Latest update November 21st, 2024 1:00 AM
Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets’ Tournament…BV ‘A’ finally goes one better, wins East Coast final
– Nabaclis finishes third
By Rawle Welch
They’ve been amongst the most consistent teams since the start of competition, but were always relegated to watching from the sidelines the past two years the teams that defeated them in the semi-finals march on to win the title.
Banks DIH Area Supervisor Clive Pellew (3rd left) hands over the winning trophy and prize money to BV ‘A’ Captain Delroy Deen in the presence of Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste (right), Petra Organisation Co-Director Troy Mendonca (left), officials and teammates.
BV ‘A’ led by a brace of goals from ‘double trouble’ Delroy Deen and Akin Curry hammered Melanie ‘B’ 4-1 to capture the final of the East Coast segment of the Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets’ football Tournament which ended early Sunday morning, at the Haslington Tarmac.
Played before another capacity crowd that included Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste, Petra Organisation Co-Director Troy Mendonca, and Regional Chairman Mortimer Corlette among other officials, BV ‘A’ not only produced a frightening performance, but sent a strong message to every team contesting the national playoffs in June.
The new champs were off to a quick start with Deen and Curry immediately showing their offensive intent and skills and took the lead through a magnificent solo run from Deen which culminated with a screaming left-footer that blew past a stationary defence.
It was a beauty by any description and occurred in the fifth minute.
One minute later, another mesmerising run from Deen accounted for their second goal which left the partisan Melanie ‘B’ supporters stunned as he lashed in another thunderous strike for a 2-0 advantage.
By now strike partner Curry must have been steaming with envy and he acted almost with immediacy as he squeezed a shot through the legs of a bewildered last stop who could only watch as the ball trickled into the goal for a 3-0 ascendancy and the game and first prize virtually sealed.
However, Curry was not finished as he seemed intent on matching the effort of his Captain and he scored another beauty, cracking a shot from the right side with unerring accuracy and power to breach all and sundry.
BV ‘A’ took a comfortable 4-0 cushion to the break, but appeared a bit relaxed at the start of the final period which allowed Melanie ‘B’ Odel Gulliver to pull one back after collecting a pass from the back, raced forward and fired into the goal in the 20th minute of play.
However, the fear of Deen and Cuury was too real for Melanie ‘B’ to risk putting players forward and the new kings were able to coast to a comfortable victory and the top prize of $300,000 and the winning trophy along with a place in the national playoffs.
Melanie ‘B’ for their efforts carted off $150,000 and a trophy and they too have secured a place in the national playoffs.
Earlier, Nabaclis confirmed that their performance in this year’s tournament was no fluke after registering a convincing 3-2 triumph over inaugural winners Plaisance ‘A’ in the third place playoff.
Kellon Semple booted in a double in the 27th and 28th minutes, while Seretse Huntley had netted the equaliser after Plaisance ‘A’ took the lead after four minutes through Carlos Matthews, before Warren Gilkes, who was kept in check all night, somehow escaped the dragnet to fire in a goal in the 29th minute.
Nabaclis took home $100,000, while Plaisance ‘A’ left with $75,000.
Banks DIH Area Supervisor Clive Pellew handed over the winning trophy and prize money to the new champions.
In the night’s full results:
BV ‘A’4 vs Melanie ‘B’-1
BV ‘A’ scorers
Delroy Deen-5th and 6th
Akin Curry-7th and 10th
Melanie ‘B’ scorer
Odel Gulliver-20th
3rd Place Playoff
Nabaclis-3 vs Plaisance-‘A’-2
Nabaclis Scorer
Seretse Huntley-10th
Kellon Semple-27th and 28th
Plaisance-‘A’ Scorers
Carlos Matthews-4th
Warren Gilkes-29th
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