Latest update October 5th, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 25, 2015 Sports
By Franklin Wilson
A quality evening of football despite the lack of finishing from all four teams on show was highlighted by Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson’s double which ensured Pele earned a share of the spoils with Alpha United in the feature game on day 3 of the inaugural Stag Elite League (SEL), Genesis segment at the GFC ground on Wednesday night.
Billed as a grudge match between two sides that are known to go hard at each other and with Pele featuring a former Alpha strongman in Richardson, the match produced many exciting moments but it Richardson who had the initial and final say in proceedings.
The evening’s opening game produced another robust performance from Georgetown Football Club and a miserable display of finishing from Bakewell Slingerz who had to settle for an even share of the points with the home team which described the result as a win for them.
Witnessed by a large Wednesday evening crowd, one which is not synonymous with league football in Guyana – another plus for the SEL – Pele took the early challenge to Alpha and it was no surprise that Richardson was the man to carry the charge for the boys sporting their traditional yellow and blue uniforms.
A player who is offensive minded as well as defensive, Richardson carried the fight to Alpha early and they were rewarded quite early when their main nemesis was fouled approximately 30 yards out on the right side of goal.
Captain Shemroy Arthur, now their main pillar in defence after converting from goalkeeper, could not have delivered a better pass in the box that met a virtually open Richardson at the far post. The former national player rose to head the ball into the ground directing it into the back of the nets at the other end as the flat footed Alpha players could only watch as it entered goal, tantalizingly so.
It was Pele up 1-0 in the 9th minute. The yellow and blue boys enjoyed a few more minutes of momentum but then it swung totally in favour of Alpha as forward Kithson Bain’s explosive speed up front was evidently too much for Arthur and company to handle.
Alpha’s Captain Daniel Wilson and midfielder Delon Lanferman were in the picture as ‘The Hammer’ gradually wrested the initiative from Pele. Alpha could have taken the lead five minutes after but an easy chance presented to Lanferman saw the Uitvlugt based player heading the ball outside the upright rather than in goal.
However, Alpha which also forced back to back corners to underscore their dominance, finally got the equalizer 29 minutes on the end of a great run by Baines who dribbled well before passing the ball to the far post to Lanferman who in turn lay it off to his Captain Wilson to finish easily; Pele 1 Alpha United 1.
As the exchanges continued and Richardson was constantly switching around from left to right to ensure he was in the mix to dictate how Pele responded, Deon Alfred who netted the competitions first goal had the chance to put Pele back in the lead but missed an opportunity after collecting a pass from a well directed free kick taken by Richardson.
Alpha would then take the lead in the 38th minute when Sherwin Skeete rose above the Pele defence to head home in style. Pele was guilty of giving up too much space to ‘The Hammer’, the half time whistle sounded with Alpha in the ascendency, 2-1.
The second half saw the ascendency swinging in favour of both teams as numerous chances went a begging but it was Pele towards the end of the game that had the final say even as the game seemed headed for an Alpha win.
Pele was awarded a free kick just outside the area in the centre of goal. Richardson it was who stepped up to take the kick and in exquisite fashion, his execution was spot on and the ball sailed over the wall and into the back of the nets in the 87th minute to tie the score at 2 all.
Even the four minutes of added on time did not change the score and both teams took a points each which enabled Pele to take over the lead at the top of the table whilst Alpha with back to back draws remained on 2 points.
GFC, in the opening game held a start studded Slingerz to a 0-0 draw as they used home advantage to full effect by being compact in defence even as Slingerz missed numerous chances in both periods.
GFC were able like they did in their first game against Pele last week to create a few chances of their own towards the end of the match but they too couldn’t convert as eth derby ended 0-0, a result that GFC welcomed as a win.
The SEL continued last evening at the Tucville ground where Fruta Conquerors faced Monedderlust and GDF opposed Buxton United.
Following is the latest points standings after three days of play:
Teams P W D L GF GA GD Points
Pele 2 1 1 0 4 1 +1 4
Fruta Conquerors 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 3
Monedderlust 1 1 0 0 3 2 +1 3
Bakewell Slingerz 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 2
Alpha United 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 2
Buxton United 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1 0
GFC 2 0 1 1 1 2 -1 1
GDF 1 0 0 1 2 3 -1 0
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