Paradise advance to knockout round with 5-0 win over Young Strikers

BFA/J’S Golden Arrow U-20…

Paradise Invaders are the only team thus far assured of a place in the next round of the Berbice Football Association/J’S Supermarket Golden Arrow U-20 Football competition. This follows their 5-nil win over Young Strikers on Saturday evening.
The match was played under lights at the All Saints Ground on Princess Elizabeth Road in New Amsterdam.
Paradise dominated the first half of the game, to lead 5-0 when the half time whistle blew.
Keon Joseph scoring in the 2nd minute, an own goal in the 12th minute, Shaqueel DeHarte with a brace in the 23rd and 29th minutes, and Shaqueel Small scoring in the 34th helped the team from West Berbice entertain the crowd.
The second half saw a more collected Young Strikers Team preventing further haemorrhaging of goals but failing to score in the process, leaving the final score at 5-nil in favour of Paradise Invaders.
In game two of the double-header, Hopetown United Rangers FC and Orealla Falcons battled in a game that contrasted the action in its predecessor.
Hopetown Rangers drew first blood with a well-placed shot from Matthew Doris in the 34th minute. Coming from the edge of the 18-yard box, it sailed past the keeper into the back of the net, and sent the West Coast Berbice supporters into a frenzy of jubilation.

Paradise marksmen (L-R) Keon Joseph, Shaqueel DeHarte and Shaqueel Small

There was further jubilation when Hopetown went two up with another Matthew Doris goal, scored in the 38th minute.
The joy was short-lived, however, as Orealla pulled one back through Cleon Henry in the 40th minute. It was an impressive goal, and it brought hope to the Orealla supporters, whose team trailed Hopetown 2-1 at the half-time mark.
With a fast-paced attack, Orealla started the scoring in the second half, to equalise through a Clevon France goal from the penalty spot when the ball was handled in the 18-yard box by a defender.
These developments galvanised both teams into some serious attacks on their opponents’ goal. In the 70th minute, Wesley Greenidge sealed the deal for Hopetown when he converted a superb cross from the left side to make it 3 goals to 2 in favour of Hopetown, who held on to prevent any more scoring.
The tournament continues on Friday and Saturday evening with NA United FC taking on Young Strikers FC from 19:00hrs, and Cougars FC doing battle with Orealla Falcons from 21:00 hrs. A win for either team will give them a place in the next round. (Andrew Carmichael)