When day three action of the East Bank Inter Village Football tournament, organised by Sports Extra, unfolded at the Eccles EE Ground on Saturday evening, Upper Soesdyke needled Circuitville while Swan upstaged Herstelling 4-1.
Swan’s win over Herstelling, who won their opening match against Lower Soesdyke, has left Group B interestingly poised, as a win for Lower Soesdyke in their final game against Swan would mean that goal difference will decide which two villages advance to the quarter-finals.
A fit-looking Swan unit was led to their win by Abraham Webb, who netted a first-half double that effectively knocked the wind out of the sails of Herstelling. Webb was on target in the 12th and 33rd minutes. The opening goal was scored by Timothy Adrian in the eighth minute.
Herstelling found it difficult to contain the Linden-Soesdyke Highway-based village and did not help themselves when Orlando Dickie was red-carded in only the 12th minute placing them under pressure.
Swan further increased their lead in the 46th minute when Devon Lonke found the back of the net and despite Herstelling pulling one back in the 50th minute through a Malcolm Hendricks goal, the task of stopping Swan was beyond them.
Circuitville, coming off a heavy 2-7 loss to Grove in their opening Group C match on the first weekend of action, looked very purposeful in their clash against Upper Soesdyke, matching them play for play for almost the entire game.
When it seemed like the game was headed for a draw, Circuitville’s goalkeeper misjudged a shot taken by Tyrone Khan in the 66th minute, it was the goal that made the difference between the two villages, earning the win for Upper Soesdyke whilst it also signalled the end of Circuitville’s campaign as they lost both their matches.
