright to the relief of the GDF players.
Walking Boys were certainly not walking at this juncture but running at the Army whose first real attempt on goal was a 28th minute header by Delroy Deen which sailed over the goal with Surinamese goalkeeper Andre Zebeda challenging.
Bad positioning by the GDF and their lack of conviction also added up to their poor first half showing. Suriname made their first substitution in the 33rd minute with Garry Sordjo making way for Bereto Odang while the GDF made their first change 5 minutes away from the half, defender Kevin Lewis replaced by Keon Gilgeous.
The second half saw a reinvigorated Army team showing more purpose in attack and this was fuelled by the introduction at the half of strike duo, Telson McKinnon and Stellon David, Eusi Phillips and Peter Parks substituted.
The home team made some delightful runs urged on by the animated crowd assembled in the Lance Gibbs Stand. McKinnon, David and Shevane Seaforth engineered some promising raids with Seaforth guilty of shooting when he could have passed the ball on at least three occasions.
It was a constant challenge for the Army to penetrate the visitors in the final third as their {Walking Boys} defence stood tall.
But determined they {GDF}were to reduce the deficit. Deen too, was determined to pull one back for his side, in the 84th minute after switching to the right side midfield, he collected the ball midway into the opponents half saw the keeper easing towards the said side and he blasted a powerful left foot shot to the far post which evaded the grasp of Andre Zebeda at full stretch.
The goal added some extra life into the GDF attack but it too late for them to at least draw level even with the 3 minutes of added on time.
So Walking Boys are now at the top of the table with 3 points going into tomorrow’s second game against Guyana’s leading club side Alpha United.
Coach of Walking Boys Ron Vanenburg in an invited comment said he was pleased with the efforts of his team but not the final 15 minutes when the GDF was all over them. He said they have trained hard and are confident of also taking care of Alpha United.
GDF Head Coach Marlon Washington said a number of his players despite playing at home were a bit nervous in the opening minutes which resulted in the two early goals which proved to be their down fall ultimately.
Washington noted that they have trained too hard not to push on in the tournament and they will be going after Alpha at all costs on Tuesday in the final match up of the group.
The top two teams from this group will advance to stage two of the qualifying campaign.

---

---