Christmas Football Festival under way …
City team claim Western Union lien trophy
By Isaiah Chappelle
Guyana Chronicle
December 9, 2003
GEORGETOWN notched their name a third time on the Western Union lien trophy, with a 2-1 comeback win to kick off the 14th Christmas Football Festival, staged by the Kashif & Shanghai Organisation at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground, Sunday night.
The championships began with a veterans match which the Linden team won 4-3, then the march past of participating teams and an address by Minister of Sport Gail Teixeira.
National Under-23 striker Gregory Richardson tucked in the goal for the city team, while Wayne Milo score for Linden, with the mining town team later scoring against themselves for the winner.
Georgetown dominated the run of play. In the 20th minute, they attacked down the left and the winger lobbed the ball nicely to the centre of the box, after drawing the defence, but Richardson volleyed the ball over the crossbar.
Nine minutes later, Richardson carried the ball down the left wing, beat the defence, raced with the ball into the box, shot, the goalkeeper intercepted and the defence cut off the finish as Richardson raced in.
Shortly after, Linden were awarded a free kick outside the box. The ball zoomed over the wall and dipped into the goal, but goalkeeper Marlon Hendricks flew outstretched for a superb save.
Then in the 38th minute, Linden attacked down the centre, a mix-up ensued and Milo found the net. Linden went into halftime leading 1-0.
Georgetown again controlled the run of play in the second half, forcing some six corners and taking eight good shots to goal. Linden matched the goal shots but had no corners.
However, within a minute, Linden went close to scoring again, having raided down the centre, but in one attempt to the net, the ball crashed on the crossbar and the other hit the upright, with the third going over the bar.
Five minutes into the half, Georgetown began re-organising the on-field players, taking off National Under-23 captain Shawn Beveney who was a having a terrible game, and former National Under-17 captain Nigel Denny.
National Under-23 striker Devon Millington and former National Under-20 captain Elroy Park ran on, thus Richardson slipped back into midfield.
Three minutes later, Linden also introduced fresh legs, and another, 15 minutes into the half.
More changes were made for Georgetown in the 65th minute, with former National player Shawn Bishop coming off and Eron Hayde taking his place. Five minutes later, striker Nigel Codrington was replaced by Delon Glen.
With the insertion of Hayde, the whole game changed and the city midfield became very active. Five minutes after he went on, the equaliser materialised.
Hayde carried the ball on the left wing, then changed the play to the centre, finding Richardson, who worked his way down the centre and put the ball into the net.
Just before the whistle to end regulation time, Georgetown were awarded a corner at the right. Park received a short pass from Richardson, took a shot and the ball crashed on the crossbar, close to the V. The match, however, was deadlocked 1-1 at game time.
Seven minutes into sudden death extra time, Linden scored against themselves, as Georgetown attacked and a mix-up ensued in the area.
With the victory, Georgetown took home the Western Union trophy for keeps and pocketed $70 000, while Linden got $30 000.
Earlier, Michael McKinnon hit a double for Linden veterans, and Dorwin Peters put in the other. Selwyn Bailey responded with a double for Georgetown.
Peters was in the net in 14 minutes of play and McKinnon put in his first in the 45th minute. Bailey struck in the 47th minute, but McKinnon completed his double in the 52nd, to maintain the lead for Linden. Bailey completed his double in the 59th minute.
The first matches of the competition proper are fixed for Sunday next at the same venue, when the defending champions and two former champions will be on show.
In the opening encounter, the first champions of the tournament Milerock will come up against 2001 winners Victoria Kings, then the reigning champions Fruta Conquerors will take on Net Rockers.