Slingerz FC, Western Tigers battle to crucial draw

Aug 05, 2025 Sports

…Den Amstel maul Mainstay Goldstar in goal fest

Slingerz FC, Western Tigers battle to crucial draw

Darron Niles (L) joined by teammate Kelsey Benjamin in celebrating his equalizing goal against Western Tigers in the GFF Elite League on Sunday.

Kaieteur Sports – The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League made an exciting return to the National Track and Field Centre, West Demerara, with a double-header that featured drama, goals, and action that could determine the outcome of the league.

League leaders Slingerz FC were held to a 1–1 draw by a determined Western Tigers side, while Den Amstel registered a dominant 12–1 win over bottom-placed Mainstay Goldstar.

Returning to their home turf for the first time since rejoining the GFF Elite League last year, Slingerz FC entered the clash with Western Tigers knowing that a win could widen the gap at the top of the table.

With just a four-point cushion going into the match, every point counted in their pursuit of a second national championship. However, Western Tigers, a side known for their tenacity and attacking flair, had other plans.

It took just 14 minutes for Western Tigers to break the deadlock. William Europe capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home, sending the sizable contingent of West Ruimveldt supporters into celebration.

But the home side responded with grit. Midfielder Darron Niles, who put in an impressive all-round performance, drew Slingerz level midway through the first half with a composed finish that silenced the Western Tigers’ faithful and ignited the local crowd.

The teams went into halftime deadlocked at 1–1, with both sides creating opportunities but failing to find the decisive breakthrough.

Part of the action between Den Amstel and Mainstay Goldstar.

In the second half, Slingerz FC upped the pressure. Niles came agonizingly close to doubling his tally with a thunderous strike that rattled the crossbar. He latched onto the rebound but was denied by a brilliant reflex save from the Tigers’ goalkeeper.

New signing Jaheim McFee, who recently joined the West Demerara outfit from Trinidad and Tobago, made his presence felt with a glancing header that narrowly missed the target.

Western Tigers looked dangerous on the break, but the Slingerz defence, anchored by former U-17 national captain Solomon Austin, held firm under pressure.

Despite the flurry of second-half chances from both sides, the match ended in a stalemate.

While Slingerz FC maintained their unbeaten record and stayed atop the table, the draw marked their first dropped points this season.

Western Tigers, though level on 24 points with the Guyana Police Force FC, slipped to third on goal difference.

In the night’s opening fixture, Den Amstel showed no mercy against struggling Mainstay Goldstar, running riot with a 12–1 victory.

Delon Lanferman led the charge with an astonishing four-goal haul, scoring in the 35th, 40th, 45+6th, and 45+14th minutes. Manuel Solomon added a hat-trick (24’, 46’, 54’), while Stephon Jupiter (45+16’), Jomal Robinson (55’, 85’), and Jamal Petty (60’, 70’) also found the back of the net.

Mainstay’s only bright moment came in the 87th minute, when Elvis Marvel scored a consolation goal, just the club’s sixth of the season.

However, that lone strike did little to ease the misery, as Mainstay have now conceded a staggering 106 goals, remaining firmly at the bottom of the table and continuing their winless run.

With the results from Sunday’s fixtures, the race for the Elite League title tightens. Slingerz FC remains in pole position, while the battle for the top four intensifies between Western Tigers, GPF FC, and the Guyana Defence Force.

As the league enters its final stretch, every point becomes critical, both for those chasing championship glory and those trying to avoid relegation.

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Darron Niles, Den Amstel, Elite League, Guyana Football Federation, Slingerz FC, Western Tigers

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