HOSTS Upper Demerara hammered Bartica 4-1 to open their campaign in this year’s Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Inter-Association Under-15 championship yesterday afternoon at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

Playing the opening game of the GFF’s 2009 season, Upper Demerara started slowly against the Barticans who were quicker on the ball at least for most of the first half but the home side slowly stepped up their pace in the game after gaining the first goal from the boot of striker Kwesi Quintin, whose shot from about 18 yards out, scored in the 19th minute of the first half. 

However, the Bartica side continued to be aggressive and got their reward when Aloysius Edwards netted as the Upper Demerara goalkeeper Akeem Caesar misjudged in trying to get the ball from an uneven bounce. It went over his head for a goal on the stroke of halftime.

Three minutes into the second half Kwesi Martin broke the equaliser with a free kick from on top the 18 yards box. Then in the 56th minute Romario Handy from close range in the box was able to send his team 3-1 up.

By then the Upper Demerara side were a rejuvenated one and were outplaying their opponents who seemed winded at that stage.

In the 81st minute Eon Sullivan added another goal for the hosts with a shot from just outside the 18 yards box to beat Vannet Skeete in the Bartica goal.

Upper Demerara, Bartica, West Demerara and East Bank are in one group, with the other comprising East Coast and Berbice.

There is a round-robin format in the two groups. The two teams with the best record advance to the semifinals