Hikers demolish Old Fort 8-2; national men’s team beat Dragons 5-2
THE in-form Hikers `A’ men’s team produced another impressive performance by demolishing Old Fort `A’ 8-2, while the national men’s team beat Western Dragons 5-2, when play in the Guyana Hockey Board/Mr. Toppers Indoor Championships continued on Wednesday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

From the opening whistle in the feature clash between powerhouse Hikers `A’ and Old Fort `A’, the Hikers seemed to have the upper hand and played their usual patient passing game in contrast to Old Fort’s counterattacking style and it took just three minutes for the Hikers’ first penalty corner to be slotted in for the lead off inspirational team leader Timothy McIntosh.

Ascofu Simon then scrambled one back for Old Fort in the 9th minute but the celebration was short-lived as Randy Hope tapped in a perfect pass by Jerazeno Bell to regain the lead for the Hikers.

Aderemi Simon then produced a dazzling run from deep in the defence, penetrating the entire Hikers team before slipping a pass to his sibling Ascofu who placed his shot into the open goal, taking his own and the team’s tally to two.

The Hikers, however, then took control for the rest of the match, earning another goal through Alex Gouveia before the first half ended and five more full times with two more from Bell and one each from Shane Samuels, Robert France and Renick Evelyn.

The win for Hikers has placed them at the top of the men’s `A’ division pool.

Playing in the final men’s `A’ division match of the evening, the national men’s team pulled off their first victory by hammering Western Dragons 5-2.

John Abrams netted a double for the nationals while Jason Dosantos, Shane Samuels and Robert France scored one each.

Trason Corbin and Selwyn Brant were the scorers for the Dragons.

The two remaining unbeaten teams in the men’s first division – GCC `A’ and GCC – `B’, battled to a 1-1 stalemate, as the junior side surprised all by scoring first through an Andrew Xavier penalty corner in the 12th minute.

The `A’ side piled on considerable pressure on their junior counterparts and eventually secured the equaliser through a quick Dwayne Scott flick in the 33rd minute.

The GCC `A’ pressed for the win but tough defence by the `B’ side and especially left back Stuart Gonsalves, ensured time expired before any further goals could have been scored.

In the lone female match of the evening, Hikers ladies secured a comfortable victory over the youthful GCC Spartans by a 6-4 margin.

While the Spartans made it tough going against their more experienced opponents in the early going, the Hikers seemed always in control of the match, never conceding the lead.

Maria Munroe led the Hikers with a hat-trick and was supported by singles from newcomer Michela Harding, Avonda James and Cora Towler.

Young Marzana Fiedtkou poured in a hat-trick of her own in the Spartans’ losing effort with one more coming off the stick of Briawna Gordon.

The championships will continue at 18:00 h this evening at the same venue with seven matches.

In the opening game, Hikers `B’ will tackle Degenerates in a second division fixture and this will be followed with Old Fort `A’ against Dragons at 18:45 h.

From 19:30 h Spartans take on Piranhas in a ladies’ fixture while at 20:15 h, GCC `B’ meet Hikers `A’.

From 21:00 h Hikers ladies meet Tigers and from 21:45 h Old Fort `B’ come up against Dragons in a second division match-up.

The feature match, which is scheduled to get under way at 22:30 h, brings together GCC `A’ and the national men’s team.