Elite League: Slingerz drub Santos; Mainstay a no-show
Monedderlust and Ann’s Grove United Football Clubs held on for crucial draws on Saturday, while Slingerz FC brushed aside Santos FC when the following evening’s doubleheader was trimmed down to a solitary game as season seven of the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Elite League continued.
The action began at the GFF’s National Training Center (NTC) at Providence on Saturday evening with Monedderlust FC holding Den Amstel to a stalemate draw in what should have been a must- win encounter for the West Demerara outfit.
Then, Fruta Conquerors and Ann’s Grove United followed suit, also playing to a draw.
A look at the action between Fruta Conquerors and Ann’s Grove United FC
Fruta Conquerors went ahead first, but not in the traditional way as an own goal off the boots of Denzel Juner gave them the lead in the 32nd minute.
Ann’s Grove’s outfit worked hard to find the equalizer, which came in the 41st minute by way of a Yohance Francis strike. However, regulation time expired with neither side being able to find the game winner.
Then on Sunday, patrons at the NTC had to wait a little longer for the Elite league action to get underway as Lake Mainstay Goldstars FC was reportedly a now- show for their clash with Western Tigers FC.
The final match of the weekend came not too long after, when league leaders, Slingerz FC met a young Santos FC on the pitch.
Den Amstel (Green) and Monedderlust FC played to a stalemate
Santos held off their opponents for the opening minutes of the game, until Darron Niles managed to slip one past the Santos keeper in the 7th minute to open his team’s account. The former Santos players had no mercy on his boyhood club, going on to register a helmet trick in the 31st, 34th and 38th minutes. A precise Kelsey Benjamin (45th+3) free- kick from just outside the box in stoppage time saw Slingerz extending their tally to 5-0 by half time.
Darron Niles (on ball) netted a helmet- trick for Slingerz FC
Santos had a much better second half but couldn’t prevent more goals from flowing. Shamar Dublin committed the cardinal sin of an own goal in the 61st minute while fresh Slingerz recruit Michale Joseph netted his first league goal in the 88th to cap off Slingerz’ 7-0 victory.
Slingerz now leads the league with 37 points from 13 games while Western Tigers have made the jump to second place with 30 points this week on the account of Mainstay Goldstars’ absence. This was confirmed via social media, where the official points standings were publicized.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) FC and Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC have 27 and 22 points respectively while Santos FC has 16 points and will maintain their position in the top five this week, on the account of goal difference.
