Latest update November 21st, 2024 1:00 AM
Cult/EBFA U-17 League…Agricola needle Timehri Panthers; Herstelling and Diamond draw
The inaugural CULT sponsored East Bank Football association Under-17 league got off to an exciting start on Saturday last at the Grove Playfield with two exciting encounters.
Diamond United’s Nathaniel Paul (left, No. 6) blasts home this shot past Herstelling goalie Quazim Yusuff in the 9th minute.
In the feature game, Agricola Red Triangle defeated a game Timehri Panthers 1-0 while the opening game saw a determined Herstelling fighting back to earn a draw against Diamond.
The afternoon’s proceedings were witnessed by Company Secretary of the Continental Group of Companies, Mr. Percival Boyce and the Cult Marketing team.
Both Agricola and Timehri are new to this level of competition but displayed a high level of determination as they sought to outdo each other urged on by their respective supporters. The balance shifted back and forth with the Timehri boys enjoying the better part of the early exchanges.
But as the game matured Agricola came into their own even as goals were hard to come by. Excellent goalkeeping by the Timehri Panthers goalie kept Agricola at bay for some time but they were able to eventually able to crack Timehri’s defence with a well taken goal late in the second half which turned out to be the winning goal off the boot of Mario Campbelle.
Opening play between Herstelling and Diamond set the tone for what is anticipated to be an entertaining competition as both teams battled to the end in an energized manner.
Their respective senior teams a few days ago in the Stag Beer division-one league had battled to a 1-1 draw so the younger stars, some of whom who also played at the senior level were out to secure a win but as it turned out, that was not to be.
Unlike the senior game, Diamond it was that took the early lead nine minutes into the game, Nathaniel Paul rocking the back of the nets with a powerful right foot shot past custodian Quazim Yusuff at the near post much to the delight of his teammates. It was hard going thereafter for Herstelling with both teams going hard at each other.
Diamond being able to keep Herstelling at bay and not allowing the nippy multi talented Rickey Debydial, who also plays cricket any leverage to unleash hi quick plays and spot on shots.
With full time approaching, Diamond looked like they were on their way to securing full points but Debydial had different thoughts. While his forward runs were being blocked the closer he got to goal, Debydial decided that he was going to take a shot from some distance. He received a well directed pass just inside the area; with the Diamond defenders giving him an opening he decided to shoot on the run which caught goalkeeper David Smith off guard in the 66th minute of the 70 minute encounter.
It was a well thought out and directed shot that beat the keeper to his right.
Prior to the matches, Mr. Boyce congratulated the teams for being a part of the tournament and challenged them to be good ambassadors while playing fair and respecting each other.
The players and officials observed a minute’s silence for the late Grove Hi Tech player Delon Barton.
Matches will continue on Saturday with another double header at the same venue when Soesdyke Falcons come up against Grove Hi Tech at 14:00hrs with the feature game between Kuru Kururu Warriors and Diamond United.
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