Guyana Defence Force (GDF) A women’s team were on Saturday night crowned champions of the inaugural Maid Marian Women’s Wheat-Up Cup after defeating their club mates at the Guyana Football Federation’s National Training Center (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
The NTC was enlivened with semifinal and final action on Saturday, marking the culmination of weeks of testing women’s football.
In semifinal one, the eventual champions GDF A needled Guyana Police Force 1-0. Sandra Johnson’s strike was responsible for sending the A team into the final.
On the other hand, GDF B mauled Fruta Conquerors in the second semifinal, 6-0. Abioce Haywood netted a brace while Anastasia Horsham, Cleasa Dublin, Shenessa Cornelius, and Aaliyah Christie scored one goal each for the victory.
GDF A won the Maid Marian Women’s Wheat-Up Cup
Police rebounded from their semifinal loss to decimate Fruta Conquerors 10-0 in the third-place playoff. Amanda McKenzie, Shontelle Greene, and Flource Waldron each registered a brace while solitary strikes came off the boots of Colette Rutherford, Alleia Alleyne, Ashanti Aaron and Dekola Cheater, to account for their 10.
Sandra Johnson (on ball) netted a hat-trick for GDF A in the final
The final showdown was a family affair, pitting two teams from the same club against each other. After GDF A took some time to find their footing, it became an all-out onslaught against GDF B; as the A team went on to win 7-1 to claim the championship.
Johnson was, again, the leading lady for GDF A, netting a hat-trick while Glendy Lewis tucked in two goals. Jalade Trim and Patsy Walker each found the back of the net once for GDF A while Anastasia Horsham netted GDF B’s consolation goal.
The NAMILCO-sponsored Maid Marian Wheat-Up Women’s Cup featured nine teams competing for a $500,000 grand prize. The tournament kicked off back in November 2024.
