Topp XX forward Keon Hall banged a stunning shot at the Coomacka goal after four minutes of injury and stoppage time in the second half of the final game being contested by these two teams for the championship spoils in the Jermine & Family Mash Cup tournament.
Businessman Jermine Allicock hands over the cash prize to Topp XX’s Ryan Noel as his teammates celebrate
The ball rushed past the flailing hands of Coomacka goalkeeper Kellon ‘Clean Sheet’ Major to break a nil-all deadlock and give Topp XX a one-goal advantage, and eventually the win of the ‘finals’.
That 1-nil victory gave Top XX the top prize of $600,000 plus the Winners’ Trophy and the Jermine & Family Linden Mash Cup title.
This match was played on Saturday evening at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Ground in front of a crowd which favoured the Coomacka team for the win, but the eventual result would, for a second successive time, see Coomacka being defeated by the same opponents, following the Upper Demerara Football Association’s Christmas Championship finale on New Year’s Night.
The opening salvoes were sent by the Coomacka side, and one such caused the man in the Topp XX citadel, Gregory Hinds, to bring off a good save, even as another collided with the crossbar.
Coomacka’s defense player Michael Sheckia eventually lost his temper in the 25th minute as things heated up, and he apparently reacted by uttering abusive language after being called for a foul. This resulted in Referee Sherwin Johnson swiftly producing the red card and giving him marching orders.
Crowd reaction was unkind, and as debris rained on the playing area, the game was disrupted for 15 minutes as the substitute benches switched positions.
However, enough though the experienced Topp XX team were now playing a 10-man opposition, multiple close shaves kept the game in the balance.
In the second half, Coomacka goalkeeper Kellon Major was called into play to make a save, and Major’s opposite number, Gregory Hinds, had to do likewise, as both teams looked to better their chances.
Topp XX could have gained the advantage after Tony ‘Spirit’ Adams was fouled in the box in the 52nd minute; but, to the disappointment of his teammates, Topp XX’s reliable spot kicker Travis Waterton sent the ball low and wide of its intended mark.
Topp XX had another lapse, in that they failed to take advantage of an opportunity that came in the 72nd minute.
As time was closing in on regulation play, Coomacka, not to be outdone, created a couple of chances before Topp XX’s Sawn ‘Dash’ Daniels sent a good shot that hit the hand of Major before banging on to the crossbar.
In added time, however, Topp XX scored the lone goal of the encounter through a buildup in the middle that saw Ryan Noel squaring a ball to the approaching winger Keon Hall. However, Daniels was the one who finished to gain the lead for his side in the closing moments of injury and stoppage time.
Seconds later, the match was blown off and Topp XX were officially champions.
Earlier in the evening, Botafago hammered Haynes and Lewis Winners Connection 6-1 to take third place.
Goals were recorded for Botafago by Jamal Haynes in the 17th minute, his brother Shane Haynes in the 20th minute, Jashawn Moore in the 69th minute; and by Antwoine Gill through a double scored in the 66th and 71st minutes respectively.
The lone goal for Winners Connection came off the boot of Akeem Caesar in the 49th minute.
That win was a repeat of the third-place game between the two teams in the UDFA’s year-end championship, which had ended 5-1.
