Latest update April 1st, 2025 5:37 PM
Topp XX A, Cool Runnings, Amelia’s Ward A, Coomacka advance
By Franklin Wilson
The inaugural GT&T FastBall knock-out football tournament got off to an electrifying start on Saturday evening at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground in the Bauxite Mining Town of Linden witnessed by a vivacious crowd.
Rawle Gittens
Ryan Crandon
With no room for mistakes in this innovative and new form of the game, Bakewell Topp XX A, Cool Runnings, Amelia’s Ward A and Coomacka were the first teams to book their place to the next round with contrasting wins on the opening night of play.
Topp XX featuring former National forward Collie ‘Hitman’ Hercules, Kayode McKinnon and Quacy Johnson were given a bit of a scare before they overcame the game challenge of Kwakwani 4-2.
Cool Runnings were cool in disposing Netrockers A 5-0; Amelia’s Ward A brushed aside Ituni Peacemakers 3-1, while Coomacka registered the first win in this historical tournament, an exciting 2-1 triumph over Eagles.
It took a Blueball goal (2goals) from the veteran Collie Hercules in the penultimate minute of play in the half hour game to see Topp XX to their win over Kwakwani which had come from two goals down to equalize against the former Linden champions.
Jamie Wilson in the 10th minute and Quacy Johnson one minute later had given Topp XX the perfect cushion for victory, a lead they enjoyed until the 20th minute. Just when it seemed that they were sailing comfortably along, the nagging Kwakwani side narrowed the advantage with a strike off the boot of Dale Sauers in the 20th minute.
This goal brought more energy to the Kwakwani side and they were rewarded three minutes later with the equalizer compliments of Roy Rogers. When it seemed that the game was almost destined for penalty kicks, Hercules pulled one out of the bag with the Blueball to lead his side to a 4-2 win and a place in the next round.
Cool Runnings were in a no nonsense mood against Netrockers A; Under-20 National defender Ryan Crandon, performing duties as a striker in this format of the game, moved to be more than a handful for his opponents to handle as he blasted a hat-trick ably supported by veteran Rawle Gittens who netted a brace.
Crandon was clinical in heading the ball from well directed crosses in the opponents area, his first two goals (4th & 11th minute) were scored off the head. He completed the treble in the 25th minute; Gittens was on target in the 21st and 24th minute, the duo rocking Netrockers.
Amelia’s Ward were dismissive in their display against Ituni Peacemakers, Delon Luke in the 2nd minute, Gavin Daw (9th) and Travis Waterton still one of the best executioners of a free kick in Guyana proving that with a beauty in the 20th minute. Norville Adrian pulled one back for Ituni in the 25th minute.
A young and lively Coomacka side showed that youth and energy can provide lots of challenges for the more established teams in this format of the game when they out lasted Eagles which had cantered into the lead when the tournament was a mere five (5) minutes old. Delon Charter has the distinction of scoring the tournament’s first goal giving his team the initial advantage.
But Coomacka never eased off the throttle and kept going at their opponents. They {Coomacka} now hold the distinction of being the first team to score with the Blueball and as it turned out, it was the winning strike. Dorwin Daw it was who scored in the 13th minute, one minute after the Blueball was introduced into the game.
Four more teams walked the plank last evening when competition continued at the same venue. Bosai & Company played Vasco; Silver Shattas Goal Getters were down to oppose Pioneer; Winners Connection was up against Young Warriors and Snatchers matched skills with Trainline.
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