Stag Elite League... GDF get first win, Fruta Conquerors remain unbeaten

Stag Elite League… GDF get first win, Fruta Conquerors remain unbeaten

Sep 26, 2015 Sports

Dennis Edwards (right) & Kwame LaFleur scored the winning goals for the home team.

By Sean Devers

Under a clear night sky and in breezy conditions the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Fruta Conquerors registered wins in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Stag Elite League at the Tucville ground under lights on Thursday night.
GDF registered their first win when they got past Buxton United 1-nil after Delroy Fraser scored in the 44th minute, while second half goals from Dennis Edwards and Kwame LaFleur ensured Conquerors remained unbeaten with a 2-1 when over West Berbice team Monedderlust, who registered their first loss.
In the first match of the double header the Army looked the fitter and more skillful team and enjoyed more ball possession than the young Buxton side which is still without a point in the League in which $15 Million in prizes is up for grabs.
Fraser’s shot from close range turned out to the game’s only goal and with pulsating music from the Ansa McAl sound system entertaining the large Holiday gathering, which included National Head Coach Jamal Shabazz, the first stanza ended 1-nil. Fraser maneuvered through the solid Buxton defence led by former Guyana youth cricketer Clive Andries, to beat goalie Jason Cromwell to score what turned out to be the winning goal.
The intensity picked up in the second half with Buxton pressing forward more. GDF had at least two opportunities to increase their lead but good saves by Oswald Cornette ensured the game finished 1-nil for the soldiers.
The partisan crowd had swelled for the feature game between Monedderlust and Conquerors, playing on their home ground and the host did not disappoint their Tucville supporters.

Conquerors’ Eon Alleyne is in obvious pain after sustaining an injury.

The home team, who beat Buxton on Saturday in Berbice, enjoyed the better of the early exchanges and in the opening minute a shot on goal was well saved by Monedderlust’s custodian Alvin McDonald before the talented Jermaine Junior’s ‘pass’ across the goal mouth had no one to collect it and the chance went abegging much to the disappointment of the fans.
The Berbicians, Coached by former National Captain Gordon ‘Ultimate Warrior’ Braithwaite, soon found their rhythm with skilful striker Kevin Cottoy out-sprinting his opponents but not being able to finish the job.
The action ebbed and flowed as neither team could wrest the ascendency in the battle of the unbeaten teams in the League in which every game for the rest of the year will be played under lights.
National striker Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams latched onto a loose ball but shot wide much to the disappointment of the fans while Junior fired a stinging right-footer which crashed into the upright as Conquerors maintained pressure on the goalie.
Kimba Braithwaite was well positioned to give Monedderlust the lead after doing all the hard work and only Keeper Alex Murray to beat, but his kick was wide of the mark and the score remained nil all at half time.
Monedderlust, who got past GDF on Saturday, turned up the heat in the second half and Atlyn Browne found the back of the net. The Region Five players were in the middle of celebrations when they noticed the ‘off-side’ flag was raised.
Less than a minute later LaFleur scored to give Conquerors the lead and the fans that paid $1,000 to enter the ground, were having their monies worth.
Conquerors’ leading goal scorer Eon Alleyne, who left the pitch for medical attention after his knee was injured during a tackle, returned and collected an accurate pass from the right flank but hammed the ball high over the goal.
Dennis Edwards’ ‘header’ went wide to deny the hosts going further ahead but in the78th minute Browne kept the visitors hopes alive when he scored off a free kick.
Edwards sealed the issue two minutes before the final whistle when he got a perfect pass from a ‘pumped up’ Junior and calmly hit it to the right of McDonald to make it 2-1.
Junior then made a solo run and with only the keeper to beat, shot on the run and missed his target but a win is a win and the spectators left the venue with broad smiles on their faces.
The action shifts to the GFC ground tomorrow when West Demerara’s Slingers FC face-off with Monedderlust and GFC oppose Alpha United.