Agricola Red Triangle beat Craig in final

EBFA/Ralph Green U-11 football…

The inaugural Ralph Green sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-11 competition culminated on Saturday last at the Grove Playfield with Agricola Red Triangle, led by the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and joint highest goalscorer, Floyd Boyce, taking his team to championship honours.

Boyce netted the lone goal of the match in the 21st minute to sink the hopes of Craig Primary in a match that saw Craig taking the early attack to Agricola and enjoying the majority of possession.

The third place playoff between Grove Hi Tech and Friendship All Stars saw the home team with just one minute to full time hitting in the winning goal; their captain Tyrese Jones, who also ended as the joint highest goalscorer with Boyce performing the honours of scoring the winner from the penalty spot when the match seemed destined for extra time.

Agricola, despite giving up size advantage to the Craig team, played with hearts of a lion to sink the obviously disappointed Craig Primary School lads. Almost the entire first half was played in the Agricola half when numerous chances went a begging for Craig; goalkeeper Adam Wilson standing tall between the uprights.

However, as the game progressed in the second half, Boyce and his boys became more and more confident as they made many raids in the Craig final third. Agricola’s persistence finally brought the desired results when Boyce eased into the box to head home the championship goal in the 21st minute.

Craig, who had hammered Friendship 5-0 in their semi-final match one week earlier, could not replicate that form, as Agricola romping to a memorable victory which they will savour for some time to come. They are also the reigning Under-13 champions.

The third place match was also a close affair with both Friendship and Grove playing freely. It was Shavi Atkinson, the tournament’s Most Promising Player who took on Grove, but could not get past Grove’s captain and the competition’s joint highest goalscorer, Tyrese Jones.

It was Jones who eventually separated the two teams from the penalty spot in the 29th and penultimate minute of regulation time after the ball was handled in the area by Friendship.

The winner’s trophy was presented to the youngest player of the Agricola team, five-year-old Keziah Anthony December by EBFA President Franklin Wilson on behalf of sponsor, Ralph Green, who is based in the United States of America. Wilson, in remarks at the presentation, thanked the teams for participating stating that they are all winners.

He expressed gratitude to Ralph Green on behalf of the association for committing to sponsor the tournament on an annual basis. Special recognition was made of the lone female to participate in the competition, 10-year-old Kera Yaw, of Friendship All Stars.

The top four teams were presented with medals, while each player from the six participating teams were presented with Certificates of Participation.

Jones and Boyce were the highest goalscorers with three each, while Boyce was the MVP, Adam Wilson best goalkeeper, Atkinson most promising player and Joshua Moore the most improved player.