Alpha, Bakewell Topp XX, GDF & Santos record wins on busy day 3

Dec 20, 2010 Sports

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On the busiest day ever in the 21 year history of the Kashif & Shanghai Football Tournament, Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United banged their way to a comprehensive 6-0 win over West Demerara’s Seawall FC, Bakewell Topp XX edged out a game Ann’s Grove United at the GFC Ground in the City.
Up at the Blairmont Community Centre Ground in West Berbice, both Berbice teams were sent packing as the Guyana Defence Force marched into the quarterfinals with a 2-0 win over Rosignol United and earlier in the afternoon, Santos had to pull out all the stops to ease past a tough New Amsterdam United 2-1 in extra time.
It was vintage Alpha and lethal Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams on show with a scintillating display of finishing in the second half after the tough Seawall side held them to a 0-0 first half.
Alpha could have very well been in command of the game by at least 4 goals in the first half but the Seawall defence and goalkeeper Marvin Griffith stood up to the many threats on goal led by Abrams, Dwayne Jacobs and Brazilian Clayton De Lima among other players.
When these two teams clashed in the GFF Super League the game ended 0-0 but this time around, ‘The Hammer’ would not tolerate the tough Seawall for more than 50 minutes.
Cracking the Seawall defence took some hard work and patience but when they finally cracked, the flood gates opened. The West Demerara side did not do themselves any good when two of their main players were sent off, defender Darius Garraway in the 60th minute after receiving his second yellow card and their main forward Clement Brown 8 minutes later for serious foul play.
Alpha’s midfield took charge of proceedings and on the stroke of 50 minutes, Loan Player Kurlson Benjamin dribbled his past two Seawall players passed the ball to Dwight Peters whose powerful shot was partially blocked by Griffith, falling just in the path of Abrams who easily patted the ball into the open goal.
It was indeed a good way for Abrams to break his goal drought as he repeatedly failed to convert many of the chances which came his way.  It did not take longer for him {Abrams} to unleash against their opponents. Two minutes after the opening goal he was on target again before the hard working Dwain Jacobs added his name to the score sheet with a piercing shot from the left side past Griffith in the 55th minute.
Seawall did not handle this kind of relentless pressure very well as Griffith picked up his second yellow card for unsporting behavior and had to leave the pitch which put his side under tremendous pressure.
It was Dwight Peters’ turn to ink his name to the score sheet two minutes after Garraway left the square. Peters skillfully placed the ball under the advancing Griffith which brought further pressure to Seawall.
The pressure saw forward Clement Brown picking up a red card in the 68th minute, an advantage which Alpha capitalized on fully as Abrams nailed two more goals in the 80th and 88th to secure a solid win for Alpha, now into the quarterfinals and will play the winner of the Netrockers/Milerock encounter.
Yesterday’s opening game at GFC saw Five-Time Champions Bakewell Topp XX led by a double from the T&T based Kayode McKinnon leading Bakewell Topp XX past a tough Ann’s Grove United.
The Ann’s Grove side was the last hope for the East Demerara Football Association which had four teams in the competition, all going out after the respective opening matches.
The aggressive Ann’s Grove looked threatening whenever they found themselves deep in the Topp XX half of play; the former Champs led by Collie Hercules looked very vulnerable in defence.  Topp XX looked very compact in midfield and assured upfront with Hercules at the helm creating quite a few chances.
The alert McKinnon netted the first goal with a thumping shot following a blocked by goalkeeper Travis Allen who did not hold onto the ball which found McKinnon in the 21st minute.
But the Ann’s Grove side never backed off and kept going after the Topp XX defence. They were able to neutralize the Linden side’s advantage in the 27th minute when good work in the midfield and some crisp passing in the final third saw Kevon Barry nudging a shot past Carlos Brown in goal for Topp XX.
Exchanges thereafter went back and forth as both sides enjoyed possession. Topp XX created more chances but poor finishing put paid to their advances at goal.  But their constant raids and their experienced players made the difference in this encounter. Veteran McKinnon’s left foot volley in the 70th minute sailed into the back of the nets on account of a well placed pass from another seasoned campaigner in Travis Waterton. The goal sealed the win and Topp XX’s place in the group-of-16 for a date against Caribbean United, the lone overseas team on Thursday December 23 at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground.
Up at the Blairmont Community Centre Ground, the Guyana Defence Force booked their quarterfinal place with a solid 2-0 win over Rosignol United.
Captain Marlon Benjamin in the 31st minute and forward Peter Parks in the 72nd carried their team to victory. The winner of the Topp XX/Caribbean United showdown will face the GDF in quarterfinal play on Sunday December 26 also at the Mackenzie Ground.
Santos were tested to the fullest in their game against New Amsterdam United who were relentless in attack but unable to show their dominance with goals.
Santos won the war in extra time after a 1-1 tie in regulation time. Joel Lloyd gave the City side the lead in the 17th minute but the side from the Ancient County responded in the 72nd through Leonard Adams. It was not until the 117th minute that Santos sealed their quarterfinal berth with a goal off the boot of Kester Jacobs.
Play will continue tomorrow at the GFC Ground when Liquid Gold match skills with sunburst Camptown from 18:00hrs to be followed by a clash between Pele and Fruta Conquerors.

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