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Abrahams, Semple on fire
Action in the match between GCC Tigers and Hikers on Tuesday.
Orland Semple
By Rawle Welch
Old Fort’s John Abrahams made a welcome return to the team after serving a ban for indiscipline with an inspired performance on Day Two of this year’s GT&T National Indoor Hockey Competition which continued on Tuesday evening, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Abrahams netted a total of five goals in two matches after appearing in both the Division 1 and 2 categories to help Old Fort win one and draw the other against Western Dragons and GCC respectively.
In full results: (Under-19) – Hikers beat GCC 5-2 with Aroydy Branford (15, 19) and Ryan Primo (27, 28) netting a brace apiece, while Andrew Stewart (23) completed their tally. Steven Xavier (6) and Mark Sergeant (20) were the players on target for GCC.
John Abrahams
In the Veterans matchup, GCC trounced Hikers 12-3, while Hikers defeated GCC 3-1 in a Division 2 clash.
For Hikers, Al Fredericks (13), Randy Hope (14) and Akeem Thompson (19) were the successful marksmen, while S. Xavier netted the consolation strike for GCC.
Old Fort then eased past Western Dragons by a 4-1 margin with Abrahams (21, 28) and Adrian Brandt (15, 23) accounting for all four goals, while Deon Branford made the lone response for the West Demerara side.
GCC Tigers then made it two in a row so far in the competition after narrowly defeating determined Hikers 3-2 with Kerensa Fernandes’ 39th minute strike making the difference in an exciting encounter.
Tricia Fiedtkou (5) and Sonia Jardine (22) completed the scoring for GCC, while Vashema Bourne (20) and Cora Towler (31) had given Hikers the lead.
Old Fort and GCC then drew 7-7 in the final game of the night.
The feature clash between Old Fort and GCC produced hockey of the highest standard and it was good to see the former displaying the skills and ability everyone know that they are capable of.
Askofu Simon opened the scoring for the underdogs with a blistering strike in the second minute and his effort was followed up almost immediately after when his brother Aderemi squeezed one past goalkeeper Michael Xavier.
That early ascendancy coupled with some exquisite passing completely silenced the fans in the arena, but GCC as experienced as they are came roaring back seven minutes later when the enigmatic Orland Semple netted the first of his four goals, hitting one past Mikhail Smith between the uprights.
Alan Fernandes then tied the game one minute later, flicking one past Smith and suddenly Old Fort’s dominance seemed shaky.
However, both teams continued to play at a high level and Abrahams gave his team the lead once again when he beat Xavier from a spectacular diving attempt in the 16th minute which gave them a 3-2 advantage the half.
After the break, Abrahams continued his rampage, slamming in another one minute into the final period as Old Fort took a 4-2 lead. However, Semple in usual style manufactured two sublime goals to level the contest, before Abrahams returned to once again give Old Fort a slim 5-4 advantage in the 30th minute.
Dwight Sullivan, a tower of strength in defence made a screaming run from the back, dribbling past players at will, before delivering a powerful strike past a hapless Xavier. That goal came in the 33rd minute and they led 6-4.
GCC’s Kevin Spencer, a player with immense dribbling skills then pulled one back for the ‘Bourda Blues’ one minute later, before following that one up with another strike in the 36th to tie the rubber.
Sullivan, however, made another of his forward forays and once again it had telling effect, ending up between the uprights as Old Fort regained the ascendancy.
Once again, GCC in their customary never-say-die attitude refused to wilt under the pressure, instead it was the South Georgetown unit that did as they expended all their energy only to falter on defence thereby allowing Semple to outrun them and slam a blistering shot past a bemused Smith one minute before the final whistle sounded to bring an end to an exhilarating battle.
The competition was expected to continue last evening with more matches.
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