Women’s Football Association President Andrea Johnson presents the championship trophy to the GDF team
Scores of spectators were gathered as far as the boundary lines of the football pitch at the Eve Leary (Police) Ground in Kingston, Georgetown on Wednesday evening, as Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Women and Fruta Conquerors’ Women were locked in a riveting final battle.
The two women’s teams were vying for the championship spot in the MVP Sports-sponsored Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Women’s Development League play-offs, having booked their spots in the final last Wednesday.
The boisterous spectators were first sent into a frenzy in only the sixth minute of the game when the Fruta Conquerors goalkeeper failed to hold on to a catch, resulting in an own goal.
Fiona Benjamin (16) was instrumental in Police’s 8-0 win
Next, an infraction inside the box landed Fruta Conquerors the golden opportunity of a penalty kick, which was successfully converted by Jessica Teasdale in the 22nd minute, thus equalising the scores.
It was at this point that the encounter between the two powerhouses in women’s football became nail- biting. With the scores level, both teams fought ferociously to find the lead. GDF looked more clinical, while Fruta squandered numerous chances in the area.
Eventually, it was GDF’s women who broke the stalemate in the 74th minute with a goal off the boots of Abioce Heywood. As Fruta Conquerors searched unyieldingly for another equaliser, Cloetta Dublin shut down any chances of a comeback for the Tucville outfit in the 90th+1.
A glimpse of Wednesday night’s final between GDF and Fruta Conquerors
Capitalising off a set piece from the corner, a touch from Dublin sent the ball spiralling into the corner of the goal for GDF’s third goal and a 3-1 victory.
Meanwhile, in the third-place play-off, which was played prior to the championship game, Guyana Police Force (GPF) Women sealed the final podium position with an 8-0 victory.
Hat-tricks came from Lakeisha Williams (21st, 47th, 48th) and Fiona Benjamin (20th, 51st, 56th), while Tiandi Smith (40th) and Shontel Greene (63rd) netted one apiece.
GDF’s Glendy Lewis was eventually named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament.
The GFF Women’s Development League kicked off in June 2022 with 37 women’s teams from across the country competing. The end of the tournament was delayed until this year when the Play-offs segment, sponsored by MVP Sports, commenced early in March 2023. The play-offs saw 12 teams battling for a chance to lift the championship trophy.
