WITH EAGLES, the 2014 Champions of the Banks DIH/Linden Guinness ‘Greatest of De Streets’ being given marching orders by Attackers when the tournament kicked off last Wednesday in the Mining Town, a new champion will certainly be crowned this year when the action culminates sometime next week.Playing at the Mackenzie market tarmac, Attackers ousted the champions after winning 2-0 on penalty kicks, following their 1-1 regulation time score, but unlike last year’s winners, 2013 title-holders Silver Bullets advanced following their 4-1 victory over High Star.
The former champions were led by goal-hungry Colwyn Drakes, who netted a helmet-trick; scoring in the 6th, 9th, 14th and 17th minutes, with Jermaine Adams scoring the lone goal for High Stars in the 18th minute.
Retrieve Unknown who finished as runners-up to Eagles last year, moved one step better than the team which defeated them for the 2014 title, when they needled Ripping Bullets out of the tournament 1-0.
A Rondell Edmondson helmet-trick scored in the 4th, 8th, 13th and 17th minutes guided Coomacka to a 4-0 win over Exodus.
Rawle ‘Boney Man’ Gittens continues to impress in this format of the game, scoring a brace in the 5th and 8th minutes, which, together with solitary strikes from Steve ‘Parrot’ Brewley (14th) and Shawn Gittens (18th), led Half Mile/One Mile to a 4-1 win over Goal Getters, for whom Quincy Black ensured they scored.
Amelia’s Ward Russians, playing in the final game on the opening night, blanked South Stars 1-0 after the Travis ‘Chicken’ Whatterton found the net in the 7th minute of the closely contested match between the two neighbourhood teams.
Meanwhile, the tournament continues tonight at the same venue from 18:00hrs with Cherokee Park playing Classic-6, Aliku opposing Minibus in the second fixture, Pokerburg and Blueberry Hill clashing in the third.
After the usual Guinness break, Buck Hill will tackle Panthers, Street Vybz will face off with Starboyz, Constab and Amazing will clash. In the final two matches Rough and Rugged will challenge Speightland and Train Line Warriors will engage Hard Knocks.
At stake in the tournament is $300 000 which will be awarded to the winners of this year’s event, with the second- to fourth-placed finishers pocketing $150 000, $100 000 and $75 000 respectively, even as the top two teams compete in the National playoffs set for June.
