Soesdyke Falcons, Grove Hi Tech make winning start

EBFA/EDFA U-17 Goodwill Series…

East Bank Football Association (EBFA) runner-up Under-17 team, Soesdyke Falcons, downed East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) Jubilee Champions, Bachelors Adventure/Paradise Sports Club (BAPSC) 3-1 in the feature match on the first of two days of a Goodwill

Part of the action during one of the games last weekend
Part of the action during one of the games last weekend

series of matches between the top two teams from each association.
Playing at the Golden Grove ground, East Coast Demerara, on Saturday afternoon last, EBFA Sun Burst champions Grove Hi Tech romped to a 4-0 win over EDFA’s runner-up team, Buxton Stars.
The series of matches, which will conclude this Saturday at the Grove Playfield when the two champions from each association face off after the two runner-up sides takes center stage, is being held with the primary aim of affording the respective teams exposure against teams from other associations.
The Soesdyke/Paradise match was action packed from the first whistle until the end of the 90-minute dual, both teams creating chances, but it was the boys from Soesdyke who would take the lead in the 18th minute from the penalty spot when Tyrell Khan scored the first of his double.
But even as Soesdyke enjoyed the better of the exchanges, 11-year-old Colin Hendricks, the smallest of all the players in terms of stature and age on the field, caused quite a bit of unease against his much bigger Soesdyke opponents in the attacking third.
Not afraid to take on the much taller Soesdyke boys, Hendricks worked quite a bit of magic with his nimble and smart ball work throughout the match, even scoring to salvage some pride for BAPSC.
Khan doubled the lead for Soesdyke in the 55th minute before Hendricks reduced the advantage three minutes later. Soesdyke would restore the two-goal cushion in the 76th minute when Kevin Sobers netted; the final score reading Soesdyke 3 BAPSC 1.
BAPSC goalkeeper Ryan Harris brought some blinding saves to keep the score line down.
The opening game saw Grove easing to a comfortable win even as they missed some 16 clear opportunities. Kevin Padmore scored a double for the Grove boys after the first half failed to produce a goal.
Padmore was on target in the 52nd and 65th minute. Mario Eastman scored in the 63rd minute, while teammate Gregory Stevens sealed the deal in the 76th minute.
Saturday’s final two matches are expected to produce more exciting action as the future stars of Guyana once again exhibit their talent ahead of next month’s GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power Under-17 Intra-Association tournament.