GFF Stag Beer Elite League ...Millington’s injury time header hands Slingerz FC $4million

GFF Stag Beer Elite League …Millington’s injury time header hands Slingerz FC $4million

Dec 01, 2015 Sports

-Pele finish third
Alpha United paid a heavy price tag of $4million for leaving the elusive Devon Millington unmarked in the box one minute into injury time which resulted in the forward leaping high in the air to deliver a rapier-like header from a Vurlon Mills left-sided cross past goalkeeper Richie Richards to seal a 3-2 win.

Guyana Football Federation Stag Beer Elite League Genesis winners Slingerz FC celebrate following their 3-2 triumph over Alpha United in the final on Sunday.

Playing in the final of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Stag Beer Elite League Genesis title on Sunday, at the Leonora Synthetic Track facility, before a large crowd, the two teams regarded as the best in local football seemed to be heading for extra time following ninety minutes of exciting football when Millington, who along with fellow strike partner Anthony Abrams were kept at bay, was left unattended in the box and he made Alpha United pay for their lapse in concentration with a fierce header past the visibly upset net stopper.
The early segments of the game was not without drama as Alpha’s leading marksman Delon Lanferman was denied by a frantic stop from a Slingerz defender after racing past the advancing goalkeeper following a blunder from the back, but his effort bounced off the legs of the defender and rolled over the line for a corner.
They were made to rue that opportunity immediately after when Julian Wade reached on to a deft chip from Mills, who had already begun to show his value in mid-field, skipping past two defenders en route to the process that was completed by Wade in the 4th minute of play to evoke celebrations among its base of supporters.
Urged on by the partisan support, Slingerz attacked with menace and nearly doubled their advantage, but Milligton’s volley was aimed straight at Richards, who saved comfortably.

(From left) Julian Wade and Devon Millington pose for a photo op on Sunday.

Soaking up the pressure admirably, Alpha United orchestrated a few ominous raids, but the Slingerz backline held firm, before the energetic Daniel Wilson raced on to a ball that was delivered in no man’s land, before taking full advantage of a miscommunication between keeper and central defender to boot into an empty goal after twenty-four minutes.
The prolific Lanferman, who was not enjoying the best of games had another opportunity to give Alpha United the lead in the 39th minute when he sprinted past two defenders, but with only the goalkeeper to beat sprayed his effort wide of the upright much to the consternation of the team’s supporters.
The half came with the teams deadlocked at 1-1 and fans braced themselves for a thrilling final period.
The resumption saw Slingerz suffer an early setback when Wilson completed his brace two minutes in, firing past the keeper’s outstretched hands into the goal to stun the homsters.
Alpha’s Grenadian striker Kithson Bain, who has been a regular feature on the team for a couple of years was given a chance on a platter, but for once he squandered it, hitting wide of the mark much to the reprieve of Slingerz backline.
Colin Nelson’s curling free-kick from 24 yards out needed a magnificent save from Richards, who tipped over the cross bar to keep intact their 2-1 advantage.
Wade returned in the 74th minute to give their supporters much hope when he got the equaliser which was once again supplied by Mills, who must have been the Player of the Game due to his huge impact on its eventual outcome.
It resulted from a prolonged period of bombardment by Slingerz that finally culminated when Mills sent in a corner taken from the right side that found the head of Wade whose delivery raced past Richards.
His goal meant that the game was setup for a frenetic finish and while regulation time failed to produce a winner, Millington’s heroics provided the drama and the rest is history.
Alpha United, however, did not go home empty-handed and will receive $2million and a trophy.
Earlier, Omallo Williams’s 58th minute goal handed Pele third place following their 1-0 win over Fruta Conquerors.
The final had in attendance several dignitaries including Minister of State Joseph Harmon, GFF President Wayne Forde, Vice Presidents Bruce Lovell (Brig. ret’d), Rawlston Adams, Thandi McCallister and Courts Marketing Manager Pernel Cummings, all of who met the teams before the start of play.