Last year’s finalists, three time champions Federal Winners Connection, with a double from veteran forward Rawle ‘Boney’ Gittens began their title defence in clinical fashion against Blueberry Hill on the opening night of the Upper Demerara Football Association’s GT Beer Christmas football championship at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground on Tuesday night.
Last year’s runners-up Silver Shattas have a point to prove this year
Following the opening ceremony which was attended by Banks DIH Communications Manager Troy Peters and Outdoor Events Manager Mortimer Stewart the reigning champions pounced on Blueberry Hill with a 4-1 brushing aside of Blueberry Hill while Shattas turned back the challenge of Kwakwani Strikers 3-0 in the supporting game of the night.
From the opening whistle, Winners Connection were able to connect when in the 2nd minute striker Marlmalaque Davidson got an assist sending the cross which was headed home by Keon Sears for a 1-0 lead. But Orell Peters showed his promise getting inside to level the scores for his team Blueberry Hill in the 9th minute.
In the 24th minute fellow striker Marmalaque Davidson got into the fray of things collecting a nice pass in the middle to score to go ahead 2-1 by the champions.
By the end of the first half Gittens got his name on to the score-sheet when he netted in the 45th minute for his side for a 3-1 cushion.
Half an hour after play resumed veteran striker Gittens continued to be a lethal forward at this level as he collected a through pass and easily beat the Blueberry Hill goalkeeper for a 4-1 advantage which they held to the final whistle.
The second game was another where the beaten finalists last year, Silver Shattas came through unscathed with a 3-0 win over Kwakwani Strikers.
Their victory was achieved through some excellent goals from their best players in forward Colwyn Drakes starting the scoring in the 9th minute, followed by goal number two in the 59th minute through Damian Williams, with the final goal on the stroke of the final whistle through defender Leon Clement in the 90th minute.
Tonight (Thursday) there will be another double header with Blueberry Hill trying to salvage some pride when they face Botafago at 18:00h and the second game at 20:00h will see Kwakwani Strikers also looking to keep their hopes alive when they come up against Milerock.
