NSC/EBFA/Ralph Green U-11 League: Santos, Fruta Conquerors to clash in final after semi-final wins

City sides Santos Football Club and Fruta Conquerors FC will clash in the final of the NSC/EBFA/Ralph Green Under-11 League following respective semi-final victories over East Bank opponents yesterday at the Agricola Playfield.
Both Friendship All-Stars and Swan Football Club put up sterling resistance, but were unable to prevent the Georgetown teams from advancing to the final on a date to be decided by the organisers.
Santos was pushed to the end by the Linden Soesdyke-based Swan FC in what was an exciting clash from start to finish in the second semi, which had to be decided via kicks from the penalty mark following their 2-2 regulation time draw.
Swan took the lead through a Kevon Charles goal, but Santos kept their focus and were able to draw level through a Daniel Chesney goal. They then took the lead when Devon Wright rocked the nets.

However, as the game approached full-time, it seemed that Santos would have eased to the win in regulation time, but a well-timed pass to Elon James in the 29th saw him heading the ball over the Santos goalkeeper and into an open goal even as the Santos players tried their utmost to cover for the missing goalie.
However, Swan was no match for Santos from the penalty mark, and lost 0-2, which created a safe passage to the final for Santos in the championship game against Conquerors, who had earlier eased to a 2-0 win over Friendship All-Stars.
Friendship enjoyed some good moments in the game, but were not able to find any goals. Conquerors’ goals came from Gilbert Frank and the consistent Dane Vancooten. Swan and Friendship collide in the third-place match.
The league commenced on November 15, 2023 and is now down to the final, wherein players and teams are eager to cash in on prizes on offer. The runner-up team will be rewarded with a trophy and 12 replicas, the same as the win will be for first-timers. The second and third runner-up will each receive 12 medals.
Individual prizes of a plaque each will go to the Most Valuable Player (Plaque), Best Goalkeeper, Highest Goal Scorer, Most Promising Player, and Most Disciplined Player. The Best Coach will also receive a Plaque.
Before kick-off of the League, each team was presented with branded playing shirts and two footballs each. The respective coaches received polo shirts.