Police Football Club have won the inaugural Berbice Football Association’s (BFA) GT Beer, Candy Boss eight-a-side football tournament by beating arch rivals Beacon Football club 2-1 in a tense final played on Friday night at the All-Saints Recreational Ground on Princess Elizabeth Road in New Amsterdam.
Up to the final showdown, both teams were unbeaten and one had to lose. A greater portion of the vocal crowd backed Beacon and when Kester Brandj scored in the 30 minute by pushing a ball flat past the goalkeeper from inside the penalty area Beacon were lifted and began to move forward relentlessly
forcing Police to bring out all their armor while goalkeeper Roncy Caleb provided much entertainment between the uprights to keep the lawmen in the game.
The jubilant Guyana Police Force FC with the championship trophy
In the second half, the crowd was brought to its feet on several occasions as both teams tried desperately forcing referee Micah Erskine to issue a few yellow cards.
It was Anthony Wallace who gave Police the desperately needed equalizer scoring with a powerful shot from inside the 18-yard box that rocked the back of the nets to send the crowd wild. Wallace had put ammunition back into the Policemen legs just as Beacon had started to play a time consuming game.
As the tense battle continued both teams tried to utilize every goal scoring opportunity but the defense of both sided was at its best.
In the final moments of the game and everyone on their feet, Beacon seemed to prefer to have it decided from the penalty area having the more athletic looking goalkeeper in Julius Payne. In the final minute Erskine blew his whistle for an infringement against Police just outside of their 18-yard box.
Goalkeeper Roncy Caleb sent his team mates to the other goal and took the shot hoping that one of them might be able to take advantage of the ball and score. His shot was well directed. Beacon had a good defense. The defense went up but the ball was high. Payne was flocked by his own team mates and could not jump as high as he wanted to. The ball hit his hand and went past; it was the
winning goal scored at the end of regulation time giving Police the win 2-1.
Earlier, in a third place play-off, Monedderlust beat Edinburgh Gunners 3-0 to seal the third spot
Kevin Joseph registered the first goal in the second minute before Arthley Bailey scored a double, registering in the 9 and 14 minutes.
