Future Stars, Goal is Money prevail in high-scoring semis

GT Beer ‘Keep Ya 5 Alive’

The youthful duo of Kevin Cummings and Chase Academy’s U-18 captain Jeremy Garrett struck a hat-trick each for Future Stars to knock out veterans Sparta Boss in a high-scoring semi-final encounter on Saturday night at the National Gymnasium.
The game started at a frantic pace in front of a sizable crowd that was partisan to Sparta Boss; and Sparta Boss had threatened to run away with the game through two early strikes from Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson, in the 6th and 8th minutes, to give his side a 2-0 lead.
Cummings, however, hauled one back for Future Stars, in the 10th minute, and from that point onwards it was a back-and-forth game, as both teams began scoring at frequent intervals.
Devon Millington extended Sparta’s lead to 3-1 in the 15th minute, while Cummings added his second in the 21st, to keep Future Stars in the game at 3-2.
Garrett struck his first of the night just a minute later, to equalize for Future Stars; but Sparta’s Eusi Philips struck immediately after, to make it a 4-3 game in favour of Sparta.
Millington had his second of the night in the 25th minute, to extend his side’s lead to 5-3; but Garrett had other ideas, and struck one from a distance in the 26th minute, while Cummings completed his hat-trick in the 30th minute to draw the game level at 5-5.
Future Stars’ Curtez Kellman was the next to score, netting in the 44th minute, while teammate Garrett completed his hat-trick in the 46th minute, to make it 7-5 for their side.
Richardson would score his third goal of the game in the 47th minute, to haul one back for Sparta; but by then it was too late, as Future Stars held on to win 7-6.
Earlier, in the first semi-final of the night, West Front Road’s “Gold is Money” outscored a resistant Back-Circle 7-5 to book a spot against Future Stars in the final.
“Gold is Money” captain Hubert Pedro led from the front with a helmet-trick of goals. He opened the scoring in the 8th minute, while Carl Tudor increased the lead in the 10th minute, and Pedro made it 3-0 just a minute later.
Back-Circle’s Stephon McLean in the 13th and Jermain Beckles in the 15th and 19th minutes respectively would equalize for their team, but Randolph Wagner would restore West Front Road’s advantage in the 25th minute.
It was end-to-end action, as Beckles equalized for Back Circle for the second time in the game when he poked one home in the 30th minute. However, Pedro struck in the 33rd minute, and Wagner added his second of the game in the 36th minute, to leave the game at 6-4.
Back Circle’s McLean scored his side’s final goal of the game in the 37th minute, while Pedro struck his fourth for West Front Road in the 39th minute, to seal the deal for his side.
Future Stars will do battle with West Front Road’s “Gold is Money” on August 5 at the National Gymnasium. At stake is the top prize of $500,000; runner-ups will cop $250,000.
Sponsors are HJTV, 94.1 Boom FM, Trophy Stall, Star Party Rental, A&J Carpet House, Ravi’s Car Wash (Pike Street Kitty), Cheese Please, Colours Boutique, Confidential Cabs, and Banks DIH Ltd through its GT Beer brand.