MAHAICA, Ann’s Grove, Golden Grove and Plaisance advanced to the second round of the Hamilton Green Cup Knock-Out Football tournament after securing victories over their opponents when the tournament finally got underway over the past weekend at the Victoria ground, East Coast Demerara.

Mahaica defeated mahaicony 3-2, Ann’s Grove beat Pele 3-1, Golden Grove got past Golden Warriors in a penalty shoot-out, Plaisance beat Cougars, also in a penalty shoot-out and Buxton beat Pouderoyen in yet another penalty shoot-out.
The tournament which was scheduled to get underway last Friday at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground, Linden, was abandoned due to heavy overnight rainfall which left the playing field waterlogged.

However, on Saturday last, conditions were better on the East Coast and the tournament finally got underway with a triple-header. In the opening game, Plaisance of East Coast Demerara secured a penalty kick win over Berbice’s Cougars after the two sides were locked 3-3 at the end of regulation and extra time.
In the second game, Golden Grove also secured a penalty shoot-out win against their East Coast counterparts, Golden Warriors, after they were tied at the end of regulation and extra time.

In the third match that evening, Buxton, after being held 1-1 at the end of regulation and extra time, secured a win over their West Demerara counterparts via a penalty shoot-out.
On Sunday, the action continued at the same venue with two matches and saw Mahaica edging Mahaicony 3-2 through goals off the boots of Eion Abel in the 11th minute, Ewart Abel in the 16th minute and Leroy Halley in the 21st minute.
Mahaica was originally down to play Grove Hi-Tech in the opening game on Sunday, but the latter team failed to show up.
In the second game on Sunday, Ann’s Grove beat Pele by a 3-1 margin.
Tyrell Cummings (9th min), Daniel Pellew (18th min) and Delon Deon (20th min) were the goal scorers for Ann’s Grove while Jamal Cozier scored Pele’s lone goal in the 30th minute.
According to tournament coordinator, Lennox Arthur, the inclement weather and the unavailability of venues were the main reason the tournament had to be rescheduled continuously, but promises that the 16 teams contesting the tournament will provide fans and supporters with lots of exciting and entertaining football throughout the duration of the tournament which is scheduled to conclude on September 3 at the Leonora Sports Facility, West Coast Demerara.

The winning team will receive $500,000 and the Minister of Citizenship trophy, while the runner-up team will earn $250,000 and the Busta Beverages trophy.
The team placing third will receive $150,000 and the John Fernandes Limited trophy and the fourth place finisher will take home $100,000 and the Cummings Electrical trophy.