National Women’s Hockey team off to winning start against Trinidad
2017 Guyana Sportswoman of the Year, Marzana Fiedtkou sweeps a penalty corner.
2017 Guyana Sportswoman of the Year, Marzana Fiedtkou sweeps a penalty corner.

THE Guyana National Women’s Hockey team enjoyed a successful opening day in their tri-nation hockey series at the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex in Wildey, Barbados.
The team arrived in Barbados on Wednesday evening, and faced the hosts, the very next morning for their first match on an artificial surface, since their Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games qualifier in Jamaica seven months ago.

They subsequently drew that game 1-1.
The Guyanese returned later to play the highly-ranked Trinidad and Tobago who rounded out the three nations participating in the warm-up series for the CAC games to be held in the latter half of July. In that game, they secured a hard fought 1-0 victory.

The match day started with heavy winds and rain but this did not affect the prompt first whistle to start the series.

The game got off to a rocky beginning for the Guyanese ladies as they expectedly struggled to adjust to the unfamiliar artificial pitch. After a patch of scrappy defensive play, Guyana conceded a penalty corner to Barbados gifting them their first real scoring opportunity.

The corner was well defended by Guyana who launched a swift counterattack and catching the Bajan defenders in mid-pitch. Three Guyanese strikers bore down on the Bajan goalkeeper and finished off a few well-timed passes with striker Shebiki Baptiste walking the ball into the empty goal in the 13th minute of the game.

Both teams enjoyed bouts of good ball possession for the remainder of the match, but Guyana held firm until the final two minutes of play when the Bajans capitalised on a lapse in the defensive structure by Guyana and Bajan striker Ayana Wilson tucked in a field goal past Alysa Xavier.The goal by Barbados was the final one of the match leaving the scores leveled at 1-1 at full time.

The afternoon game against the twin island republic, Trinidad and Tobago, was intense from beginning to end with both teams running hard and trying to maintain possession of the ball.

Once again luck struck for Guyana 13 minutes into the game for off the stick of midfield player and 2017 National Sportswoman of the Year, Marzana Fiedtkou, from a penalty corner.

Guyana held firm for the rest of the match, despite feeling the tiredness of their travel the previous evening and the effort of the earlier match, with the final whistle seeing them secure a 1-0 victory.

With yesterday being a rest day for all teams, Guyana will now face Trinidad today at 15:45hrs, followed by their final match against Barbados at 09:00hrs tomorrow.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.