By Joe Chapman

UPPER Demerara recorded a sensational come-from-behind 3-1 win, while West Demerara blanked Essequibo/Pomeroon 4-0 to set the tone for a grand final tomorrow, when the inaugural Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) Inter- Association Super Sunday Night Cup championship concludes, with a $1M for the champions, at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.
Playing in the night cap, the home team looked like going down after Georgetown took the initiative through a strike off the boot of Benjamin Opara in the 32nd of play as they went into the lemon-time break ahead 1-0. This was against a few opportunities which went their way but never troubled the scores as the City side seemed like coasting for a close win.

However, fifteen minutes after the second segment began, coach Anthony ‘Toto’ Stephens, riding a wave of criticisms for sticking to a new crop of players at this level, made a bold change. He took out the hard-trying forward Marmalaque Davidson and brought in Shane Luckie, another bright prospect in the forward line.
This seemed to have ignited the Upper Demerara side and in the 78th minute they were rewarded for persevering in a positive thrust forward. Young Jashawn Moore was fed a square ball by Luckie and in a quick acceleration slotted the ball a diving Georgetown goalkeeper for the equaliser 1-1.

This sparked celebrations and obviously deflated the Georgetown side who seemingly were caught napping from this surprised offensive-minded Linden side.
Ten minutes later after many spectators seemed to have given up hope, the stands were abuzz with expectancy as the Upper Demerara side maintained their focus .
There again Luckie came into play, this time in the 88th minute from a left side play; his cross was collected by Kellon Primo who made no mistake in finishing against a dazed Georgetown defence, thus giving the home side a 2-1 lead.

Now in full flow and with three minutes shown as added-on time by the fourth official Maurice Skeete, Upper Demerara pressed home their advantage and were rewarded. This came as Denzil Fordyce dribbled his markers to plant home a crisp drive to find the back of the net in the 90 plus three minutes to signal a 3-1 victory and the end of Georgetown’s hopes of advancing, much to the delight of the home fans.
In the first game of the night West Demerara showed poise as they halted the efforts of Essequibo/Pomeroon who up to this stage had shown lots of promise of even upsetting the emerging force of football in Guyana.

But they found the West side too confident and equipped this time around.
Never were they able to convert the chances which went their way. The general movement of the ball by West Demerara gave an indication that they meant business in aiming for this top position when this tournament ends.
Seon Babb was first to find the back of the net for West Demerara as he connected on a header from a cross in the box for a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute.
Then the dependable Jamal Harvey made it 2-0 when he was able to send a shot from inside the 18-yard box, past the defence and goalkeeper of Essequibo/Pomerooon just before the first half ended.

The West side then increased that advantage when they connected to score from close up from the boot of Morgan Denny in the 59th minute making it 3-0.
With all things going for the West Demerara side, they placed their feet on the pedal against a tiring opponent and were able to gain another goal for a 4-0 win in the 79th minute, as Gideon Payne got a through ball from inside the box and scored.
This means that tomorrow Upper Demerara will face West Demerara for the $1M championship and bragging rights while the losers collect $600 000. But before that, Georgetown and Essequibo/Pomeroon will battle for $400 000 in the third-pace playoff game beginning at 19:00hrs.