AMELIA’S Ward United, who are in an unassailable position in the Upper Demerara Football Association’s (UDFA) 2010/2011 10-team Open League championship, were handed their first defeat in six matches this year, when they went down to Silver Shattas 1-0 at the Christianburg ground, compliments of a 44th minute strike by Romel Matthews which proved the deciding goal of the encounter. The in-form league leaders, Amelia’s Ward,  among the ten teams vying for First Division status, found the Shattas lineup fighting doggedly to preserve the lead. They found themselves against an all-defensive wall of Shattas players on the field for the second half they were also denied an equaliser in the 69th minute after it was adjudged by referee Rollin Tappin that an infringement occurred before the goal was scored by Shawn Daniels.
With Amelia’s Ward having the title already wrapped up, the battle remains for the second and third spots to claim incentives and prizes in this tournament which has a total sponsorship of some $500 000.
At this point in time with some five matches left to play in the league, Ward are already assured of the top spot, Winners Connection have moved up to second spot following their recent win against Vasco by a 1-0 score-line and another which ended 2-1 against Blueberry Hill.
So far Winner’s Connection Rawle ‘Boney’ Gittens have the most goals, 11, one more than Amelia’s Ward Travis Waterton who has 10 goals with one game to play.
Sponsorship for this Open League by the UDFA has come from the Guyana Geology & Mines Commission (GGMC),  Wayne Ebba,  Mark Grimmond, Shawn Hopkinson, Bonnie Davis, Horace James Chief Executive Officer of the Linmine Secretariat,  Andrew McBean Manager of the NCN Linden Branch and. Gordon Gumbs the Chief Executive Officer of the Linden Hospital Complex.