The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) suffered their first loss in season two of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Stag Elite League on Sunday evening but it was not enough to stop them from being crowned champions.
Buxton United on the attack against Top XX on Sunday at the Guyana Defence Force Ground
In the feature clash of the night GDF came up against Fruta Conquerors in a highly anticipated matchup and it was a game with high intensity game as both teams tried to outrun each other, the first goal would come off the boot of Fruta’s Eon Alleyne in the 27th minute to give the Conquerors a brief respite.
Sherwyn Caesar, leading goal scorer of the league, leveled the scores in the 47th minute but aging fleet-footed Fruta Conquerors strike Anthony “Awo” Abrams made it 2-1 for his team in the 68th minute, a score line which remained the same until the final whistle.
In the second match of the night, Buxton United came up against Lindeners Top XX as they sought to dislodge Victoria Kings from third spot.
They game began with Top XX soaking up pressure and trying to launch counter-attacks, however this tactic was near impossible as the outfield conditions proved too troublesome for their wide players. There was a struggle for possession as the first half went on until Buxton’s Keoma Sullivan broke the deadlocked with a well-placed finish in the 32nd minute to make it 1-0 Buxton.
Hugh Michael Phyll would add a second for Buxton on the stroke of halftime before a William Europe brace in the 47th and 77th minute made it four goals for Buxton. Top XX scored two consolation goals in the 71st and 86th minutes through Selwyn Isaacs and Monty Simon. When the final whistle blew the scores read 4-2 and it meant that Top XX joined Monedderlust in the relegation zone while the Kings and Buxton progress to the “Big Four” in third and fourth places respectively.
Earlier in the evening Victoria Kings had relegated a shabby Monedderlust when they beat them 2-1 to go third temporarily.
The four teams; Victoria Kings, Buxton United, Fruta Conquerors and GDF will play in the “Big Four” tournament starting on May 19. The leaders GDF will face off against second placed Fruta Conquerors in Play-off one, with the Winner advancing to the Final. Third placed Buxton will face their East Coast Demerara counterparts Victoria Kings in the second play-off.
However the loser of the GDF vs Fruta Conquerors game will have a second chance in play-off three against the winner of the second play-off. The final will be played on May 28.
