St Cuthbert and Swan to clash for Heritage games spot

…Laluni knocked out

As action continued in the 2018 Region Four Heritage football competition playoffs, a determined and composed St Cuthbert’s Mission team defeated Laluni on penalties, thus setting up an eagerly anticipated final with Swan.

St Cuthbert’s Mission was forced to play Laluni in the three way competition after receiving a drubbing in their first match against Swan. Embarrassed by the humiliating defeat which was watched by a fair size home crowd a much more composed St Cuthbert’s Mission returned to play Laluni after being humbled by a much younger team that despite spoiling several chances defeated them 4 goals to 2.
Laluni who came out boosted with confidence of defeating St Cuthbert’s saw both teams fighting for ball possession. However, while St Cuthbert’s was determined for a win, it was Laluni who demonstrated better playing skills in the first 30 minutes of the game, thus being rewarding with a clever goal that came off the boots of Junior Persaud in the 23rd minute.
This goal sent the Laluni supporters into a frenzy and evidently saw the fans of St Cuthbert’s Mission looking dejected. However in the second half an inspired St Cuthbert’s team saw them making a few changes which resulted in them scoring a much needed equaliser in the 51st minute by Paul Henry. Henry’s goal lit up the entire St Cuthbert’s ground as spectators and fans of the team began urging them on as Laluni valiantly fought for an additional goal while the home team was desperate to increase their score. However after some near chances by both teams the match ended in a draw.
In the penalty shootout, supporters of both teams cheer passionately for their respective teams, as if they were playing a world cup match. St Cuthbert’s Lorenzo Clenkiam once again took the first penalty and similarly to the match against Swan he missed what many felt was a certain goal. Like St Cuthbert’s, Laluni missed their first penalty as well which was attempted by Shevin Patterson.
St Cuthbert’s Duran Adrian sent them up one nil when he converted the second penalty for his team. Like their first attempt, Laluni’s Elroy Adams made a mess of his penalty to the evident disappointment of their fans. Carl Henry increased St Cuthbert’s score two nil after easily converting his penalty. Laluni’s Captain Enoch Aaron was in a no nonsense mood and was determined to cut the lead imposed on his team and easily did this when he converted the first penalty for Laluni to have the score 2-1, in favour of St Cuthbert’s Mission. Raji Dundas was determined for St Cuthbert’s Mission advancing and this was evident from his penalty scoring it increasing his team to 3-1 score line. Junior Persaud who had scored the first goal for his team in regulation showed those in attendance why he is considered a danger man for Laluni has he booted his penalty easily into the back of the nets leaving the score 3-2 in favour of St Cuthbert’s Mission.
An anxious crowd watched patiently as St Cuthbert’s Mission marksman Zack Pereira who had created some challenges for Swan in their first match took the penalty and safely tucked it into the nets leaving the score at 4-2. Pereira’s goal sealed Laluni’s faith thus seeing no need for their last penalty.
An evidently disappointed Laluni’s captain Enoch Aaron said that his team allowed themselves to become complacent, thus allowing St Cuthbert’s to take the upper hand. “This was a match that we should have won as we saw how they played against Swan and we saw how Swan exploited their weaknesses, therefore, we should not have lost this match no day,” a disappointed Aaron said.
The Laluni Captain noted that they were able to hold unto the one nil lead but said that it was certainly not enough to win the match noting that had they maximized on the many opportunities that came their way it would have seen them easily winning the match, thus avoiding a shootout.
“St Cuthbert’s Mission has an excellent record in shoot outs and therefore we allowed ourselves to be drawn into their territory so complaining now will make no sense but the reality is that we lost a match that many thought that we were going to win,” he conceded.
St Cuthbert’s Mission will now play Swan to determine which of the two teams will move on to the National finals the representative for Region Four in this weekend’s heritage games slated Georgetown.