Alpha hammer Grove 7-1, Topp XX
prevail 3-2 on penalty kicks
A stunning goal and an equally controversial one and brilliant strikes marked a dramatic night of entertaining football when Dwight Peters and Dwayne Jacobs recorded double strikes for national Super League champions Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground on Saturday night.

Alpha United `hammer men’ goal getters from left: Keon Edwards, Dwight Peters and Eduson Gomes.

The Georgetown Football Association’s Premier League champions nailed Grove Hi Tec 7-1 while five-time champions Bakewell Topp XX emerged victorious against Net Rockers by a 3-2 penalty shoot-out route.

The opening encounter saw one of the favoured teams in this year’s tournament, Alpha United, coasting to a rollicking win as they raided their opponents in a clinical display of what to expect when uneven teams reach at this level of play.

It was a lesson to be learnt from the national champions Alpha United who from the onset looked in tremendous form against a side which had recently disposed of the Upper Demerara champions Milerock in their first game at this level.

However, ‘The Hammer’ side was not taking this ‘pick-up’ side from the East Bank of Demerara easy and showed no mercy as they steamrolled past their opponents.

Alpha United got their act going from as early as the 15th minute when under pressure with Keon Edwards pressing forward the national super league champions went into 1-0 lead.

Edwards then double the score for his adopted club when in the 31st minute he netted. The 2-0 lead was maintained to the end of the first half as Alpha toyed with their opponents.

Alpha United then stepped up their game and in the 57th minute Dwight Peters slammed home goal number three and increased it when he got his second goal of the game in the 65th minute. Dwayne Jacobs then got his first of two goals in the 80th minute when he scored to give the City team a 5-0 lead before Edison Gomes further stretched it to a 6-0 score-line three minutes later and Jacobs returned to seal the effortless win with his second goal on the stroke of 90th minute.

The second game was to allow the only surviving Linden team a chance of reaching the last eight after Upper Demerara clubs Milerock, Rusal and Eagles United lost their opening matches.

Topp XX found themselves against a familiar opponent and the game was a tough one as both sides looked confident and found their rhythm early.

As the momentum picked up no quarters were given and the game ended without any side being able to take the initiative by scoring.

A few close shaves were seen but none were registered through scoring. With neither side giving much room for complacency Topp XX’s durable striker Collie ‘Hit Man‘ Hercules showed why he is so highly regarded when he scored what would be among the best goals ever scored in these championships.

Hercules collected a lobbed ball in the middle outside the box and in backing the goal ‘chested it’ and then tapped the ball with his right foot over his first marker’s head. Continuing his poise Hercules then with his left foot scored a beauty with a thunderous volley beating the Net Rockers’ goal keeper as the ball went in the ‘Vee’ to the near post in the 73rd minute to bring about loud cheers from the frenzied spectators.

However, Net Rockers were down but not out and their followers were able to see a spectacular answer, if not as magnificent when from a ball which was going out from the goal mouth, in the middle Keon Bristol cannoned with a right foot volley that beat Topp XX’s goalkeeper all ends up for the equaliser in the 78th minute.

Tensions were raised and with Kayode Mckinnon and Hercules showing their experience at the international level as they were shepherding a young bunch of players including Keon Sears who had a good game, Net Rockers with their list of hungry players including Bristol and Tony ‘Spirit’ Adams did not buckle under the pressure and the game ended with the scores locked at 1-1.

In the extra period of play Net Rockers were awarded a controversial go ahead goal which came in after Ray Fraser, playing his heart out for Net Rockers was fouled by McKinnon on the right side.

The shot taken by Fraser sailed into the hands of the Topp XX goalkeeper to the left vee but was parried away as it lost momentum to the near post. The goalkeeper however seemed to have stumbled in the process to grab the ball close to his goal line.

The Net Rockers and supporters appealed for goal and referee Roy McArthur took some seconds before consulting with his assistant Venton Mars, whose indecision it seemed and hesitancy in signaling if the ball had indeed scored caused some concern to all.