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Pulsating Rd of 32 ends; Rd of 16 kicked off last night
By Franklin Wilson
The race for spots in the quarterfinals of the inaugural GT&T FastBall knock-out football tournament commenced last evening at the GFC ground, Bourda when round-of-16 play kicked off with four matches.
West Demerara United were down to oppose Broad Street; BK International Western Tigers A were up against Ann’s Grove United; Pele Gold opposed Mocha Arcadia All Stars and Grove matched skills with West Front Road.
The energizing and exciting round-of-32 matches concluded in grand style on Saturday evening at the Den Amstel Community Centre Ground in drenching rain and a stunning upset for West Demerara’s top side West Demerara All Starz as they were knocked out compliments of the friendly blue ball with a mere two minutes to game time; losing to Castello Schemers 1-2.
Also saying goodbye to this year’s competition were BK International Western Tigers B losing 1-4 to West Demerara United; Essequibo’s Queenstown were sent packing by West Front Road 6-1, while Mocha Arcadia All Stars shone bright in whipping Amelia’s Ward B 5-0.
Blue Ball Power!!! Quincy Bourne of Castello Schemers is caught scoring with this 6 second blue ball penalty that knocked-out West Demerara All Stars. The ball is passing the out stretched hands of goalie Marvin Griffith in heavy rainfall. (Franklin Wilson photo)
The feature game on Saturday had the large and appreciative crowd at the edges of their seats especially in the final 15 minutes which was played in heavy rain; this challenge brought out the skills of the players as they had to adjust their playing styles to suit the conditions.
West Demerara All Stars looked very comfortable whenever they were in control of proceedings but Castello Schemers were always in with a chance of drawing level given the fact that the All Starz were only leading 1-0 having scored through Ike Garraway in the 10th from the penalty spot.
The West Demerara team featuring a number of former junior national players looked more and more vulnerable as the minutes ticked away and were guilty of drawing too many fouls which eventually saw them going over the limit resulting in a six second penalty against them with 2 minutes remaining in the game.
It was always going to be a real test to score with the ground condition heaving and the ball not moving freely as normal, but Quincy Bourne for Castello Schemers was smart enough to ensure that the six seconds given to score were well utilized.
Goalkeeper Marvin Griffith hadn’t a chance to stop the goal and victory for Castello Schemers with Bourne sinking his shot after two touches, the kick taken from the top of the arc. It was a dagger like goal that ended the high hopes of West Demerara All Starz.
Their counterparts, West Demerara United ensured that West Demerara has a presence in the final 16 when they fought back from being a goal down to beat Western Tigers B team 4-1.
The young Tigers roared into the lead in the 11 minute, Shamar Wilson netting; but the home team responded almost immediately to nullify their advantage and canter into the lead with the blue ball 13th minute strike from Jason Critchlow.
The advantage was defended admirably for the rest of the game which they {WDU} sealed beyond the shadow of a doubt when they scored again with the blue ball this time, Winston Johnson hitting the network in the 29th minute.
Mocha Arcadia All Stars, silently emerging as one of the favourites to win the first prize of One Million dollars easily banged their way past Amelia’s Ward B 5-0. Amos Ramsay and Sceyon Hope with the blue ball in the 14th and 15th minute respectively and Teon Jones in the 24th designing the win for their team and their place in round-of-16 and a date against the formidable Pele Gold.
West Front Road were in dismissive form in the first game on Saturday night, hammering Queenstown 6-1. Hubert Pedro (11, 24) and Michael Oie (15) blue ball netted a brace each for the winners with one apiece from Chris Camacho (27) and Marvin Bowling who opened proceedings in the 7th minute.
The battle for the remaining quarterfinal berths will take place at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground, Linden on Wednesday evening when Adam’s Rockers – which gained a lifeline after Reggae Boyz who they lost to were disqualified for playing an ineligible player – come up against Daddy’s Enterprise; Golden Stars B match skills with Pioneers; Amelia’s Ward A take on Castello Schemers and Bakewell Topp XX A battle with BV Triumph United A.
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